Paul was amazed that the Galatian Christians were so soon deserting the Lord. Paul warned Christians: "Do not be haughty...but fearful. If God did not spare the natural branches (the Jewish people), He will certainly not spare you" (Rm 11:20, 21). "My fear is that, just as the serpent seduced Eve by his cunning, your thoughts may be corrupted and you may fall away from your sincere and complete devotion to Christ" (2 Cor 11:3). "I tell you all this so that no one may delude you with specious arguments" (Col 2:4). Paul told Timothy to warn certain people "against teaching false doctrines" (1 Tm 1:3). Paul prophesied to the Thessalonians that there would be a great apostasy before the end of the world (2 Thes 2:3). The writer of Hebrews warned: "Take care, my brothers, lest any of you have an evil and unfaithful spirit and fall away from the living God" (Heb 3:12). The writer of 2 Peter commanded: "Be solicitous to make your call and election permanent, brothers; surely those who do so will never be lost" (2 Pt 1:10). After lamenting that the church in Ephesus had lost its first love (Rv 2:4), John told the church in Sardis: "Wake up, and strengthen what remains before it dies" (Rv 3:2).

"For all these reasons, let anyone who thinks he is standing upright watch out lest he fall!" (1 Cor 10:12) "When men have fled a polluted world by recognizing the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and then are caught up and overcome in pollution once more, their last condition is worse than their first" (2 Pt 2:20). Don't fall away from the best into the worst condition. By God's grace, persevere in your life in Christ.

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Richard L. Klug, April 10, 2002

Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 18, 2002