Definition: the renunciation of a religious or political belief or allegiance

Renunciation – Definition: a denial or rejection of something or somebody, usually for moral or religious reasons

So, what if a person does not actually deny Jesus by their faith, they just deny Him by their actions? What if a person believes in Jesus but does not study His Word? Instead, they study other books; not Jesus. Is that not rejection? Wouldn’t that be putting your trust in someone else, instead of leaning only on Him? You wouldn’t want to use that bad word “idol” but it may be appropriate. What is leaning on someone else’s word, instead of the Word of God as your firm and trusted source of reliance?

2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 - “1Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

2That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

3Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

4Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”

Well, some people are wondering what the great falling away will be. Who will fall away and how? Is it happening now? Are there people “falling away" now? Are you?

If apostasy is renunciation of a religious belief, and renunciation is denial or rejection of something or somebody for religious reasons, then trusting in other people or other books is rejecting God's truth; or "falling away".

Do you think you can stop the "great falling away" that must come before Jesus returns?

Are you trying to stop it?

Jesus said “35Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” Matthew 24:35 He said the same thing in Mark 13:31 and Luke 21:33.

We cannot stop the prophesied Word of God... it will come to pass.

The "great falling away" could be describing people who believe in Jesus Christ but will actually "fall away" from His Word, which is Truth, and instead of studying Jesus and His teachings in the Gospels, they will turn to man's words published in other books, which are not the actual Truth.

Peter said “13Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

14As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

15But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

16Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

17And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

18Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

20Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

21Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

22Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

23Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

24For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

25But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” 1 Peter 1:13-25

So we need to "gird ourselves up," read God's Word, and study to show ourselves approved so we will discern truth from deception. God's Word is spirit and life.

In John 6:63 Jesus said “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”

There you have it. The flesh, (our words) profit nothing! But the words Jesus spoke are SPIRIT and LIFE and they “quickeneth.” (definition of quicken: intransitive verb to begin a period of development; be stimulated).

It is written “9There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

10For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

11Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

12For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:9-12

I hope you’ve found a preacher who is actually reading and speaking God's Word, as it is written. When Jesus spoke God's Word, He spoke it as it is written.

We cannot stop the great falling away, but we can remain separate from it, so that we are not one of those who do!

Don't fall away from God's Word. Study God’s Word to show yourselves approved and don't place more significance on man's words. Keep your noses in your bible, and stay near the throne of God, asking for Wisdom, calling out for understanding. Ps. 111:10; Ps. 119:73; Ps. 119:169

Psalm 119:130 “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.”

Proverbs 2:1-7 “1My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;

2So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;

3Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;

4If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;

5Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

6For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

7He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.”