hypocrasy (I Timothy 4:2). Their consciences have been seared as it were with a hot iron. This verse is loaded with meaning. Through the prevarication of these apostates, they willingly would lead others in their same and certain destruction. They never give an accurate reflec tion of what is taught in God's Word. HYPOCRASY The Greek word "hypocrasy" means to play a role or to be an actor who is not for real. So, a hypocrite in the truest sense is one who pretends to be something that he is not. These people make an effort to seem righteous. What a foolish job of acting. God is never misled. Such individuals are com pletely out of touch with Biblical reality. They have already become deadened to the truth. Literally, an apostate has been branded by Sa tan and carries his mark, being obliged to do his will. He lives in an unofficial world of lies and decep tion where man's ideas are greatly contrasted with God's Word. One who has turned his back on reality cannot comprehend or be sensitive to the Lord's directive will. Those who are not interested in living a Christian life are actually past feel ing, having given themselves over to foolishness and selfishness. All of this binds them to a system rather than to the Saviour (II Tim othy 1:7-9). The lawless person generally considers that he is all right (I Timothy 1:8). In actuality, he needs to see the standard of
teaching to have any part of your thoughts or life. Unprecedented opportunities for Gospel outreach abound on every hand. Despite the many promising "open doors," Satan is throwing up every possible roadblock he can muster. You can be sure that he will not be sitting idly by! All about us today we see apostates who have willfully turned their backs on Christ. I Timothy 4:1-5 deals with them, as do other pertinent passages of Scripture. Such indi viduals pretend to be religious but really are doing much greater harm than one could imagine. In II Peter 2:15 we read about those who have turned their backs on God because of their interest in money. Balaam is the Old Tes tament personality who typifies all such practice. This greedy prophet sold himself to serve the devil. He had taken a God-given gift and turned his back on it because he wanted personal profit. Apostates will always appeal to human instincts (II Peter 2:18). Such individuals pretend they have all the answers, when in reality they live as unbelievers (II Peter 2:19). Although they have been set free from bondage through Christ, such men have become servants of cor ruption. They come under the con trol of Satan himself. There cannot be seen one indication of the re demptive power of Christ in their lives. Apostates are well characterized as those who speak lies and live by
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