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Backsliding

(Falling away from the Lord and His will)

1. Spiritual problems that lead to backsliding:

A. Cooling off and losing "first love" for Jesus:

Rev.2:4-5 - Thou hast left thy first love...remember from whence thou art fallen, and repent...or else I will remove
Rev.3:15,16 - Thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot

B. Being filled with own ways and desires:

Pro.14:14 - Backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways
Ezk.14:3,5 - These men have set up their idols in their heart...they are estranged from Me through their idols
Ezk.14:7-8 - Every one which...setteth up his idols in his heart...I will cut him off from the midst of My people
1Tim.6:9 - Hurtful lusts...drown men in perdition

C. Losing sight of the Heavenly goal in favour of temporal gain:

Pro.29:18 - Where there is no vision, the people perish
Mal.3:14 - Ye said, It is vain to serve God...what profit is it?
Lk.15:12,13 - Give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. He (left) and wasted his substance with riotous living
Heb.12:16-17 - Esau, for one morsel of meat sold his birthright
2Pet.1:9 - He...cannot see afar off, and hath for gotten that he was purged from his old sins

D. Quitting when the going gets tough:

Mat.13:20,21 - When persecution ariseth...by and by he is offended
Jn.10:12,13 - An hireling...seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth. He careth not for the sheep

E. Desiring worldly pleasures and riches:

Heb.11:14-15 - If they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have...returned
Gen.19:26 - (Lot's) wife looked back...and became a pillar of salt
Num.11:5,6 - [Lusting for things of Egypt] (See also Exo.16:3)
Psa.73:2,3 - My steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at...the prosperity of the wicked
Mat.13:22 - The care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the Word
2Tim.4:10 - Demas hath forsaken me, having loved present world
1Jn.2:15-17 - If any man love the world, love of the Father not in him
Rev.3:17 - I am rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing
(See also 1Cor.10:5,6)

F. Not grounded in or obeying the Word:

Lk.8:13 - These have no root...in time of temptation fall away
Mat.7:26-27 - [He] that heareth these sayings...and doeth them not... house upon the sand...great was the fall of it
1Tim.1:19 - Faith...which some having put away made shipwreck
2Tim.4:3,4 - They shall turn away their ears from the truth

G. Having a doubting, questioning, unbelieving attitude:

Jn.6:60,66 - Many disciples said, this is an hard saying; who can hear it? Many went back, and walked no more with Him
Rom.11:20 - Because of unbelief they were broken off
Col.2:8 - Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy
Heb.3:12 - Take heed, lest there be in you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God
Jude 5 - The Lord, having saved the people out of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not

H. Hardening heart to the truth:

Mat.13:15 - Ears dull of hearing...their eyes they have closed
Eph.4:18-19 - Having understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through blindness...past feeling

I. Doublemindedness and wavering:

2Chr.25:2,14 - He did that which was right, but not with a perfect heart [and soon worshipped other gods] (See Psa.78:36,37)
Psa.78:8,9 - (They) set not their heart aright...spirit was not steadfast with God...turned back in the day of battle
Hos.10:2 - Their heart is divided; now (are) they found faulty
Jam.1:6-8 - A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways (See also Eph.4:14)

J. Refusing to receive correction:

Pro.14:9 - Fools make a mock at sin [as if it's not serious]
Pro.15:10 - Correction is grievous to him that forsaketh the way
Job 33:9,10 - I am clean...I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me [vs.10 "He just has it in for me."]

K. Not confessing problems and sins:

Pro.28:13 - He that covereth his sins shall not prosper
Jn.3:19b-20 - Neither cometh to light, lest his deeds be reproved
(See Isa.29:15 - and Saul's problem in 1Sam.15:1-35.)

L. Not responding to God's loving chastisement:

Pro.29:1 - He that being often reproved, and hardeneth his neck
Isa.1:5 - Why should ye be striken any more? Ye revolt more
Isa.57:17 - I was wroth, and smote him [but] he went on frowardly in the way of his heart
Jer.2:30a - In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction
(See also Isa.42:25; Jer.5:3; Dan.9:13.)

M. Allowing bitterness to grow:

Heb.12:15 - Lest any man fail of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springing up, trouble you
(See also Jam.3:14,15; Eph.4:31.)

N. Being led astray with vain imaginations:

Jer.7:24 - They walked in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward (See also Jer.13:10; 16:12.)

O. Idleness and gossiping:

1Tim.5:12,13 - They have cast off their faith. They learn to be idle, wandering...tattlers and busybodies
2Tim.2:16 - Vain babblings...will increase unto more ungodliness (See also Eph.1:14; 1Tim.6:20,21.)

