If I asked you “Can a human ‘fly’?”, how would you answer? You think to yourself, if I say “yes” they’ll think I am crazy, since a human does not have any wings! But again you think to yourself, if I say “no” they’ll think I am crazy, since a human can get on-board a plane! So, how do you respond to such a question? How do you ensure clear communication, when answering a question that seems incommunicable?
I feel the same tension when I ask myself how to answer this question! Thus, I have two aims in this article. First, I will make an attempt to clarify what I mean and don’t mean by the term “backslide”. Then, once we all know what I intend by the word “backslide”, I will make an attempt to give a clear Biblical answer to the question.
1. WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THE TERM “BACKSLIDE”?
A. What I do not mean.
I don’t mean by “backslide” a momentary slide into sin. The Bible clearly tells us that a Christian can obviously slide into momentary sin, for it tells us if we have none to confess we are not Christians.
“If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.” – 1 John 1:8
Therefore, a Christian must be able, in some sense, to slide into sin. For you cannot confess sin unless you have first committed sin to confess. The Christian confession presupposes Christian sin.
B. What I do mean.
So far we understand that there is some sense in which a Christian can slide into sin, but how far should we extend this “So far” is the question? Well, as far as the Bible does. And the Bible extends the sense in which a Christian can slide into sin until it reaches the line of continuous sin.
“No one who is born of God practices sin…” – 1 John 3:9
So, the Bible makes a clear distinction between momentary sin and continuous sin. Therefore, I do mean by the term “backslide” this continuous sin. You have two choices for the word meaning and I choose the second. So, I hope nobody will misunderstand my following answer.
2. WELL THEN, CAN A CHRISTIAN “BACKSLIDE”?
A. No, A Christian cannot “Backslide”.
To some I know this is a shocking answer, but it is shocking on purpose. Many people today will label someone a “Christian Backslider” who is living in a continual state of sinfulness. This is a huge tragedy! For many who profess Christ as Lord yet continuously do not do the will of the Father are falsely assured they know the Lord. To those who do not see the astronomical, greivous, horrible tragedy involved in such counsel I direct them to Jesus…
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.” – Mathew 7:21
Therefore, when we mean by the term “backslide” a continuous state of sinfulness (which I mean) the Bible answers the question with an unapologetical NO. A Christian cannot backslide.
However, for the majority of my church life I was under the influence of teaching that taught a Christian could indeed “backslide” in the above sense. All the while the Bible contradicted such teaching.
So, I was lied to….were you?
About I Was Lied To
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. (Matt. 12:35)
This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. (Matt. 15:8)
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. (Matt. 5:8)
Am I following your thoughts if I say . . . “A Christian cannot backslide (your definition) because when a person reaches the point where they are backsliding, they are no longer considered a Christian? Hence a Christian cannot backslide, because he is no longer considered a Christian, because he backslid. Then they are a non-Christian backsliding? Need a little help on this. Thanks.
I think admin means that a Christian cannot backslide…however, there are people who profess to be Christians, live “like Christians” for a while and then fall into sin or some people say “fall away”. But they were not Christians to begin with, I guess you could say they are like Judas maybe. He sat with JESUS and was not a follower of CHRIST. I don’t knowif this helps, but I think it is what admin means?!?!?!
Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. (2 Peter 3:17)
When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die. (Ezek. 18:26)
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. (Mark 13:13)
Hmm. I always thought no one is immune to temptation and sin. Even Christ was tempted, he just always made the correct decision. I understand that we sin and then repent and then get back on the road to salvation, but sometimes we (meaning people) fall away severely and it may take years or even a lifetime to work their way back. If I thought that I could not backslide because I was a true Christian, then I might feel that I could relax or that I might be a little better than those who were not true Christians. (Of course these would be major errors.) If I fell away and thought that I was actually never a real Christian, then I might not even bother to try to get back. I wonder at what point or degree would a person become the type of Christian that could not backslide?
Any way, I’m having trouble grasping this idea.
