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Backsliding

Ariellamb

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Backsliding is so common but is not often talked about. A little bit like admitting I am an addict to drink,to drugs or to porn on the net. Its not something you are proud of.
But there is a way out!! Believe me!!

Some Christians believe that it is not possible for a Christian to backslide,else they were never truly Saved to start with.

I don't hold to that view because I know what an intense battle ground Satan has arrayed against the child of God & will do anything to attack their soul.


Check out this link. Deacon Dean has a gr8 sermon transcript on Backsliding. Use link.

Some tasters from Deans link -

The process of backsliding is a gradual one, often overtaking a person by surprise. You wake up one day and wonder how did I get this way? Lets look at the events that led up to Peter's denial of Christ, and use them to learn from one who knows from experience.

C.H. Spurgeon said: "The course of rebellion against God may be very gradual, but it increases in rapidity as you progress in it, and if you begin to run downhill, the ever increasing momentum will send you down faster and faster to destruction.

When a persons conscious lets them say: "I can do A," soon he will go to B, C, D, E, and all through the alphabet. When Satan cannot catch us with a big sin, he will try a little one. Does it matter to him as long as he catches a fish, what bait he uses?

Even though we may never actually deny Christ in words, our backsliding can deny Him in action. We are called to worship Him, but make excuses why we cannot. We are called to serve Him, but we sit back and render no service or watch those who do. We are called to stand by His side and suffer with Him, but often enough we stand afar off in the safety of the world's comfort. For Peter, he realized his sin when the Lord turned and looked at him in the courtyard (vs. 60-62). Can you imagine the feeling in Peter's heart when he looked straight into the eyes of the Savior? Like Judas, Peter wept bitterly over his sin. But unlike Judas, Peter's sorrow worked true repentance.

Remember too, that when Peter saw the eyes of the Lord, he realized the error of his way. Fortunately for him, there was time to repent. But for us, once we see Jesus' eyes, it will be too late, it will be judgment time then.
 
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RobertZ

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Backsliding is so common but is not often talked about. A little bit like admitting I am an addict to drink,to drugs or to porn on the net. Its not something you are proud of.
But there is a way out!! Believe me!!

Some Christians believe that it is not possible for a Christian to backslide,else they were never truly Saved to start with.

I don't hold to that view because I know what an intense battle ground Satan has arrayed against the child of God & will do anything to attack their soul.


I agree and isnt their somewhere in the Bible where it talks about God healing their backslidings?


EDIT-I found it.

Jeremiah 3:22 "My wayward children," says the LORD, "come back to me, and I will heal your wayward hearts." "Yes, we're coming," the people reply, "for you are the LORD our God.
 
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DeaconDean

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Backsliding is so common but is not often talked about. A little bit like admitting I am an addict to drink,to drugs or to porn on the net. Its not something you are proud of.
But there is a way out!! Believe me!!

Some Christians believe that it is not possible for a Christian to backslide,else they were never truly Saved to start with.

I don't hold to that view because I know what an intense battle ground Satan has arrayed against the child of God & will do anything to attack their soul.

Check out this link.

God Bless

Till all are one.
 
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DeaconDean

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Dean is it ok to put your link in the header with some snippets from your sermon?

Please be my guest.

God Bless

Till all are one.
 
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Vince53

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Psalm 26:1 Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.

Decades ago, I quoted this verse to a fellow Christian, who got so angry that he stomped out of the room. This thread reminded me of it, and I started another thread on "Can a Christian Repent?"
 
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Vince53

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Vince
Are you able to share some of the insite you have received from Ps 26v1 with us?
Thx

When an INDIVIDUAL accepts Christ, God prevents him from losing his salvation. How? There is more than one correct answer, and one of them is that God keeps working in the Christian's life to bring him closer to God.

When a Christian goes into sin, does God walk away and wait for him to get to Heaven to work it out, or does God do something while the person is still alive?

A variety of Scriptures teach that when you are born again, God works a change in you, and He keeps working in you. There are a few Scriptural instances where God killed someone who appeared to be saved, but I cannot find any in which God walked away from a Christian.

A genuine child of God can get into sin, but God will chasten him, not abandon him. People who are genuinely saved can move away from God, but they can't turn away from Him.
 
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T

trentlogain2

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When an INDIVIDUAL accepts Christ, God prevents him from losing his salvation. How? There is more than one correct answer, and one of them is that God keeps working in the Christian's life to bring him closer to God.

When a Christian goes into sin, does God walk away and wait for him to get to Heaven to work it out, or does God do something while the person is still alive?

A variety of Scriptures teach that when you are born again, God works a change in you, and He keeps working in you. There are a few Scriptural instances where God killed someone who appeared to be saved, but I cannot find any in which God walked away from a Christian.

A genuine child of God can get into sin, but God will chasten him, not abandon him. People who are genuinely saved can move away from God, but they can't turn away from Him.
Amen!
 
