WHY DO BELIEVERS BACKSLIDE?

And I say unto thee, that thou art peter, and upon this rock I will build my church: and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Mathew 16:18

I define “backsliding” as an interruption or step backward in our spiritual growth. Personally, I believe that backsliding is the Old Testament equivalent of the New Testament phrase, “Live in the spirit and not in the flesh (our sin nature).”

Backsliding is serious business because the greatest sin in Christianity is the failure to grow up spiritually.When a baby with genetic problems can’t grow up, our hearts break. In the same way, when one of God’s spiritual babies refuses to grow up, his heart breaks

The Old Testament uses the term “backsliding” to speak of those who have been near to God but have allowed sin to take them away from Him.

The prophet Jeremiah said, “Our backsliding is great; we have sinned against you” (Jeremiah 14:7).

Verses: Matthew 16:18 - Jeremiah 2:19 - Jeremiah 3:22 

Backsliding in Scripture is always seen as a very serious matter: “‘Your wickedness will punish you; your backsliding will rebuke you. Consider then and realize how evil and bitter it is for you when you forsake the Lord your God and have no awe of me,’ declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty” (Jeremiah 2:19, NIV).

Backsliding can be caused by many things. However, whatever the sin might be that leads us away from God, it must be dealt with honestly and brought before Him in repentance. God loves us and wants us to be close to Him. Even when we sin against Him, He promises to forgive. “I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them” (Hosea 14:4).

THINGS THAT MAKE BELIEVERS BACKSLIDE.

Believers leave on their feelings instead of the purpose of God. Proverbs 3

Don’t look unto people. Hebrews 12

When we fail to leave in continual repentance. 1 John 3:19

Prayerleaness and failure to read the word of God. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Believers underestimate the worth of God: That’s if we don’t know that in Christ Jesus we are secured. Isaiah 54:16-17

We must always fight against backsliding, but if we do backslide, we know that when we renounce our sin and return to God, there is forgiveness and reconciliation. The Bible says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Related Verses : Acts 2:24 -Romans 8:38-39 - Psalm 9-Philippians 2:12-2 Timothy 4:10- John 1:42, Ephesians 2:20