Beth-El Baptist Church

08/24/2008

Greg Tomlinson


What does it mean to backslide?


The idea of backsliding is greatly debated. There are those who equate backsliding with the idea of one losing their salvation, others indicate that it cannot happen, while others in a sense see it as a part of living live in the sin cursed world.


  1. Is the term found in the Bible?

Proverbs 14:12-16 Jeremiah 2:16-21; 31:18-22; 49:3-5

Hosea 11:5-7 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4

Acts 21:20-21


The scriptures do use the word 'backsliding' only in the Old Testament, but the concept is not foreign to the New Testament. In either case the term is associated with turning away from the truth of God's word and God's ways.


  1. How can we understand its meaning?

Jeremiah 3:6-11; 5:3-7; 8:1-7; 14:7 Psalm 53:1-4 cmp Genesis 3:1-6

Numbers 14:43-45 Joshua 22:15-22

Romans 12:2-3 1 Samuel 15:11

1 Kings 9:3-8 Judges 2:16-19


The term is used to describe Israel as a nation who has turned its back upon the God who brought them out of Egypt and who formed a covenant of blessing for obedience and cursing for disobedience. The New Testament term (apostasia) is also used in the Septuagint as a term of rebellion. To backslide is to turn your back upon God and seek to do things your own way. The idea actually began in the Garden of Eden. Mankind wanted to do things his own way, to be his own boss, to decide for himself what is right and what is wrong so backsliding is actually a term denoting the condition of all of fallen man. In particular it is associated with the idea of knowing the commandments of God and deliberately, conscientiously ignoring the commandments of God.


  1. Is this the same thing as losing one's salvation?

Jeremiah 3:12-15 Romans 1:18-25; 8:35-39

Titus 1:12-16 2 Peter 2:9-22

Proverbs 26:10-12 John 10:27-29 cmp John 17:11-12

1 John 2:19 Revelation 2:9; 3:9-10


Just because someone knows the scriptures does not make them a believer. Salvation is of the LORD. No man is saved apart from the work of God through Jesus Christ and Jesus loses none that the Father gives to Him, Jesus knows how to deliver the godly, the love of Jesus upon us remains forever. The nation of Israel was given the scriptures, they knew the scriptures and the righteous requirements of the Law but they did not obey but sought after other gods. Their actions revealed the reality of their heart's condition despite their knowledge of God and His divine and perfect ways.


  1. What do we do if it happens?

Jeremiah 3:1-3, 12-15, 22-23 Hosea 14:1-9

Psalm 80:17-19 Acts 14:15-17

Revelation 2:4-5 2 Chronicles 34:27

Luke 18:13-14 1 John 1:9


Whoever finds themselves in such a position of unbelief, regardless of their knowledge and supposed obedience to the Word of God, there is only one hope for the individual. They must humble themselves for God, admit their own wretched sinfulness, seek forgiveness through Jesus Christ and turn away (repent) from their sins.



Summary:


Backsliding is condition in which all men find themselves. It is a position of knowing and comprehending the righteousness of God, His sovereignty and His commandments and yet seeks to justify himself and claiming his own goodness and believing that his way is better than the humble submission to God through Jesus Christ as the scriptures and conscience requires..