Dr. Barclays Bible Study - The Gospel of Mark Part 1

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Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - APOSTASIA

                                                                                                

                                                                                                       APOSTASIA

The above word is from the Greek language and is composed of two root words “apo” which means “to depart from” and “stasis” which means “the stand or state of.” So, apostasia means to depart from one’s stand or state. In the Bible, it is translated as “falling away.”

In 2 Thessalonians, it is written:

 

Let no one deceive you by any means; 

for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, 

and the man of sin is revealed… 

(2:3)

This falling away is often considered to refer to the abandonment of faith and the Word of God with ramifications that are mentioned in other parts of Scripture.

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:

For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, 

boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, 

unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, 

slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 

traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than 

lovers of God. 

(2 Timothy 3:1-4)

And for these reasons, we are told to:

…take up the whole armour of God, 

that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, 

and having done all, to stand. 

(Ephesians 6:13)

But the falling away does not just mean the departure from the faith in the moral and spiritual sense but it also refers to the falling away from ones’ state or stature. Our place in creation has been defined by God as revealed in His Word and, therefore, as we fall away from the Word we also tend to fall away from our state in creation. As the Bible states:

…God created man in His own image; 

in the image of God He created him; 

male and female created He them. 

(Genesis 1:27)

Thus, the further we fall away from the word, the further we fall away from the state in which we were made. As Jonathan Cahn puts it:

“…there will not only be a falling away from faith, but a falling away from being…

the departure of men from the stasis or state of manhood, 

the departure of women from the stasis or state of womanhood, 

of fathers from the state of fatherhood, of mothers from the state of motherhood, 

and of man from the stasis and state of humanity.”*

Man was created by the Word and is supposed to live by that same Word. As we fall away from the Word, we tend to lose our state and become among other things - more lovers of ourselves and money; lacking in self-control and morality. A true apostasia.

When you look at today’s world, it is not hard to see how we are fast approaching the falling away mentioned in scripture.

That should be enough to make us think seriously about it.

*The Apostasis, The Book of Mysteries by Jonathan Cahn (p.g. 270)

 

Peter MacLaren June 15, 2025

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - BREVITY

BREVITY

There are many passages in Scripture which emphasize the brevity of life. For example, Psalm 90 states that:

The days of our lives are seventy years; 

and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, 

Yet their boast is only labour and sorrow;

For it is soon cut off, and we fly away. 

(Psalm 90:10)

So teach us to number our days,

that we may gain a heart of wisdom. 

(Psalm 90:12)

Similarly, Job and Samuel say:

Oh, remember that my life is a breath! 

(Job 7:7)

For we will surely die 

and become like water spilled on the ground, 

which cannot be gathered up again. 

(2 Samuel 14:14)

There are many other verses revealing just how short life is on this earth. Yet consider just how much effort we put into planning just what our life here might be like. If we consider the five years or so we live as children, then we spend, on average, between 18 and 23 years getting prepared for doing what will be our life work.That leaves about 55 years left, of which approximately one-third is spent in sleeping and eating, leaving, on average, 38 years to work, play, have a family and recreational time, and retire as we get older. Much of the time we do spend working seems to be to gain houses which are too big, cars that are too expensive, and toys which are rarely used. And often this is financed by debt which turns out to be too much for too long.

Is this really what life was meant to be? We spend all this time and effort for an existence which may last 70 or eighty years and then it’s over.

But what about eternity? If we really believe what the Bible tells us, then a long time awaits after we die here if we have the faith to believe it. But how much time do we take to prepare for eternal life? If we take about 20-25 years to prepare for a job that may last 30 years, do we do anything to prepare for what eternity may offer?

Life here may be just a breath but what comes after lasts much longer. And did not Solomon say after all he had done and accomplished in his life that:

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:

Fear God, and keep His commandments:

for this is the whole duty of man. 

(Ecclesiastes 12:13 KJV) 

For we are His workmanship, 

created in Christ Jesus for good works, 

which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. 

(Ephesians 2:10)

It is really not possible to fear God and keep His commandments or to do good works if we are not prepared to know Him, His words, and at least do what is needed to prepare for eternity - just we tend to do for our life here on earth. And also, we never know when our time for eternity may come, for, as James states:

…you do not know what will happen tomorrow. 

For what is your life?

It is…a vapour that appears for a little time 

and then vanishes away. 

(James 4:14)

So, let us prepare for what is eventually coming. For any of us, it may be sooner than one may realize.  And it is truly something we all should all be thinking about.  

Pastor Matthew Trott June 8, 2025

Dr. Barclays Bible Study - The Book of Ephesians Part 24

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - FELLOWSHIP

FELLOWSHIP

Fellowship is defined in dictionaries as: companionship, an association of persons having similar interests, feelings, the condition or relation of being a peer (Dictionary. com)

It is certainly implied, if not overtly stated therefore, that any degree of such association requires the coming together of peoples and the familiarization of one with another so that similar feelings and interests can be identified. By so doing, such interests can be expounded and extended as people become more familiar with and relate more intimately with each other.

And, even more importantly, each can support and help one another more as familiarity and common interests become more evident.

This is undoubtedly a major reason why the Bible states that:

not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, 

as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, 

…and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. 

(Hebrews 10:25)

It is difficult to get to know others or to support and exhort others if a relationship is based on no more then one or two meetings or interactions a year. Additionally, if we do not intermix with those with whom we have interests in common, it is likely that we will start having a sort of fellowship with others of different persuasion. Thus, Scripture has stated:

…I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. 

(1 Corinthians 10:20)

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness… 

(Ephesians 5:11)

…For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? 

(2 Corinthians 6:14) 

Everyone has fellowship with someone and that is why the statement is made that we are to assemble ourselves together for support and common good. After all…

 

…if we walk in the light as He is in the light, 

we have fellowship with one another… 

(1 John 1:7)

If that is the case, we get to help and to know each one better for support and interest. But the best part of all, is that we get to know both the Father and Son more intimately for…

 

…truly our fellowship is with the Father and His Son 

Jesus Christ. 

(1John 1:3)

Knowing God and knowing each other better is truly something worth thinking about.