P. Murmuring and ingratitude:

Num.14:27-30 - [Murmurers not allowed to enter the promised land]
(See also Num.11:1; 21:5,6; 1Cor.10:10; Jude 15,16a.)

Q. Fellowshipping with trouble-makers:

Pro.6:12-16,19 - Frowardness is in his heart...he soweth discord
Pro.13:20 - A companion of fools shall be destroyed
1Cor.15:33 - Evil communications corrupt good manners
Gal.5:7 - Who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
(See also Lk.6:45; 1Ki.11:4.)

R. Desiring fellowship with the world:

Jam.4:4 - Whoever will be a friend of the world is enemy of God

S. A lack of fear of the Lord:

Jer.2:19b - Thou hast forsaken the Lord...My fear is not in thee

2. How the Lord views those who turn their backs on Him:

Pro.26:11 - As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth
Jer.2:13 - They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters
Jer.2:19 - Know...that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God
Lk.9:62 - No man...looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God
Heb.10:38 - If any draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in
2Pet.2:22 - The dog is turned to his vomit and the sow to wallowing

3. The danger of fellowshipping with those who have turned away from the Lord:

A. They can corrupt and undermine others:

Deut.20:8 - Let him return unto his house, lest his brethren's heart faint as well as his heart
Judg.7:3 - Whoever is fearful, let him return and depart early
Acts 29:28-30 Of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them
1Cor.5:6,7 - A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. Purge out therefore the old leaven
(See also 2Pet.2:18,19)

B. They cannot be trusted or depended upon:

Psa.78:57 - They turned aside like a deceitful bow
Pro.25:19 - Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth and a foot out of joint
(See also Pro.23:7; Gal.2:4,5.)

4. God's punishment of those who forsake Him:

Deut.28:63 - The Lord will rejoice...to bring you to nought
Josh.24:20 - If ye forsake the Lord...He will do you hurt, and consume you, after that He hath done you good
Ezra 8:22b - His power and wrath is against them that forsake Him
Jer.15:6 - Thou art gone backward: therefore will I destroy thee
Mat.5:13 - If the salt have lost savour...it is good for nothing, but to be cast out, and trodden under foot
Jn.15:6 - If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth...and is withered; and...they are burned
Heb.10:26 - If we sin wilfully after we have received the truth, there remaineth...a fearful looking for of judgment
2Pet.2:21 - Better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known...to turn
(See also Job 34:26,25; Psa.44:20-21; Pro.28:10; Jer.5:6,19.)

5. God's promises of mercy to those who return to Him:

2Chr.30:9b - God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away His face from you, if ye return unto Him
Isa.54:7,8 - For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee
Isa.55:7 - Let the wicked forsake his way and return, and He will have mercy upon him
Jer.3:12 - Return, backsliding Israel...for I am merciful
Jer.3:14 - Turn, O backsliding children, for I am married to you
Jer.3:22 - Return...and I will heal your backslidings
Hos.14:4 - I will heal their backsliding...Mine anger turned away
Joel 2:12-13 - Turn ye to Me with all your heart, and with weeping...God is gracious and merciful, and of great kindness
Zech.10:6b - I will have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off
(See also Job 14:7; Isa.1:18; Ezk.36:26,27; Dan.9:9.)

6. Attitude for repentant prodigals to have:

2Chr.7:14 - If My people...humble themselves and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways...I will forgive
Psa.41:4 - Lord...heal my soul; for I have sinned against Thee
Psa.51:3 - I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is before
Psa.84:10 - I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness
Psa.119:176 - I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek (me)
Jer.14:7 - Our backslidings are many...have sinned against Thee
Jer.24:7 - I will be their God: for they shall return unto Me with their whole heart
Ezk.36:31 - Then shall ye remember...and shall loathe yourselves...for your iniquities
Hos.6:1 - Come, let us return unto the Lord...He will heal us
Lk.15:19,21 - I am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants
(See also Job 40:1-5; 42:1-6; Psa.51:all; Dan.9:3-20; Jam.4:6-10.)