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Victorium

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Some Christians believe that it is not possible for a Christian to backslide,else they were never truly Saved to start with.


This is what I thought before I backslide! I thought that I would never let the Lord down, I was willing to die for him and I ended up making a mess of myself. It is possible for a true Christian to backslide, I'm one of them. I received the Holy Spirit and I was full of his power and produced the fruits of the spirit, I had a full relationship with God and ended up backsliding gradually, I ended up getting into some pretty wicked things - I'm ashamed to say - and one day I woke up and the [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] crowed three times. I regret my backsliding everyday. I wish I didn't do it!!! If there is a message I could give to any Christian out there that would be: don't be complacent and keep watch at all times (Luke 12:35-48; Matthew 25:1-13) and don't take God's grace for granted, it is a most wonderful gift and let the Holy Spirit be your best friend and love the Lord God with all your heart.

Don't backslide it's not worth it, you will regret it mark my word! Having a relationship with God is without doubt the best thing you can have in life, KEEP IT THAT WAY!!!

Peace be with you all.

Victor.

The process of backsliding is a gradual one, often overtaking a person by surprise. You wake up one day and wonder how did I get this way?
 
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stu31

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I received the Holy Spirit and I was full of his power and produced the fruits of the spirit, I had a full relationship with God and ended up backsliding gradually, I ended up getting into some pretty wicked things

Victor, can I ask how this happened? Surely while you were 'backsliding' you still had faith in God? So what were you thinking at the time? Were you led astray by others? Just curious, as someone that hasn't yet had a chance to backslide :)
 
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Victorium

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Victor, can I ask how this happened? Surely while you were 'backsliding' you still had faith in God? So what were you thinking at the time? Were you led astray by others? Just curious, as someone that hasn't yet had a chance to backslide :)

Hi Stu31,

I was under pressure from my family members because of my beliefs. Being a timid and sentitive person at the time I just cracked. Several of my family members and old friends smoked marijuana (the so-called harmless drug) and I ended up smoking again and this set me on my path. Yes of course I had faith in God while I was backsliding, but I felt if I came back I would just let God down again. I lost a lot of my faith and your good heart slowly gets eroded away and you get caught up in the world again. It was only after I went through a terrible illness that nearly killed me that I repented. In hindsight I lacked maturity and I also had problems with mental illness, but if I could go back in time with my maturity I would of never have backslid. There is other things happening that I just can't remember.

If your in danger of backsliding I suggest you spend some time with yourself in soul searching introspection and prayer.

Hope I have helped you?

Victor.
 
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RobertZ

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It was only after I went through a terrible illness that nearly killed me that I repented.

Thats a perfect example of Gods chastening. Nether the less a sever example to say the least but I have known other backsliders in my life who were brought to the point of death before they repented. When you first start to backslide God will work with you a little more gentle at first to put you back on the right path but if you dont listen and you keep going down that path of rebellion God can bring much more sever situations into your life to get your attention.

Anyone who has ever been delt with by God in a severe fashion of his chastening power can tell you first hand that it isnt a pleasant experience at all. Once corrected the child of God will start to bear good fruits again.

Heb 12:6
because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.
 
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stu31

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thanks for reply Victor, I am curious how those that are strong in faith can fall. I suspect that the people we keep company with are the major factor for most..which is why we should look to surround ourselves with fellow believers and not atheists who will always look to drag us from the right path.
 
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Vince53

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For those who say there is no backsliding I would be interested in knowing how they interpret the first ten verses of IJohn?

It really comes down to the definition of "backsliding." The Bible does warn Christians that they can become lukewarm, lose their first love, etc. But whatever the definition of backsliding, the word does not appear in the first ten verses of 1 John.
 
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FundamentalistJohn

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It really comes down to the definition of "backsliding." The Bible does warn Christians that they can become lukewarm, lose their first love, etc. But whatever the definition of backsliding, the word does not appear in the first ten verses of 1 John.

I agree the word does not appear but here is how I see it. (uneducated in Theology admittedly) This was written to Christians. This clearly states that we sin. This clearly states that if we sin we can be forgiven. Now if we can be forgiven then by necessity we are not forgiven previous to asking. Thus you have Christians in need of forgiveness.

I do not mean to be confrontational at all, there are many here far better educated than I and I freely welcome correction.
 
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Victorium

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I suspect that the people we keep company with are the major factor for most..which is why we should look to surround ourselves with fellow believers and not atheists who will always look to drag us from the right path.

That's right, you have to get the support of your fellow Christians. The average person is spiritually ignorant and they see your wisdom, righteousness and love as garbage. They believe that man can live on bread alone. You only have to look at King Solomon (1 Kings 11:4) to see how he fell in the end because of his non-believing wives. Stay close to your Christian friends and share your fears and thoughts with them. That was one of my mistakes that I ended up losing contact with them. Though I have some good Christian friends now and I tell them all my problems and they support and love me unconditionally.

Peace and goodwill to all,

Victor.
 
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