|
| |||||
|
|
BACKSLIDING To backslide means to fall from grace, to apostatize, or lose the life of the spirit out of the heart after one has been converted. There are two main schools of thought on this subject. 1. The Calvinists teach one cannot backslide and be finally lost, once he has been saved. 2. The Armenians teach that one may be saved and afterwards forfeit this divine life by yielding to temptation, and unless he is restored, will be eternally lost. 1. The Scriptures Teach the Possibility of Backsliding. This possibility is taught by the direct statements of Christ (Matt. 5:13, 10:21–22), and by the parables of Christ (Luke 12:41–46; Matt. 25:1–12; with John 15:1–16). It is also taught in the warning of the Epistles (I Cor. 10:10–12; Rom. 11:22; with 2 Peter 2:20–22). The scriptures on the direct statements of Christ, the parables of Christ, and the warnings of the epistles have been considered, and given in detail in a former part of this book, hence it would be superfluous to use space here for repetition. 2. Some Reasons Why People Backslide. Their conversion is too shallow to begin with. “Those by the wayside are those that hear; then cometh the Devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved”—Luke 8:13. They do not watch and pray like the disciples in the garden. “And when He arose up from prayer, and was come to His disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation”—Luke 22:45–46. Some start drifting and following afar off, like Peter, the account given in Luke 22:54–60. Some will not go on to perfection, or entire sanctification, hence are found backsliding, and dying in the wilderness of sin, because of lack of obedience to, and belief in God, and his word (Heb. 3:16–19, with Heb. 4:1–6). There are some who refuse to walk in the light. “Then Jesus said unto them, yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have the light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them”—John 12:35–36. “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life”—John 8:12. Others turn aside to the world. “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God”—James 4:4. 3. Conditions of the Backslider. Filled with his own ways. “The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways, and a good man shall be satisfied with himself”—Prov. 14:14. Miserable and unhappy. “Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee; know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord God of hosts”—Jer. 2:19. “Then Judas which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the Chief Priests and elders, saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood, And they said, what is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself”—Matt. 27:3–5. A backslider is worse off than before he was saved. This truth is given in 2 Peter 2:20–22, which has been considered in detail previously in this book. 4. The Destiny of the Backslider. He will be chastened in this life. “And that servant, which knew his Lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him much shall be required: And to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more”—Luke 12:47–48. He will be eternally lost. “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God”—Ps. 9:17, with Matt. 24:45–51. Note carefully the attitude and ways of this unfaithful and unwise servant, and the ending and result of his life. A “sorer” punishment than physical death awaits the backslider, “He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses; of how much sorer punishment suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, and unholy thing, and hath done despite to the Spirit of grace?”—Heb. 10:28–29. God loves and will restore the backslider if he will return, confess, repent, pray and believe, “Go and proclaim these words toward the North, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord; and I will not cause my anger to fall upon you; for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep my anger forever.… Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the Lord our God”—Jer. 3:12, 22.
| ||||
