Backsliding
Backsliding
INTRODUCTION Often we find someone that is a strong Christian today but is backslidden later.
Sometimes we ask the question: Who will be the next to leave the Lord? and the inevitable answer is "not me." Remember the solemn warning of 1 Corinthians 10:12, "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall."
Proverbs 16:18, "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."
We are all kept by the grace and strength of the Lord. He is able to keep us. However, if we deliberately refuse His grace and assistance, we will fall.
1 Timothy 1:12, ". . . I am persuaded that He is able to keep. .." He surely is!
DEFINITION OF BACKSLIDING
Backsliding is turning away from God. 1 Kings 11:9, "And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God." Backsliding is growing cold and leaving the first love. Revelation 2:4, "Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love." Backsliding is turning from the simplicity of the Gospel to salvation by law.
Galatians 5:4, " . . whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace."
Some define backsliding as one sin that separates a believer from the Lord Isaiah 59:2, "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God." Speaking generally, backsliding is growing cold and losing interest in the Lord, the Bible, prayer, church attendance and witnessing and turning toward the world.
BACKSLIDING IS A GRADUAL PROCESS
I do not believe that anyone backslides suddenly. It is true that we may be shocked by the sudden outward manifestation of terrible sin. But the truth is that many little things have entered in and undermined the life. The story of Lot’s backsliding illustrates this point of seven downward steps.
Covetousness. Genesis 13:10, "And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain." Often the eyes are the first to leave the Saviour. They see something attractive.
Many a man has made the mistake of fixing his eyes on the wrong object.
Choosing too low. Lot chose the plain instead of the mountain, Genesis 13:11.
See also Genesis 19:17. Friends, lift up your sights. Aim high. Keep looking to the Saviour, Hebrews 12:1.
Compromise. Lot pitched his tent toward Sodom, Genesis 13:12-13. Lot compromised and lived near the place of sin. Abraham prospered up there on the mountain with God. The Bible says, "Flee also youthful lusts," 2 Timothy 2:22. Don’t live near Sodom (sin).
Captured by the enemy, Genesis 14:11-12. If one lives near sin one will be captured. Let the converted drunkard leave the pub. Let the thief be removed from the place of temptation. If you flirt with the world you will get burned.
If you give sin your finger it will soon take your hand, arm, body and then soul.
Carnal. "Lot sat in the gate of Sodom", Genesis 19:1, a member of the town council.
Lot has gained worldly influence but lost his spiritual influence. Genesis 19:16, "And while he lingered. . ." Lot loved Sodom. Lot loved the thing that God hated, and was about to destroy. Do we love sin?
Criminal weakness. Genesis 19:8, Lot was willing to give his two daughters into sin.
When a man goes down he takes others with him. Romans 14:7 is very very true.
Lot was as one that mocked (an old joker) to his sons-in-law, Genesis 19:14.
Carousing. Genesis 19:33-38. Here we find Lot drinking wine and engaged in immorality.
Lot loved sin. Lot lingered in sin. Wine always leads to immorality.
Let us not condemn Lot. 2 Peter 2:6-8 is still true. Let us observe and beware.
OUTWARD CAUSES OF BACKSLIDING
Covetousness, Genesis 13:10. Lot lusting for something that was not God’s will for him.
Society, Genesis 19:26. Lot’s wife looked to the things that she loved and became salt.
Fear, Matthew 26:70-74. Peter denied the Saviour because he feared man.
Haughty spirit, Proverbs 16:18, "... and an haughty spirit before a fall."
Selfishness. Proverbs 14:14;, "The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: . . ." He ought to be concerned with the Lord’s will and ways.
Idolatry. Exodus 32:8, Israel constantly went away from the Lord after false gods.
Disobedience. Saul in 1 Samuel 15:11, "... Saul. . . is turned back from following Me, and hath not performed My commandments."
Love of gold, silver and garments. Achan in Joshua 7:1-24.
Love of money. Judas Iscariot in John 13:29.
Outlandish women. Solomon in Nehemiah 13:20.
Ambition for power, Simon Magus in Acts 8:19. He tried to buy it with money.
Love of the world Demas in 2 Timothy 4:10.
THE TRUE CAUSE OF BACKSLIDING
Failure to maintain the Quiet Time. Many a person has come back to the Lord and sometimes through bitter tears said, "I lost out with God in my Quiet Time."
Failure to pray. We need prayers to intercede to God for strength. To fail to pray is a form of pride, and Proverbs 16:18 goes into effect.
Often the thing that crowds out prayer time will eventually cause the fall.
Failure to read the Bible. 2 Timothy 2:15, "Study to shew thyself approved. . ." It is disobedience to God and will surely bring repercussions.
We need to pray to be informed about the will and plan of God for us.
Failure to attend church. Hebrews 10:25, "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is . . ." Be sure to attend church once a week plus Bible Study, Young People’s and prayer meetings.
Failure to obey the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 4:30, "And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. "
Failure to confess Christ. Matthew 10:33, "But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven." See Romans 10:9.
Failure to walk in the light. 1 John 1:7, "But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light. . ." We ought to obey the light He gives us and follow quickly.
THE RESULTS OF BACKSLIDING
There will be a loss of power, a loss of peace, a loss of joy and happiness.
Murmuring and darkness will begin to cloud the daily pathway.
Backsliding will lead to the loss of rewards and the person will "suffer loss." (1 Corinthians 3:15) . Some teach that it may even lead to the loss of the soul.
GOD’S INVITATION TO RETURN
Jeremiah 3:22, "Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings.
Behold, we come unto Thee; for Thou art the Lord our God."
GOD’S PROMISE OF PARDON FOR BACKSLIDING Hosea 14:4, "I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for Mine anger is turned away from him."
CONCLUSION May I exhort you in the name of the Lord and by His strength never to backslide.
Revelation 2:10, "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." The true Christian hates backsliding. Psalms 101:3, "I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside.." ". . . before mine eyes :"-be very, very careful what is set before thine eyes. This is the true Object to set the gaze on: Hebrews 12:2, "Looking unto Jesus. . ."
Paul’s goal was Christ. Php 3:14, "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
REVIEW QUESTIONS
What is the solemn warning of 1 Corinthians 10:12, and Proverbs 16:18?
Give 4 definitions of backsliding. .
Trace the 7 downward steps in Lot’s backsliding.
List 10 causes of backsliding.
Give 7 possible causes of backsliding.
List 6 results of backsliding.
What is the connection between Jeremiah 3:22 and 1 John 1:9?
What helpful lesson regarding backsliding do we learn from Psalms 101:3?
How can Hebrews 12:2, and Php 3:4, keep us from backsliding?
Quote Hosea 14:4.