Is there a place in scripture that says that a follower of JESUS CHRIST will “fall away”?? Mark 13:13 makes it clear to me that you will “endure to the end”, no where does it say that you will not sin. We will sin, however we will not practice sin….1 John 1:6 “If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;…1 John 1:10 “If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us” ….. 1 John 2:4 “The one who says, “I have come to know HIM,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liear, and the truth is not in him; 5 but whoever keeps HIs word, in him the love of GOD has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in HIM.” According to these scriptures no one can have assurance of being a child of GOD if he is living in sin.
Arejay,
The reason you have trouble grasping this truth is the same reason I have trouble writing about it, however, due to its eternal impact on people it is a fitting topic to clarify.
My attempt to ease the trouble was to explain what I did not and did mean by “backslide”.
Therefore, to give an answer to your struggle to grasp the idea I would say…
1. If by “backslide” you mean continuous sin, my answer is that no a Christian cannot live in a continual pattern of iniquity. (1 John 3:9)
2. If by “backslide” you mean momentary sin, my answer is that yes a Christian can live in a momentary pattern of iniquity. (1 John 1:8).
The important task for the writer and reader of this article is to have a parallel definition of the term “backslide” and that should eliminate the trouble.
What happens if we dont????
It would be like a person asking you if a human can fly and you answer yes. However, he means (can a human fly if he jumps off a cliff by himself) and you meant (a human can fly if he gets on-board a plane). What would happen is a tragic death! Likewise, if people misunderstand the term “backslide” they may make an eternal miscalculation to which they cannot clear their calculator and start over again.
Thanks for your response.
(Jer 32:35-42)
This passage makes very clear the pages thoughts. The long lost doctrine in the religious loop today is not justification, even though its misundestood, it is REGENERATION.
Regeneration- is the process whereby the Holy Spirit brings fourth a new birth in a sinner, once this person has been rebirthed he has crucified all his past terrible lustful desires he held as a sinner (gal 5:24) This man is now living with the power of the spirit for defeat over sin.
Does this mean that a converted person will not sin? well that answer is very easy-
If i were perfect i would not be writing this letter i would be in Heaven enjoying the Lords glory, evidence that we still sin is that we are still alive.
However, at the end of the day if you have lived years of continual sin you can have absolutely no assurance unto salvation. We cannot make a practice nor make peace with sin, if the Holy Spirit is not daily convicting His children of the errors within we can rest assure that He doesnt dwell within.
Regeneration is the long lost doctrine of which the reformers preached and were killed, all through Church history this is the doctrine that was tought. Now days, we would rather send our youth groups canoeing or paintballing instead of teaching them who is God.
The “church” of america is simply as fake as a story about warewolfs….
where is this church in america?
Christ true Church is more beautiful than she was yesterday, and she is in full bloom, white as snow and full of glory from her master and Lord Jesus! Its just that america doesnt know where she is.
A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. (Prov. 15:1)
Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: (Luke 6:37)
Just a few thoughts:
While we are assuredly suppose to preach repentance (and teach it to our families, friends and acquaintances), care must be used in the presentation. I’ve always felt that if through my presentation, one person should became discouraged from the faith, by my use of condemning words, condescending attitudes, advanced doctrine, etc., then I would bare some accountability before the Lord. I feel a great responsibility to share with others the joy and security the Gospel of Jesus Christ has given to me. I sometimes wish that I could just reach out and touch somebody with my finger and transfer these feelings. But, it doesn’t work that way. Each person must work out their own salvation with the Lord. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is so designed that everyone who has ever lived, lives now, or will ever live can find their way back to God. All they have to do is learn it and live it.
Backsliding is a term used within Christianity to describe a process by which an individual who has converted to Christianity reverts to pre-conversion habits and practices. (Wikipedia)
Admin:
. As I said, I understand that people will sin, both continuously and monentarily and I understand that these things are and can be true with people. But, I’m not sure what you meant by “truth.” (…trouble grasping this truth is the…). Were you saying this is a truth because these things are true, or were you referring to an eternal truth.