7. How to avoid backsliding:

A. Love the Lord and keep the Heavenly vision:

Mat.6:21 - Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also
Mat.6:24 - Hate the (world), and love the (Lord)...hold to the (Lord), and despise the (world)
Col.2:6,7 - Rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith
Col.3:1,2 - Set your affection on things above, not on...earth
Heb.12:2,3 - Looking unto Jesus...lest ye faint in your minds

B. Remember that serving Jesus is worth it all:

1Cor.15:58 - Be stedfast, unmoveable...in the work of the Lord, your labour is not in vain in the Lord
Gal.6:9 - Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not
Heb.10:35 - Cast not away your confidence...hath great recompense
Heb.11:26,27 - Esteeming...Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt...endured, as seeing Him Who is invisible
Jam.1:12 - Blessed is the man that endureth temptation...he shall receive the crown of life (See also 2Tim.4:7,8)
Rev.3:11 - Hold fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown
(See Jn.15:2-7 - about "abiding in the vine"; See also 2Cor.4:16-18; Rev.2:26-28.)

C. Trust the Lord to keep you faithful:

Psa.17:5 - Hold up my goings in Thy paths that my (feet) slip not
Psa.26:1b - I have trusted in the Lord; I shall not slide
Jude 24 - He (God) is able to keep you from falling

D. Hide the Word in your heart:

Psa.119:9 - Cleanse his way by taking heed...to Thy Word
Psa.119:11 - Word hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against
Psa.37:31 - Law of God is in his heart; none of his steps slide
Psa.119:165 - Great peace have they which love Thy law: and nothing shall offend them
(See also 2Thes.2:15; 2Pet.1:4.)

E. Forsake daydreaming and vain thoughts:

Psa.119:113 - I hate vain thoughts: but Thy law do I love
2Cor.10:5 - Casting down imaginations, and everything that exalteth
Phi.4:8 - Whatsoever things are true...honest...think on these

F. Have conviction; know what you believe:

1Ki.18:21 - How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow Him
Jn.6:67-68 - Jesus (said) unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? To whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of life
Acts 20:24 - None of these things move me...that I might finish (my) ministry...to testify the gospel
Rom.14:5b - Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind
2Pet.1:10 - Make your calling and election sure...shall never fall

G. Receive correction and reproof:

Psa.141:5 - Let righteous reprove me...shall be an excellent oil
Pro.6:23 - Reproofs of instruction are the way of life (See also Pro.10:17)
Pro.27:5,6 - Faithful are the wounds of a friend
Heb.3:13 - Exhort one another daily, lest any of you be hardened
Heb.12:5-13 - Endure chastening...lest (ye) be turned out of the way

H. Confess your problems and sins:

Pro.28:13 - Whoso confesseth and forsaketh (sins) shall have mercy
Heb.12:1 - Lay aside every weight, and the sin...and run the race
Jam.5:16 - Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for
(See also Job 11:14; 1Jn.1:8-10.)

I. Withdraw yourself from those who turn away from the truth:

Psa.1:1-2 - (Walk) not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor (sit)
Psa.119:63 - I am a companion of them that fear Thee, and of them that keep Thy precepts (See also Pro.13:20)
Rom.16:17,18 - Avoid them...by fair speeches deceive the simple
Eph.5:11 - Have no fellowship with...but rather reprove them
2Thes.3:6 - Withdraw selves from brother that walketh disorderly
1Tim.6:3-5 - Perverse disputings...from such withdraw thyself
2Pet.3:17 - Beware lest ye being led away with the wicked, fall
(See also Exo.23:2a; Pro.1:10,15.)

J. Love not the world:

Rom.12:2 - Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed
Gal.6:14 - Cross of Christ, (whereby) world is crucified unto me
2Tim.2:4 - No man that warreth entangleth self with...this world
1Jn.2:15 - Love not the world, neither the things in the world
(See also Col.3:2; 1Cor.7:31.)

K. Endure hardships:

Psa.44:14-18 - All this is come upon us: yet...our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined
2Tim.2:3 - Endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ
Heb.11:24,25 - Choosing rather to suffer affliction...than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season
(See also Heb.12:1-3)

L. Remember how much you've already endured:

Gal.3:4 - Have ye suffered so many things in vain?
Heb.10:32 - Call to remembrance the former days, in which...ye en dured a great fight (See also Heb.6:11)

M. Give up personal desires, endure temptations:

Lk.9:23-25 - Whosoever will save his life shall lose it
1Cor.9:27 - I keep my body (under), and bring it into subjection: lest...I myself should be a castaway
Phi.3:7,8 - Suffered the loss of all things and count them but dung
(See also Lk.14:33; 1Tim.6:10,11; Jam.1:12; 1Pet.2:11.)

N. Be thankful and content:

Phi.4:11 - Have learned, in whatever state I am...to be content
1Thes.5:18 - In everything give thanks
1Tim.6:6-8 - Having food and raiment let us be therewith content
(See also Pro.15:16; Eccl.6:9; Heb.13:5.)

