Backsliding

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 9
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The Bible speaks of two kinds of departure from God––apostasy and backsliding. Both are bad, but one (apostasy) is infinitely worse. A believer can never apostatize, but he surely can backslide, if he is not careful in his walk. If a believer does backslide, there is a remedy (confession and repentance, whereupon he is restored to the Lord – 1 John 1:99If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)), but if a merely professing believer apostatizes, there is no remedy (Heb. 6:4-64For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. (Hebrews 6:4‑6)). (See Apostasy.)
The words “backsliding” and “backslider” are not found in the New Testament, but this kind of sad departure from God surely is mentioned (Mark 14:3030And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. (Mark 14:30); James 5:1919Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; (James 5:19)). It has to do with a believer becoming careless in heart as to his communion with God (Prov. 14:1414The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself. (Proverbs 14:14)), and if this is not judged, it will result in a wayward walk from the Lord. The work of Christ as an Advocate brings the backslider back. The restoration of the backslider involves repentance and the confession of sins to the Father (1 John 1:99If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)). (See Advocacy.)
•  Our link of communion with God will be broken (Rom. 8:1313For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. (Romans 8:13)).
•  We acquire a bad conscience which will result in a lack of confidence in prayer (1 John 5:14-1514And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. (1 John 5:14‑15)).
•  We will lose spiritual energy.
•  We will lose discernment (Hos. 7:8-98Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned. 9Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not. (Hosea 7:8‑9)).
•  We may become a slave to the sins that we allow in our lives (1 Cor. 6:1212All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. (1 Corinthians 6:12)).
•  The chastening hand of God will be laid upon us in order to turn us around (Heb. 12:66For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. (Hebrews 12:6)). Such chastening could even go to the extent of being taken away in death prematurely (Eccl. 7:1717Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time? (Ecclesiastes 7:17); 1 Cor. 11:31-3231For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. (1 Corinthians 11:31‑32); James 5:2020Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. (James 5:20); 1 John 5:1616If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. (1 John 5:16)).
•  We spoil our Christian testimony before the world (Gen. 19:1414And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law. (Genesis 19:14)).
•  We will lose a reward that the Lord intended for us to have (1 Cor. 3:13-1513Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (1 Corinthians 3:13‑15); 2 Cor. 5:1010For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10); Rev. 3:1111Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. (Revelation 3:11)).