Thanks for the reply. A lot of things come to mind as I contemplate these multiple (or parallel) definitions of words and try to use them in my reasoning process. Backslide (1) is a verb that means to revert, or to fall away, and then Backslide (2) as you use it means a state of continual sin which would be considered a noun (name of a person, place, thing, or idea). Obviously, this is not a word that I use often, (definition 2 never) although I understand momentary and continual sin. Maybe I’m just more involved in trying to get people into an “upslide”
Curious question: Considering the thoughts on backslider; how would one classify the Prodigal son?
Arejay,
Thanks for bringing up these definitions. As I mentioned before, the word meaning is the key to eliminating the confusion associated with this term. So, the more we discuss hopefully the more we understand.
FIRST
You wrote…
“Backsliding is a term used within Christianity to describe a process by which an individual who has converted to Christianity reverts to pre-conversion habits and practices. (Wikipedia)”
This definition runs parallel with the one I used in the article. Notice the word “PRACTICES” in the definition above.
“No one born of God practices sin…” (1 John 3:9)
Notice the word “PRACTICES” in the verse above. I said that a Christian cannot do this only because the Apostle John says so in the verse quoted above. I believe John would say to Wikapedia…
“They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.” (1 John 2:19)
SECOND
You also wrote…
Backslide (1) is a verb that means to revert, or to fall away, and then Backslide (2) as you use it means a state of continual sin which would be considered a noun (name of a person, place, thing, or idea).
I would say I meant “backslide” to cover definition (1) and (2) you have presented above. There are really two sides to the coin of a false convert who falls away from the faith. One is a verb, whereby they revert from where they presently are to where they in the past were. The second is a noun, whereby they remain in the state where they have now reverted. My article was only looking at the second half of this and presupposing the first. So thanks for pointing out that I did not explain the first half of this process. In closing, yes, I mean to include both the act of falling away and the state of remaining away. I mean to say a Christian cannot do this, since John says they cannot do this.
THIRD
You wrote…
“Curious question: Considering the thoughts on backslider; how would one classify the Prodigal son?”
Jesus said of him…
“…this brother of yours was DEAD and has begun to LIVE, and was LOST and has been FOUND” (Luke 15:32)
Scripture (to my knowledge) never refers to a Christian as “dead” or “lost”, but instead refers to Non-Christians as “dead” and “lost”. Compare the above words of Jesus with His words in the Gospel of John…
“…he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of DEATH into LIFE.” (John 5:24)
Therefore, we can speculate whether this son was a false convert who later became a true convert, or just a general lost person who became a true convert. However, the Bible does not allow us to speculate whether or not the son was a Christian before he returned home to the father. That matter is settled with the description Jesus gave to him as “dead” and “lost”. For more on “dead” and “alive” see (Ephesians 2:1-10).
A last thought: Jesus’ parable in (Mark 4:1-20) is a big help on the difference between True and False Conversion.
Thanks as always!
A TRUE CHRISTIAN CANNOT PRACTICE OR LIVE IN A CONTINUAL STATE OF SIN. THIS BEHAVIOR IS ONLY FITTING FOR A UN-REGENERATE WICKED PERSON. THE BIBLE GIVES VERY CLEAR INSTRUCTION ON THIS ISSUE IN FIRST JOHN.
A CHRISTIAN CAN SIN, SEE FIRST JOHN AS WELL, IF WE SAY WE HAVE NO SIN WE ARE LIARS…..HOWEVER, THE SAME BOOK MAINTAINS THAT A CHRISTIAN CANNOT LIVE IN OR PRACTICE SIN
I MAINTAIN THAT IF WE TRULY BELONG TO CHRIST WE WILL LOVE HIM BY KEEPING HIS COMMANDMENTS. DO I MEAN PERFECTLY? NO. WHAT I MEAN IS WE WILL GUARD AND CHERISH AND SPEND TIME EACH DAY SOAKING ON WHAT IS HIS COMMANDMENTS AND HOW MAY I BETTER SERVE HIM BY GROWING IN HOLINESS….
