Sermon Central
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Backsliding
Contributed by Ron Hicks on Sep 1, 2005 (message contributor)
Summary: Gradually backsliding is gradually dying,which can be avoided.
BACKSLIDING
62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Gal 4:9
9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
back·slide-To revert to sin or wrongdoing, especially in religious practice.
re·vert- To return to a former condition, as I just read to you in the Scripture.
Let me tell you first what Jesus did;
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Phil 2:8
he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
14 Who gave himself for us, (why?) that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
So, according to the Bible, this is the description of the born again believer.
Zeal-Enthusiastic devotion to a cause, and tireless diligence in its furtherance.
Not lazy, but driven by a passion for Christ.
By the way, when was the last time you really prayed?
Read your Bible?
Shared the hope that is within you?
What causes backsliding?
When through negligence you just become religious and when religion ceases to satisfy, you revert backward.
Absence does not always make the heart grow fonder.
You stop praying (and etc) you grow colder.
1 Cor 16:15
15 I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)
Eph 2:10
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Heb 10:38-39
38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
Rev 3:15-16
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
