LECTURE 2

Lecture 2- The Falling Away

1. Jesus was crucified unjustly, but he was also resurrected.

2. For a short while after his physical departure, the church grew rapidly in spirit as well as in numbers.

3. It had been foretold by prophets, by Christ, and by his apostles that there would be an apostasy.

4. Many of the basic Christian doctrines and practices were changed.

5. While the refomers did much good, they also looked forward to some future day when God would completely restore his church.

6. The best efforts of men led to even more divisions in the Church and unless God moved there was little hope for betterment.

7. There are prophetic promises that God would restore his church.

FA 1. Head of Christ.

Jesus is the center of all we believe and teach, for he is the Son of God and the Prince of Peace in a world of unrest and war.

FA 2. The Church of Christ, Complete.

FA 3. The Triumphal Entry.

Mat 21:5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

Mat 21:6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,

Mat 21:7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.

Though multitudes followed Him at this time, it was probably chiefly because of their wonderment at and respect for the miracles he had performed. They also mistakenly believed that he had come to overthrow the Roman government and become their earthly king.

FA 4. The Last Supper.

Luke 22:8 And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.

Luke 22:9 And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare?

Luke 22:10 And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in.

Luke 22:11 And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?

Luke 22:12 And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready.

Luke 22:13 And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.

Luke 22:14 And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.

Luke 22:15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:

Luke 22:16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.

Luke 22:17 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:

Luke 22:18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.

Luke 22:19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

Luke 22:20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

On this important and now historic occasion, the disciples of Jesus rededicated themselves to him and to his service. This, they and all other Christians were to do frequently and always in rememberance of him and of the pledge they had made in baptism. Baptized members seem to have been the only ones who partook of this Lord’s Supper, setting a precedent for his church today.

FA 5. Gethsemane.

Christ went into the garden to pray.

FA 6. Betrayal and Arrest.

Mat 26:47 And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.

Mat 26:48 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.

Mat 26:49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.

Mat 26:50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus and took him.

Mat 26:51 And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear.

Mat 26:52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

Mat 26:53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

Mat 26:54 But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?

Mat 26:55 In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.

Mat 26:56 But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.

Judas betrayed Christ. It was not the civil authorities who arrested Jesus but rather the servants of the religious leaders of that day.

FA 7. The Trial Before the Jewish Authorities.

Mark 14:53 And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes.

Mark 14:54 And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest: and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire.

Mark 14:55 And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none.

Mark 14:56 For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.

Mark 14:57 And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying,

Mark 14:58 We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.

Mark 14:59 But neither so did their witness agree together.

Mark 14:60 And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?

Mark 14:61 But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?

Mark 14:62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Mark 14:63 Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses?

FA 8. Jesus Before the Mob.

Mark 15:1 And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate.

Mark 15:2 And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto him, Thou sayest it.

Mark 15:3 And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing.

Mark 15:4 And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee.

Mark 15:5 But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled.

Mark 15:6 Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.

Mark 15:7 And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.

Mark 15:8 And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them.

Mark 15:9 But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?

Mark 15:10 For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.

Mark 15:11 But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.

Mark 15:12 And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?

Mark 15:13 And they cried out again, Crucify him.

Mark 15:14 Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.

Mat 27:11 And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.

Mat 27:12 And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.

Mat 27:13 Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?

Mat 27:14 And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.

Mat 27:15 Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.

Mat 27:16 And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.

Mat 27:17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?

Mat 27:18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.

Mat 27:19 When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.

Mat 27:20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.

Mat 27:21 The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.

Mat 27:22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.

Mat 27:23 And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.

Mat 27:24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.

While under the Jewish law blasphemy was punishable by death, no one could be put to death without a sentance by the Roman governor. After thorough questioning, Philate was unable to find Jesus quilty of a crime worthy of death and offered to give Jesus a life sentence and then pardon him. But th mob insisted that he must be crucified. So Pilate washed his hands of the whole affair and allowed him to be crucified.

