Warning Against Backsliding
Warning fellow Christians against departing from God is not legalism. Nneither is it a negation of God's grace by which believers were saved.
Hebrews 3:12-14 (KJV)
12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
Here Paul again warns brethren--Christians--by the examples of Israel's failures in the wilderness. They were brought out of Egypt with the fullest assurance of blessing, prosperity, and eternal rest. By their sin and unbelief they came short of the promised blessings, fell in the wilderness, and were cut off from God. Paul states plainly that Christians--born-again or saved men--can also return to an evil heart of unbelief, depart from the living God, be hardened by deceitfulness of sin, be cut off by God, and be finally lost (Heb. 3:12-14). Source ยฉDake's Annotated Reference Bible Notes
The people referred to in verse 13, were Christians and not sinners. Sinners don't read or hear the word of God. Therefore the Apostle could not have been advising unbelievers to exhort one another daily. Neither can they revert to sin and depart from the living God, for they are already estranged from God.
To exhort and warn fellow believers against departing from God is not being legalistic, neither is it a negation of God's grace through which believers were saved.
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Salvation is by God's grace and our proper response as recepients of this invaluable gift is to accept it with heart felt gratitude. But, much as God loves us, He won't force salvation on us.
He has given us the power of frewill to be able to choose.
Deuteronomy 30:19:- I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
Moses challenged Israel to choose life, to obey God, and therefore to continue to experience his blessings. God doesnโt force his will on anyone. He lets us decide whether to follow him or reject him. This decision, however, is a life-or-death matter. God wants us to realize this, for he would like us all to choose life. Daily, in each new situation, we must affirm and reinforce this commitment. (LASB KJV- Notes)
What Backsliding In Heart Is
It is in taking back that consecration to God and His service that constitutes true conversion.
It is the leaving by a Christian of his first love.
It consists in the Christian withdrawing himself from entire and total surrender to God and coming again under the control of a self-pleasing spirit.
It also must be said that a person may have a backslidden heart even though he maintains an outward appearance of religion. We have all seen different men perform the same or similar outward acts from widely different (and often from opposite) motives. No doubt the most intense selfishness often takes on a religious form. And there are many considerations that might lead a backslider in heart to keep up this spiritual show, even though he has lost the power of godliness in his soul.
The other day, my pastor touched on this subject. Here are the points I hurriedly jotted down.
Backsliding creeps on the believer gradually. Fortunately, our loving God always send warning to let us know when we are drifting from and departing from our first love. Here are some signs manifest in the life of backsliders.
1. Not reading the Bible
2. Negligence of prayers.
3. Absenteeism from church services
4. No conviction about sin.
5. Withdrawing from Christians community and the fellowship of the believers.
6. More worldly in behaviour. Going going back on sinful things previously left behind.
7. Comparing oneself to other borderline believers.
Jeremiah 3:12-13 (KJV)
12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever.
13 Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD.
Just as God commanded the backslidden nation of Israel to return to Him, in like manner, He is calling and waiting for all backslidden Christians to return to our Savior.
Ezekiel 18:30-32
30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.
31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.
Some years ago, I read an excellent two part part article by Reverend Charles G.Finney on the subject of the possibility of backsliding.
May the Lord give you the grace to remain steadfast to the end.
Hosea 10:12 (KJV)
12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
Thank you for reading.
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