What the Bible Really Says About Apostasy

Can someone commit apostasy? Walking away from salvation is an important question facing the church in light of our entry into a post-Christian world, one where increasing numbers are claiming to have once been Christians and now claim to be “nothing.” This rise of the nones raises not only cultural questions, but also theological ones. How should we view a newly minted “none”?

It’s an important question facing the church in light of our entry into a post-Christian world, one where increasing numbers are claiming to have once been Christians and now claim to be “nothing.” This rise of the nones raises not only cultural questions, but also theological ones. How should we view a newly minted “none”?

There are real divisions within the Christian faith on the matter. Some Christians will say: “Never! You can’t commit apostasy. Once saved, always saved.”

Others will say, “Well, it kind of happened in the Bible.”

Then others will chime in and say: “That’s right—and I know of people who have done it. You should meet my uncle Fred!”

First, let’s define apostasy. Apostasy is when someone knowingly refutes something they previously believed in, were committed to and were involved with. In regard to the Christian faith, it’s coming to Christ as Leader and Forgiver, and then later, abandoning and denying that faith.

And yes, it’s recorded as happening in the Bible. For example, this is from Paul’s first mentoring letter to Timothy in the New Testament: “For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked. Hymenaeus and Alexander are two examples” (I Timothy 1:19-20, NLT).

That’s pretty straight up. They purposefully shipwrecked their faith. And the reality of doing this was so strong that there are repeated warnings against it in the Bible. Such as: “Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God” (Hebrews 3:12, NLT). And: “But you, friends, are well warned. Be on guard lest you lose your footing and get swept off your feet by these lawless and loose-talking teachers” (II Peter 3:17, NLT).