FA 9. Jesus Scourged before Pilate.

Mark 15:15 And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.

FA 10. Jesus. King of the Jews.

Mark 15:17 And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,

Mark 15:18 And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!

Mark 15:19 And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.

Mark 15:20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.

The Palestinian thorns are about an inch and one half in length and very sharp.

FA 11. The Journey to Golgotha.

Luke 23:26 And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.

After the whippings and other physical abuse, the weight of the cross was more than Jesus could bear; after he collapsed under it, Simon of Cyrene was compelled to carry it the rest of the way.

FA 12. Jesus on the Cross.

Mat 27:33 And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,

Mat 27:34 They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink.

Mat 27:35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.

Mat 27:36 And sitting down they watched him there;

Mat 27:37 And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

He was crucified with nails being driven into his hands and feet.

FA 13. The Crucifixion.

Mat 27:38 Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.

Mat 27:39 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,

Mat 27:40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.

His cross was raised, and there he hung by the nails in his hands and feet until he died. He was falsely accused, condemned,and crucified by those he came to save. Perhaps some of those who only a few days earlier had marched in the procession of the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, hailing him as the KIng of the Jews, now stood by to see those very words inscribed on his cross.

Questions:

How sincere was their love for Jesus?

How many who proclaimed him as their king were willing to follow him to the cross?

How about us?

How sincere is our love for him?

Are we willing to stand with him regardless of what others may say or do?

FA 14. "It is Finished"

Luke 23:44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the nineth hour.

Luke 23:45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.

Luke 23:46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Mat 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

Mat 27:54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

This three-hour period of intense darkness and terrible earthquakes came during the daylight hours convincing even many of the Ridiculers and unbelievers that Jesus was the Son of God.

FA 15. The Resurrection Morning.

Luke 1:1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,

Luke 1:2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;

Luke 1:3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,

Luke 1:4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

Luke 1:5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

Luke 1:6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

Luke 1:7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

Luke 1:8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,

Luke 1:9 According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

Jesus was resurrected from the dead as he said he would be.

FA 16. The Unbelief of Thomas.

John 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

John 20:20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.

John 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

John 20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

John 20:23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

John 20:24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

John 20:25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

John 20:26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

John 20:27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

John 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

John 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

Too many of us are just like Thomas. We expect to see the actual and physical proof of everything even in the spiritual realm. We must realize that there are some things we need to believe even though we cannot see them with our physical eyes. Jesus appeared to people on several other occasions, some of which are pointed out in these quotations:

Luke 24:12 Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

Luke 24:13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.

Luke 24:14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.

John 21:1 After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.

John 21:2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.

John 21:3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.

John 21:4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

John 21:5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.

John 21:6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

John 21:7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.

John 21:8 And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.

John 21:9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.

John 21:10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.

John 21:11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.

John 21:12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.

John 21:13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.

John 21:14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.

1 Cor 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

1 Cor 15:5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:

1 Cor 15:6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

1 Cor 15:7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

1 Cor 15:8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

FA 17 The Great Commision.

Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

Mark 16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

The parting advice of Christ was that his disciples should continue to teach all things that he had taught them and baptize people in the name of Christ. If they would do this he promised to be with them unto the end of the world.

FA 18. Jesus Ascendeth to Heaven.

Acts 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

Acts 1:10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

Acts 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

Here the angels repeated the promise of Jesus that he would return. They further indicated that his return would be in the same manner as his departure.

FA 19. Pentecost

Acts 1:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they hould not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

Acts 1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy host not many days hence.

Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one ccord in one place.

Acts 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

Acts 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 2:5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

Acts 2:6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were onfounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

Here the promise that Jesus made to them that they would receive the gift of the Holy Ghost was fulfilled. It was the final evidence to them of the divinity of Christ. With this conviction they went forth to preach mightily.

FA 20. Christian Devotion.

Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Acts 2:43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

Acts 2:44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

Acts 2:45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

Acts 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

Acts 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Acts 4:32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

Acts 4:33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

Here is an example of outstanding devotion to Christ. Those who had given themselves to him recognized that the material things they possessed were not theirs, but God’s. They were willing to place these second in their lives, giving Christ first place. Therefore they sold of their possessions and laid them at the apostles’ feet.

FA 20a. A New Testament Minister.

After the New Testament Church was established, it proceeded to teach the doctrines that Christ taught and to administer the ordances which He introduced, such as baptism. This is a good place to empasize the necessity of obeying Christ’s doctrines and ordinances.

FA 21. Distribution to Every Man.

Acts 4:34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,

Acts 4:35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

The funds which were turned in were distributed among the members as each had need.

FA 22. Micah 3:6,7

Had the fine spirit continued among the disciples, all would have been well and the kingdom of God would have become a reality on earth. However, a dark day was ahead for the church.

Micah, the prophet, foretold of its comin g and told that it would be as spiritual darkness or night.

FA 23. Amos 8:11,12.

This same period was described by Amos as a spiritual famine.

FA 24. 2 Timothy 4:3,4.

This and the next two slides show that Paul, too, foresaw this period of spiritual darkness or famine.

FA 25. 2 Thessalonians2:2,3.

Paul told the Thessalonians that the second coming of Christ would be preceded by a falling away or, in other words, an apostasy.

FA 26. Acts 20:29-31.

This falling away was to come from within. Men would arise deliberately seeking to deceive. The urgency of this warning is pointed out by the fact that Paul cautioned them for "three years... night and day with tears".

FA 27. The Hirelings Flee.

John 10:12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

John 10:13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

John 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

The hirelings do not own the sheep, but are hired to watch over them for a wage. Therefore, their interests in the sheep do not arise out of genuine love. The time came when the sheperds in the church likewise lost their love for the sheep.

FA 28. The Good Shepard Gives His Life.

John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

John 10:15 As the Father knoweth me, even so I know the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

This is the true love of the sheperd and the minister.

FA 29. What became of the Church?

What could be the end of the church when the ministers are not genuinely interested in the people. It must surely suffer and eventually die, or be scattered, and that seems to be exactly what happened.

FA 29a. A Hand Marking out Doctrines.

"But the world left its mark upon the Church". The Roman government under Constantine took over the Church and removed many of Christ’s doctrines. This, along with other changes, caused the apostasy.

FA 30. Galatians 1:6-8.

No changes or false taechings could be permitted, yet these came into the church through the years. Some of these changes will be mentioned in the next eleven slides.

FA 31. John Wesley.

Notice that John Wesley considered that the spiritual famine had set in by the third century

FA 32. Continuation of 31.

Some examples of the corruption of the clergy whereby they were no longer worthy to receive of the Spirit of Christ. Without the Spirit there was only a dead form of left. The church was without life.

FA 33. The Baptism of Jesus.

Mat 3:13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

Mat 3:14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

Mat 3:15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

Mat 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

Mat 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

The apostasy has advanced so far that today baptism is not exclusively by immersion, but often by sprinkling or pouring and in many demoninations is not even considered necessary to salvation. Remember some of the scriptures quoted in the previous lesctures regarding the necessity of baptism.

FA 34. Jesus Blessing Little Children.

Luke 2:22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;

Luke 2:23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)

Luke 2:24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

Luke 2:25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

Luke 2:26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

Luke 2:27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,

Luke 2:28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

Luke 2:29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:

Luke 2:30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

Luke 2:31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

Luke 2:32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

Baptism of infants which has no scriptual authority is another evidence of apostasy.

FA 35. The Healing of the Woman.

Mark 5:25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,

Mark 5:26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,

Mark 5:27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.

Mark 5:28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.

Mark 5:29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.

As faith in the power of Christ was lost, men began to look to Mary, as the Mother of God, for healing. While today there is seemingly a return in belief in divine healing, many still deny its possibility.

FA 36. The Last Supper.