O. Forget your worldly past:

Psa.45:10 - Forget thine own people, and thy father's house
Lk.9:60 - Let the dead bury the dead: but go thou and preach
Phi.3:13,14 - Forgetting things which are behind, I reach forward
(See also 1Pet.4:2,3)

P. Be thankful for what He's delivered you from:

Psa.40:2 - He brought me out of an horrible pit...and set my feet upon a rock

Q. Consider what backsliding leads to:

Pro.5:8-13 - Lest thou give thy years unto the cruel...and thou mourn at the last
Pro.13:15 - The way of the transgressor is hard
Pro.21:16 - (He) shall remain in the congregation of the dead
Ezk.3:20 - Righteousness which he hath done...not be remembered
Lk.17:32 - Remember Lot's wife [She became a pillar of salt]
1Cor.3:11-15 - If any build...wood, hay, stubble...he shall suffer loss
Gal.4:9 - How turn ye again...ye desire again to be in bondage
2Pet.2:20 - If after they have escaped the...world...they are again entangled therein, the latter end is worse
(See also Psa.106:15; Ezk.18:24; Gal.6:7,8; Rev.3:11.)

8. The attitude to have towards backsliders:

A. Try to win them back, if possible:

Jer.31:20 - Since I spake against him, I remember him still
Lk.15:4-6 - What man...having 100 sheep, if he lose one, doth not
Lk.15:20-24 - [Father rejoiced and welcomed prodigal son back home]
(See also Gal.6:1,2; 2Tim.2:24-26.)

B. Don't give up on one-time backsliders:

Jer.31:17 - There is hope in thine end...that thy children shall come again to their own border
(See the story of Simon Peter in Lk.22:54-62; Mk.16:7; Acts 2:14,38,40.)
(See the story of John Mark in Acts 13:5,13; 14:36-40; 2Tim.4:11.)

C. But forget trying to win chronic backsliders:

Judg.10:13-14 - Ye have forsaken Me...I will deliver you no more
1Sam.15:35; 16:1 - Samuel mourned for Saul...and the Lord said..."How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him"
Jer.8:5 - Slidden back by a perpetual backsliding...they refuse to return
Hos.4:17 - Ephraim joined to idols: let him alone (See Mat.15:14)
Heb.6:4-6 - Impossible...if they shall fall away, to renew them
(See also 1Tim.6:5; Tit.3:10,11.)

D. Some people were never really part of your fellowship:

Gal.2:4 - False brethren unawares...came in privily to spy out
1Jn.2:19 - They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued
Jude 4 - Men crept in...who were ordained to condemnation

E. Some backsliders become enemies of the cross:

Mat.12:30 - He that gathereth not with Me, scattereth abroad
Phi.3:18 - For many walk...they are enemies of the cross
(Judas' backsliding: Mat.26:14-15,47-50; 27:5.)
(Alexander's backsliding: 1Tim.1:19,20; 2Tim.4:14,15.)

Special chapters: Num.13:31-33, 14:1-34; Neh.9:15-37; Psa.78, 106; Ezk.16; Lk.15:11-32; 2Pet.2.

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Copyright (c) 1998 by The Family International

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James Arendt
James Arendt

My name is James Arendt. I was raised in the Hegewisch neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, served in the USAF from 1970 to 1974, and became a full-time missionary for Christ living 40 years in Japan, 3.5 years in Russia, and a few months in other countries such as Finland, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, South Korea, Taiwan and mainland China where I also served the King of Kings, Jesus, as an Ambassador for His Kingdom. My full bio.

On September 24, 2023, I had an accident and broke the bone of the tip of my left elbow. A boy ran in front of my motorbike less than 2 meters from me as I was leaving home. I stopped suddenly and my front tire slid on the sandy concrete road which caused me to fall. I did not hit the boy. On October 18th I had surgery done on my elbow. The doctor put in titanium rods to hold my bones together. The entire procedure including an entire week in the hospital was roughly $4000 USD. This was done in the Philippines where my wife and I have been living since June this year.


X-rays of bone before and after surgery that inserted titanium rods to reinforce my broken bone.

Before and after one week in the hospital.

Undergoing therapy to bend my arm again.
I'm now undergoing therapy to be able to bend my arm again.

It would be a super blessing to us if any of the visitors of this website can help us cover this expense!

You don't need a PayPay account to send me a donation! Just click on the donate button and you will see an option to send through your debit or credit card.


Or if you have a PayPal account, just log into it and send to my PayPal ID:
james.arendt@jamesjpn.net

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Joshua (Nazareth, India) says...
Truly deeper truth. Jesus bless your ministry.
17th September 2022 3:51am
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