We will Not Give Up! - We will Not Give In! (Luke 8:13)

Luke 8:13 says, "They on the rock (are they) who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who for a while believe, and in time of testing fall away."

 FALL AWAY

The words "fall away" are one word in the Greek, and parallel the word "offended" in Matthew 13:21, and Mark 4:17.

The word is used 15 times in the NT, and mostly in the writings of Luke. (10 times in Luke and Acts collectively).

This word is where the English word "apostasy", is derived from. It definitely means to fall away, but there is a much deeper significance.

NEGATIVE

1) What is implied in the word, is a seducing of someone from a relationship or affiliation, whether that affiliation be to an individual or group. This may be private or political, and most commonly, in the OT or NT, it is a departure from God.

What is significant, is that it is not just the breaking of ties or commitments to another, rejecting their alliance, but the joining of the ones who have seduced them.

Therefore, in respect of Luke 8:13, not only do these unfortunate ones depart from faith in God, and all of it's benefits, but they embrace the deception that they have succumbed to, and all it's associations.

This word, in Luke 8:13, is used in an absolute sense, meaning that the condition is permanent. There is no hope that these people will ever recover from this apostasy.

2) Another meaning conveyed in the word, is that of "renouncing all claim to" something. This is legal terminology referring to giving up ownership or possession of something.

When these individuals "give up", because of tribulation and persecution, they renounce all claim to faith in God, and all the benefits; rights and privileges; inheritance; etc., that is rightly theirs, in Christ Jesus.

 DEVIL'S DEEDS

Probably the number one task of the devil, is not the destruction of the church, which he can never accomplish, but the  deception of  Believers into the relinquishing of authority, and position, that rightfully belongs to them, through deceptions such as:

"... that's been done away with... that's only for the Jews... that all stopped with the apostles...God doesn't do that anymore.." , which are all extremely misleading statements, often made by compassionate, well meaning people, who themselves have yielded to these misrepresentations of the Father, and His love for His children.

 POSITIVE

Looking at the positive implication of this word:

1) We will not give up our allegiance to our Father.

2) Every time we embrace faith; act on what our Father has told us to do; and steadfastly continue in His word, despite tribulation and persecution, we are not renouncing, but we are reasserting our claim, as sons and daughters of the King,  on everything that we are; everything that we have; and everything that we can do, in Christ Jesus.

By extension, our act of obedience in believing, reaffirms that God is who He says; God has what He says He has; and He can do what He says He can do.

You are God's Best and God's Best is Yours.