Condensed for Wisconsin Christian Newspaper

Oh, Absalom!--Apostasy Warning for Today

By Barbara L Klika, MSW

Undershepherd

Set Apart Ministries

November, 2014

condensed for Wisconsin Christian Newspaper

Apostate believers foretold: falling away from Scriptural faith

while still regular churchgoers.

I write today on unknowingly falling to unrighteousness through duplicity: appearing one way but actually being something else. Isaiah recorded these intentions to stand “in the place of God” but many ignore the Old Testament.

“How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!
…

For you have said in your heart:

…
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
…

I will be like the Most High.’

Isaiah 12:14-16 NKJV

Psalm 119 affirms repeatedly the beauty of the OT/Law; a Light and a Lamp to our feet, Truth, Liberty and Joy. I look to the OT as akin to the basement foundation of a sound house. Paul affirmed the value of the OT for training in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16)He went on to describe his reason for warning:

…For such are false apostles, deceitful workers,

transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.

…

For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.

(2 Cor. 11: 12-14 NKJV)

Many think that only a passing knowledge of the Bible is “good enough” to get them through life because they are saved by grace. However, if they are not “good Bereans” like those Paul addressed, who searched the Scriptures themselves for what was right (Acts 17:11) they can still be deceived and find themselves on the wrong side of the Door.

The Greek word under “lawlessness” is “anomia” and is translated many ways, among them: iniquity, unrighteousness, and transgress the law. All respected scholars understand this Law as the Torah. It is not simply ‘a law” but “The Law.” Yeshua upheld the Law.

Scripture defines righteousness as obedience to The Law.

Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sinislawlessness.

1 John 3:4 NKJV

Where is the duplicity? Recall satan’s proud “I will” statements as above.Here is a “type” of this process.

King David was known as “a man after God’s own heart;” the rightful anointed ruler of his time. Among his sons was Absalom, which means “the father of peace,” beautiful with luxurious hair and no blemish.(2 Samuel 13 and 14) One of his half- brothers defiled Absalom’s sister. Absalom killed him, which resulted in his exile. He was eventually allowed to return when David’s grief was spent, but not permitted to see David. He sought homage and put himself at the gate between David and the people, implying that the king wouldn’t care for them but he, Absalom, would.

Do you see the thematic picture? One who is beautiful and without blemish, named “Father of Peace” falsely presents himself between the people and the king, blessing them and promising them whatever they needed if only they would follow him. They turned away from the true anointed King as their hearts were usurped by the deceiver.

If we allow our affection to be stolen from the true Father of Peace, the God of Israel, we have been deceived. If we come to faith in Him, but do not know what it means to follow Him and walk in His ways, in His instructions in righteousness, we do not have a solid foundation, we can be “bought.” (Hebrews 5:12)

People marveled at Messiah’s teachings, and questioned their source.

Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me.

“If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.“He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.

John 7:16-18 NKJV

People often have no perception of any need to be good Bereans with the entire Word of God because they perceive that their prayers are being answered.

My questions may seem harsh, but I would rather shake someone up now, even to the point of anger, if it means that they will check the Word more thoroughly for themselves.

Even if you have prophesied, cast out demons, and done wonders in His Name, Messiah warned us that He would still tell us to depart because He doesn’t know us if we haven’t done the will of His Father in heaven.

“Now we know that God does not hear sinners;

but if anyone is a worshiper of God anddoes His will, He hears him.

John 9:31 NKJV

It is “both/and” not “either/or.” The two are intertwined.

Messiah confirmed sinners/lawless ones are those who do not keep the Father’s commandments.

The Messiah we follow DID and DOES and ALWAYS WILL follow the commands of His Father. If we deny the Father’s commandments, are we not then guilty of being lawless? Are we not in danger of being “bought” and eventually being told to depart from the true Messiah, the real Prince of Peace?

How thankful…and dependent…we are on His grace,

yet we are not to presume upon it!(Romans 3:8)

A time is soon coming in which there will be nothing more to say or do but…

Rev. 22:11 NKJV

You may be interested to read the previous articles and other related materials at Please contact us at or (920) 336-7005 if you’d like to converse on the subject!