BY THE WAY THE SAME BOOK GIVES THE PROPER DEFENITION OF THE SIN- IT IS LAWLESSNESS
Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. (Luke 15:10)
I appologize for my absence, sometimes I stay so busy, there is little time for the computer.
After reading your comments, both from the Admin and Mr. Mercer, I will make a few comments.
As for the definition of “backsliding”, I see it as a term for the process of one falling away from his Christian habits and practices. For me it’s a simple definition of something a Christian should try to avoid.
I keep getting the idea from our discussions, that once you are a “true” Christian that you “will not, can not” fall away. And if you do fall away, then you were not a “true” Christian to begin with. While I agree with many of your statements, (such as many who do fall away may have not been as converted as they could have been.) I cannot come to this conclusion. There are several reasons, but these seem simplest, no matter what our Christian status, we could at any moment choose to do wrong and choose to continue it until we were degenerate. Also, we would not know if we were a true Christian until we passed this mortal life. (If one repents from smoking cigarettes, he will say he will never smoke again . . . but he will only know that when he has never done it and passed on, because at any time during his living, he could choose to smoke.)
As for the Prodigal Son, I understand your reasoning, and we’re not told if he he might have been alive or dead, before he was dead. Although there is some evidence in the two parables that he gave at the same time as this one to suggest that he might have been alive. One sheep was lost from the fold of a 100, so it was part of the fold and got lost, and the other; a woman lost one of her ten coins, meaning it was part of the ten she owned. (Luke 15) I’ve always thought that these parables meant that no matter what height one fell from, with repentence, the Lord would gladly welcome them back.
Thank you for your replies and time. It is always invigorating to me to discuss the gospel of Jesus Christ. Thanks.
Arejay,
You wrote:
(I’ve always thought that these parables meant that no matter what height one fell from, with repentence, the Lord would gladly welcome them back.)
I agree with you that ONE of the points in those parables could be that. The doctrine of the preservation of the saints does not deny this truth.
You wrote:
(I keep getting the idea from our discussions, that once you are a “true” Christian that you “will not, can not” fall away. And if you do fall away, then you were not a “true” Christian to begin with. )
That is exactly the truth of the preservation of the saints. It is as follows = [All true Christians will be kept by God’s power, and will continue as Christians until the end of their lives, and only those who continue until the end were true Christians.] Therefore, I think you understand our position correctly.
You also wrote:
(no matter what our Christian status, we could at any moment choose to do wrong and choose to continue it until we were degenerate.)
I am curious why you believe this? Would like to know your reasoning.
Thanks for your time,
*I have a one page bible study concerning the “Preservation of the Saints” if you would like us to email it to you for your consideration.
Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. (Mark 13:38)
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also (James 2:26)
Thank you for your reply. I, too agree that there are other points to be taken from the parable of the Prodigal Son.
Thank you for the question: I wrote “no matter what our Christian status, we could at any moment choose to do wrong and choose to continue it until we were degenerate.” My reasoning is because I can, you can, she can, he can, etc. People choose. One of the great tragedies in this world is the the number of people who fall into Satan’s traps. Drugs, alcohol, tobacco, pornography, obsessions of wealth and fame, etc., the list goes on. One thing these have in common is that they limit your ability to make a decision. Drugs is a very obvious example. Once a person has become addicted, then he or she has one objective and that is to get more drugs. All of their decisions are centered on that one goal. They will do whatever to get them and family is usually a casualty. While drugs, alcohol and tobacco have medicinary uses and wealth and fame should be used to help and promote the gospel and gospel principles (pornography has no redeeming value), Satan uses them to entrap people. He knows that the only way that they can get to Heaven is through the decisions and actions they make and do while they are here on the earth. He is relentless and will try to get to you for as long as you are alive. He has no chance against Gods armor, but if you blink, he will have his opening. We must be ever on guard, he is more clever than we can ever imagine, he will use your friends, family and/or a complete stranger to get to you. I can only hope and have faith, that as I pray, study the gospel, go to church and do the things He would have me do, that I will be able to endure the temptations of this world and live in a manner that is pleasing unto Him. I feel now that I am a true Christian, but until I have left this world, I will not know if I have “won the race” until I meet Him.
