WHY DO MEN FORSAKE CHRIST
AND THE GOSPEL?
Through the course of our Lord's earthly ministry he had men and women who followed him for a season, but for one reason or another forsook him. This was also the experience of the apostles in the early church. And it continues to be the experience of God's saints today. In every church there are empty seats which were once filled by men and women who were highly esteemed, but who have now forsaken Christ. I have seen many who were so promising, for whom I had such high hopes, forsake Christ. Always, without exception, their apostasy can be traced to one of these four facts.
1. Some forsake Christ simply
because THEY CANNOT ENDURE THE DOCTRINE OF THE GOSPEL. The natural man
is highly offended by the gospel of God's free and sovereign grace in Christ.
He will not long endure a faithful, consistent declaration of the gospel. Some
are offended by the GRACE of the gospel. Others are offended by the SIMPLICITY
of the gospel.
2. Some forsake Christ because THEY
RECEIVED THE WORD AS STONY GROUND HEARERS. Having no root, they wither away
as soon as some trial arises because of the Word.
3. Some forsake Christ because THEY
RECEIVED THE WORD AS SEED SOWN AMONG THORNS. After a while the cares of
this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke out the influence of the
gospel.
4. Some forsake Christ because THEY DO NOT COUNT THE COST OF FOLLOWING CHRIST. Once they find out what it cost to follow Christ, they determine that the price is too dear and they refuse to pay.
Whenever a professed believer
forsakes Christ and the gospel it will be for one of these reasons. We must not
he surprised or shaken when it happens. "They went out from us, but they
were not of us: for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued
with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not
all of us" (I John