ETERNAL SECURITY AND APOSTASY – Part 2 of 2

(2 Chron 24)

(Continuation of Part 1):

  King Joash was seven years old when he began to reign, and did what was right in the eyes of the Lord in the days of Jehoida, the priest. Perhaps Jesus was remembering Joash when he said, “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Mat 18:3). He often referred to his disciples as “little children.” One example of that is in the passage, “Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me” (John 13:33).
  What made the disciples as little children? Paul defined who are the little children, “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you” (Gal 4:19). Little children are those who God has reborn. Spiritual rebirth is like a seed planted – belief in God – as the beginning as Christ is formed in them. The “seed” is the imbuing of the Holy Ghost, and filling of the Holy Ghost requires time. The Holy Ghost (aka, the Ghost of Jesus) is formed in those who are born-again until they are spiritually mature. Those who are reborn are also called “babes in Christ” (1 Cor 3:1).
  As long as the “babe” Joash was growing under Jehoida, Christ was in formation within him. Things were prosperous in Judah for much of Joash’s rule. The nation then turned from God to idols, and Joash transgressed with them. When Jehoida had died, Joash’s faith faltered. The influence of sinful Judah was too great, and Joash fell. (2 Chron 24:15-22).
  Joash represents righteous men (and women) who fail God. He once believed with all his heart because Jehoida kept him safe as a constant reminder of the Word. Jehoida was a type of Yahweh. God keeps sinners safe from the evil one and the law of sin. As long as Jehoida was alive in Joash’s heart, he was safe, awaiting only his own death. If he had endured to the end, Joash would have been saved (Mat 10:22), but he remained always a “babe in Christ” who depended on Jehoida to keep him safe.
  Joash’s life was dependent on Jehoida (“to build”; representing the Creator God). His safety depended on the presence of Jehoida, until he died. If Joash had preceded Jehoida in death, his death would have been gain. Does that not sound familiar? “For to me (Joash) to live is Christ (Jehoida), and to die is gain.” (Phil 1:21).  Of course, “me” was Paul, and “Christ” was God in the flesh, but that passage applies to everyone - Joash as well!
  After Jehoida’s death, Joash’s safety was compromised. His faith in his spiritual father waned after Jehoida died. Then the evil one’s, worshipers of Baal, came after him and Baal’s false doctrine made him falter. He swung to and fro from one belief to another until finally, he chose his new master.
Remembering that Joash remained a spiritual child of God (Jehoida) when “God” was gone from his presence, Joash was as a child in danger!  Paul warned of that when he wrote, “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive” (Ephes 4:14).
  If Joash had matured as a Christian, and saw that “Jehoida” would return, he would not have died!

KEY VERSES: And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the Lord, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the Lord, he hath also forsaken you. And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the Lord. Thus, Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he said, The Lord look upon it, and require it. (2 Chron 24:20:22).

  It should be obvious that Zechariah is a type of Jesus to Jehoida’s type of the Father. As with all Jews who have faith in Yahweh, but not the Son, in Joash’s reign it was the same with him. He was ripe for deception from the evil ones, and Joash fell away from God. 

  God remembered Joash by providing for him Jehoida’s son, and as such never forsook Joash. Joash, however forsook God! “Well,” you say, “Jehoida died!” No he did not. God cannot die, and neither can God’s faithful as Jehoida was until the end. Those once faithful whose faith waned, can and will die. Joash, we find, died shortly afterward as is written, “His own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and slew him on his bed, and he died” (2 Chron 24:25).

  Zechariah received a portion of his father’s spirit just as Jesus would at his baptism. Zechariah had Jehoida’s spirit “come upon him.” Does that sound familiar? 

And I (John) knew him not: but he (the Father) that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, “Upon whom (Jesus) thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.” (John 1:33)

  Even the blind should see that Zechariah was a type of Christ, and Joash only needed to await his priesthood! The name Zechariah means, “Yahweh remembers.” Jehoida nor God had forgotten Joash, as promised, but remembered that Joash needed a personal priest. With Jehoida gone, God had not forsaken Joash, but Joash did forsake Yahweh. Zechariah explained (from the key verses), “Because ye have forsaken the Lord, he hath also forsaken you.”

  Joash had committed apostasy! Perhaps Joash only thought that he would be ruined, not destroyed, because of what Zechariah said: “Why transgress ye the commandments of the Lord, that ye cannot prosper?” Most Jews always thought that “prosperity” meant the “land of milk and honey” with its riches. “Prosperity” is in the heavenly Paradise, not in paradise on Earth. Transgression (doing what he wanted to do) leads to loss of prosperity, and God wants that “none should perish” (John 3:16).

  Because he was accused and convicted by Zechariah (Jesus), Joash had two choices: (1) He could repent, or (2) become angry. Because he was king, Joash became angry, had Zechariah stoned, and slew him. The passage on that must be read again to see its impact: “Thus, Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son.” 

  Joash forgot about Jehoida (the Father-figure) and killed his son. That’s what all the “Joashes” did on Calvary; they forgot the Father and killed the Father’s Son. Mosaic law (for presumptive sin) requires that the accused be stoned. Although it is not written that he was, it is implied because of the Law and as Jesus was disfigured, that he was indeed stoned before he was crucified. Zechariah’s typology validates that. He was stoned in the manner which Jesus would be. 

  The last passage is ambiguous: “The Lord look upon it, and require it.” It seems that Joash’s life would likewise be required of him. In other words, he would die for his apostasy. Scripture means spiritual death! True, Joash’s life was required of him as is written, but the Lord looked upon Zechariah’s death, and would also “require it.” There may be a double-meaning therein. Not only would Joash’s life for apostasy be required of him, but Zechariah would be the example of God’s Son whose life would also be required! 

  Joash’s apostasy is the Old Testament example which applies to the New Testament. Faith is not for a moment, or even for years, but for a lifetime! We all must endure in faith until the end. If not, our lives will be required of us, and our prosperity taken away as Joash lost his life and his kingship.

  Ours, like Joash’s, is a battle of who would be king. Would it be Joash or Yahweh? Will it be us or Jesus?

  On the Holy Cross, a sign was prominently displayed; Jesus is King, and we are not! There were no such signs on the crosses of either the lost thief nor the one who gained prosperity that day. He looked at Jesus, and saw the real King! His meekness provided the prosperity. He knew he was no king, and that he deserved to die.

  We must be that way ourselves. None of us are kings, but deserve death as Joash did. Zechariah did nothing to deserve death, but he died in Joash’s place who eventually got what he deserved as he killed Jesus! Not of course literally, but figuratively. He killed Jesus within his hardened heart.

  His heart didn’t harden immediately; it took time. Baal was a patient god, and Satan is a patient fellow. Both killed Joash by hardening his once soft heart, as the little child he was in the beginning. The doctrine of eternal security denies that, but Joash’s apostasy reveals the true doctrine.

  I wish that eternal security was the Way to eternal prosperity, but it seems not to be correct doctrine. It is easy doctrine which most follow, but it is not right doctrine! It is cheap grace.