Please do (email) as I don’t know a lot about this subject (Preservation of Saints). You should have my email address. Thanks.
Ok first I give respect and thanks to all of the posts here ,u all gave very powerful
and deep insights here and have indeed enlightened me. And yet you’ve broken my
heart I am very dissapointed because I feel like that does’nt sound like my Jesus.
Please hear me out, yes you. Provide very great. Insights on the power and justice of
God , but where is the love? Where is the Father that accepts no matter what?
That forgives and forgets sin from both Saint and Sinner alike? Is it not true that we
all sin and fall short of the glory of God? Who neccecarily made the distinction of
Continual sin varying from momentary sin? Sin is Sin!!! And if that holds true,than
Why is it looking to me like you all are saying that a certain degree of sin could cost you your
salvation? In closing I am saying that we all sin at the end of the day we are all human
And all capable of commiting the same sins whether momentary or continual it is the
Choices we make after concering whether or not to repent and turn from the sin that
Determines our end……
Been reading, and need to comment.
I do believe that yes, a Christian can backslide, a Christian, can fall away, and a Christian, because it says in Rev, can have their name blotted out of the book of life. Christian means, Christ like, a believer, right? One who is born again,
but, it also says, in Hebrews, that some draw back into perdition, that they are Entangled again AND OVERCOME, and that, I believe may be key here. I say this, because I was a serious and I do mean serious, back slidden Christian, a hardened rebel, though I never denounced my belief in Jesus, I denied Him in how I lived, there was a LOT of hurt in me that had a lot to contribute,
HOWEVER, hurt or no hurt, there are some Truths that I shall share, because I believe, that we overcome by the testimony and I promised Jesus that I would WARN people, so they will NOT, do the same mistakes and choices I did, because it seriously is NOT WORTH it. I share this, not in the attitude of religion, or Pharisee attitude, but in knowing, the seriousness and just how debased my nature is, if my life, can lift any who are in the pit, if Jesus can use those years that I was ensnared by the Devil AND by my own debased nature, that is my hope, because there is many things I have learned, that God has shown me, that I firmly in conviction believe, needs to be shouted from the rooftops.
The first danger I want to say, is we can get into Serious trouble, when we begin to take ‘confidence’ in our own so called righteousness, that includes being saved, when we begin to COMPARE ourselves, with others, that is SO DANGEROUS, because Truth of the matter is, the ONLY reason, the Christian is saved, SAVED, is because of the Grace and Mercy and Love and Sacrifice that Jesus Christ gave us, paid for us, and lest we EVER FORGET THAT, because
its NOT that, well we are just good people who just ’sin’, oh no, its not that we are just good people who are lost and do bad things, oh no, its we ARE THE BEAST, ok, to be very blunt, that depraved sinful nature, is just that, depraved and That is why, Jesus said, one Must be born again. But if you look at a baby, they have to grow, that means, that infant, has to grow, and its here where many get into trouble…
because it doesn’t matter When, a believer makes a choice and continues to make a choice to rebel against the LORDSHIP of Jesus, a person Has a Free Will. The most Dangerous LIE out there, is the LIE that a believer is just saved and always saved, no matter what. To Believe on Christ is to believe in Every thing He said, to Obey His commands, to Surrender to HIS Lordship. And it is here where the real battle begins, and it is also here, where WE have a DUTY, to Disciple, not just to witness, and to LOVE, TO BEAR ONE ANOTHER’S BURDENS, THINKING NOT JUST OF OURSELVES, we become less, Christ becomes more.
The thing about the we become less too is that our struggle/our dependence on ourself becomes less as we trust/lean/obey and let Jesus live in us, His power, NOT OURS. The reasons I backslid, were many, for one, I did, I know, believe in Jesus, I did, at that time, turned away from sin, however, I did NOT submit to His Lordship, therefore, I made a mental knowing but not a ‘true’ knowing, and there were several reasons for this,
the first, I have to say, was unforgiveness. Unforgiveness is extremely powerful in pulling us back into the snare of the devil, its from self-righteousness, though yes, I was hurt [grew up with horrid child abuse and men abusing me, etc] it still does not remove the truth, TRUTH, that we too, are just as beastly and horrid and evil, and the devil will take those hurts and use them to distort our thinking, not only unforgiveness but I think a really big one too is that judging others, COMPARISONS, boy that is So dangerous, Christ has the Right to Judge, WE DO NOT. Yes, we are to judge what is lined up with the Word of God, but we are NOT to judge others, because what we judge with, is metered back to us, its another ’snare’ of the devil,
another thing is taking for granted ‘time’, not only does the Lord redeem [buy us] back He redeems our time, in other words, our lives our His [by right] AND OUR TIME, and that means, when we live for ourselves, save our lives, we lose them…it starts off with small things, but those small things, you see, are Rebellion. Paul says, I DIE daily,
not just once. It is a daily death, and it took me a long time to understand what that truly means, for those of us who suffered abuse dying to self can be a reinforcer of those abuses, that is how the enemy will use them, he is a liar, father of lies, and that is where at least for me, I got tangled up, finding ‘justifications’ for not surrendering…again, very Dangerous,
I can’t emphasis how dangerous, it really is, to NOT take Jesus seriously, to see Jesus as this all loving and merciful and ‘understanding’ Lord yet neglect to see His Holiness, His hate of Sin, and His Justice. SIN KILLS folks, its as simple as that…that SIN NATURE, kills, like the Anakim, it must be destroyed. IF we SOW to the flesh we will DIE, if we SOW TO THE SPIRIT, WE SHALL LIVE.
Its in our WORDS, its in our ACTIONS, its in our HEART, its in all we do, we can plant seeds of death, or we can plant seeds of life. But, its not in ‘legalism’, that too is dangerous, because its the tree of knowledge of good/evil and trying to earn our own righteousness, and its from that same nature, of Pride.
Let me put it this way, God started working in me last year, but actually He was working the entire time, when I came back to reading the Word I thought, I was o.k., after years of horrid rebellion and living for the devil, I’ll just be blunt…not drinking, not drugs, no, I thought I was ‘good’, I was fighting for justice and for human rights and for all these things, and why I thought I had a ‘Right’ to be angry at the world and at evil and at hypocrisy….all the time, I was in SO MUCH DARKNESS, IF I HAD OF DIED THEN, I WOULD HAVE GONE TO HELL, no doubt about it.
Its ONLY by the Grace of God, by the Conviction of the Holy Spirit and the Judgment of my SIN AND SIN NATURE, that I saw…and when I saw, I saw just how in hell I truly was, and let me tell you, it is A HORRIBLE AND FEARFUL THING, TO FALL IN THE HANDS OF GOD, WHEN ONE IS IN REBELLION AND NOT UNDER THE LORDSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST,
do NOT ever think, you are ‘good’ in yourself, that is a type of ‘judging’ God and trying to be ‘god’, it is Very dangerous, and the thing is, we have all done this, at one time or another…some of us more than others. The thing is, God IS GOD, He’s not a puppet, He’s not Santa Claus, He’s not a figment of imagination, no, HE IS GOD, HE IS A HOLY AND MIGHTY GOD, HE IS A MERCIFUL GOD, BUT A GOD, WHO IS A CONSUMING FIRE.
The thing is, we tend to think of Jesus, as different, but Jesus, IS GOD, as is the Holy Spirit, and its Just as FEARFUL, to fall under judgment under Jesus, IN other words, those who Reject HIS LORDSHIP, are in dire trouble.
He knows, we are clay, he Knows we cannot in no way, reform ourselves, clean our selves, just like the leopard cannot remove their spots…we cannot remove sin or the effects of sin, only Jesus can save us and I do mean, SAVE US, and its by Faith, Faith that works by Love, Faith that is Alive and that Bears fruit and Good Works…and its a whole process of Regeneration, and Diligence, Paul says, time and time and time again, to be Diligent, that our enemy, roams around looking for whom he may devour.
We cannot do this, without being Broken, I truly believe that, that means, the pride has to go, the reliance on our own ‘goodness’ has to go, we truly need to see our real nature, and how God sees us, without this, I don’t know how one can truly be regenerated, or grow or even begin to live a life without sin. Sin is not just ‘things’ we do, its a powerful force, and its not like its something on the ‘outside’ of us, its in our nature, our flesh nature…and That is why, its so dangerous, to take the Gospel, to take Salvation, to take Jesus, lightly.
I have repented, still have many things to change, amends to make, so much, and there are times I honestly don’t know if I’m truly forgiven, but I’ve decided that no matter what, I will serve, love, read the Word, stay in prayer, hang on to Jesus FOR DEAR LIFE, and to WARN, to WARN, so that others don’t fall into the same snare, or believe in false gospels.
I see sin now like I didn’t before, I see the Righteousness of God like I’ve never had before, and I see, daily, the deplorable state that I am, without Christ, and let me assure you, its not fun. There are times I feel His love and forgiveness, there are more I see just how much rotten ’seed’ I’ve planted in my life and the horrid thing about it is, sin doesn’t just hurt us, it destroys those around us, IT IS POISON,
and that is why, it has to die, Heaven could not be Heaven, with that Poison, no way. I wish I could say, that just poof, one day, I was delivered and just changed and didn’t sin, that isn’t the case, not for me,
its a daily WAR and I see the woman in my that is hostile to God, [yes I've prayed and daily pray against demonic oppression, even possession, spiritual warfare], I am staying in the Word every day, I can’t sleep without my Bible on my chest, near my heart, all I want is for my children [one daughter who cursed God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit one day when I got onto her about her behavior, she's into drugs, etc., only 17, she's in serious rebellion and under the power of Satan and its a big part of my fault for the years of rebellion I lived and I live with that guilt every day but I"m still praying--because it IS my fault, and I know it]
I pray that all the years and time are given back to Jesus and given back to Him with interest, that I bear fruit, lots of, that Jesus can take me, my life, and use it to His glory and for whatever He chooses,
I fight myself daily, my mind [a toilet I am cleaning up, well, the Holy Spirit is] and in church and recovery…but even all that, I cannot just pretend or dismiss the years, I have seen, the extent and horror, those years of rebellion and sinful living, have done. To myself, to my family, to so many that I should have been witnessing too,
the problem is, not backslidding, the problem is, not taking Jesus seriously enough, not taking SOULS serious enough, not taking Hell seriously enough, not taking God serious enough…not truly Knowing who God is, and its not just about religion, oh no,
its about His Love, His type of Love, that is so different from human love [which is motivated by selfishness and short sighted], and in today’s Apostate church, there is more a worship of Bael and Ashtorah, than of Jesus, there is the idolatry [marriage included], sex worship, misogyny, Phariseeism, love of things, love of self, love of pride, self-reliance, you name it…its there,
false doctrine all over the place. Too much reliance on preachers and gasoline fill ups on Sundays, not near enough reliance on our knees and in the Word, on relying on God’s Mighty Power, to live…and an unwillingness to die and take up our cross,
I still struggle with this, all the time. But this I will say, what we should be doing, rather than going back and forth, with doctrine, we Should be, on our faces before God, asking Jesus, to help our Brothers and Sisters to NOT fall away, in these last days, we should ask for Him, His Will, to send us those who are struggling, and to Love them, to Bear their burdens with them, to Pray for them, to Stand with them [with believers all around the world] and to humbly, Love One Another,
easier said than done, true, but one thing I did see through all this, is just how weak we truly are, just how much we NEED Jesus, not just knowing ‘about’ but really NEEDING HIM, AS MUCH AS WE NEED AIR TO BREATH,
at least, that is how I see it….I CANNOT, SAVE MYSELF. I CAN’T CHANGE MYSELF, I CAN’T MAKE MYSELF GOOD, I CAN’T UNDO ALL THE HORRIBLE AND UNFORGIVEABLE THINGS I’VE DONE, TO MYSELF, TO OTHERS, TO GOD,
and that is awful, to really SEE that, not just to read about it or to hear or think, briefly, but to really KNOW IT.
I will NEVER take the Cross of Christ for granted Ever again, because I know, its up, the Final Decision, to HIM, not to me. He IS GOD people,
we really need to get that in our core of our being. That is what it means, to FEAR the LORD. And Fear Him, I do, but you know, that nature, of mine, every day, doesn’t fear, that other nature, and I have to renounce her, denounce her, ask Jesus to crucify her, fight her, renew my mind, speak the Word of God, every minute of the day. Some days I go through real dark times…its hard, when I live in the ‘harvest’ of my iniquity, but I am planting good seed, whether I see those seeds flourish, I do not know,
but if Jesus, lets me in, I will make a wreath, of flowers for Him, its all I can do, because every thing that is good that comes from all of this, IS HIM, and I will have eternity, to thank Him…that is what I want,
and for my children and family and for all those I meet, to choose Him and to be Saved.
Can a Christian backslide, yes they can, Can they become entangled with sin, oh yes they can, can they be overcome, yes they can…but, let us pray, that they Don’t, let us pray, that they Don’t fall back into perdition,
and may that be, our LIFE, may we every day, pray, for each other, and for the lost, the world, that all can be saved.
Peace, Love in Christ, I hope, and pray, my testimony, Jesus will use, do with it what you Will Lord…
Jane
Jane,
You obviously have journeyed through many deep and dark waters so far in life. And I am not 100 percent sure how to interpret all of those journeys, and thus hope that at least the Lord will bring His comfort to you regarding them. For He is the “…God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. And I am 100 percent sure that if you belong to Him “…He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7.
However, if you would allow me the opportunity I would like to speak a word regarding “belonging to Him”, namely, being a true Christian….
1) There were several times you referred to a Christian as being under the power of Satan, but how do you square that with 1 John 5:18-19?
2) There were several times you referred to a Christian as being overcome by the power of sin, but how do you square that with Romans 6:14?
In Conclusion: This post is not meant to water down the intense battle a believer has with sin all of his/her life. Rather, it is meant to conclude that the believer wins the battle with sin. The reason is that “…those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Reason this is the case? They live by the Spirit and thus walk by the Spirit. Galatians 3:24-26.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you!
Tell The Truth.
girly1,
Thanks for all your kind words. Let me ask you a few questions though if you dont mind…
1. Where is it stated in the Bible that God forgives no matter what?
2. Where is it stated in the Bible that God forgives sinner and saint alike?
As, you answer those I would like to answer one you posted
1.You asked “Who made the distinction between momentary and continuous sin?” If you read 1 John you will see that God made this distinction when He said “No one born of God practices sin..” And “By this [the distinction] the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious…”
To put it plainly the distinction of continuous sin is the evidence of being lost and thus a child of the devil, while the distinction of continuous righteousness is the evidence of being saved and thus a child of God. So these are not our distinctions they are God’s and therefore all men must give heed to them!
Thanks for your reply.
Tell the Truth
1 Cor 5 would indicate a backslider, IMHO. I do agree there are a bunch of false converts out there, or people that said a preacher laid prayer at a VBS as a child, and never trusted in Christ or repented. I do think that false conversion is an issue in the church we have dealt with due to the easy believist movement.
Having said that, we have to be careful not to set ourselves on God’s judgment seat for someone’s eternal destiny. If a person has never shown any fruit, we can assume he is not saved. If he has shown fruit, but falls into a habitual sin for a while, we should not be quick to say he was never saved in the first place.
In 1 Cor 5, we see a Christian who fell into an unrepentant state of fornication, and Paul’s response to was to give him up for the destruction of the flesh, so that the spirit may be saved. In other words, let him go so he couldn’t do anymore spiritual damage to himself. But he would be saved!
Keep in mind, the word “backslider” is only used in the book of Jeremiah, but the principle is there in the NT Corinthian church.
Back to the original point….I do think there are a lot of folks out there that are trusting in a quick prayer to saved them on judgment day, while they go out and live a life full of sin…..so sad.