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. Living
Hope Fellowship Church
Basic Bible Study Course
BACKSLIDE
LESSON
#17 (Part #2)
OUTLINE:
1.
HOW DO YOU GET BACK TO GOD?
2. YOUR BACKSLIDING HURTS MORE THAN YOU
A. HYPOCRITES
B. THAT MAN PERISHED NOT ALONE
IN HIS INIQUITY
3. PUNISHMENT
4. MERCY
5. DON'T BACKSLIDE
6. TREATMENT OF A BACKSLIDER BY A CHRISTIAN
7. BACKSLID AND NOT KNOW IT?
8. HOW LONG WILL GOD ALLOW A MAN TO SIN, AND SIN, AND SIN?
A. CARNAL
B. HOW FAR IS TOO FAR?
C. SPIRITUAL FORNICATION & ADULTERY
D. REBELLION
9. I KNOW YE NOT
Definitions
are taken from Webster's Dictionary.
backslide:
to slide backward in morals or religious
enthusiasm: become less virtuous
mortify: to punish (one's body) or control (one's physical
desires or passions) by self-denial, fasting, etc., as a means
of religious discipline
lees: the sediment on the bottom of a cask of wine,
a cup of coffee, etc.
affinity: means any close link or connection
heretick: a person who professes any heresy; a church
member who holds beliefs opposed to the official church doctrines
heresy: a belief specifically denounced by the church
and regarded as likely to cause schism
virtue: general moral excellence
admonition: warning or a mild rebuke
BACKSLIDE
1. HOW
DO YOU GET BACK TO GOD?
He that
covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth
and forsaketh them shall have mercy. Proverbs 28:13.
Repent.
Ask God to forgive you and strengthen you against sin. Read
Revelation 2:4-5. The Lord will have something against us
when we have left our first love. We are warned to remember
from where we have fallen, to repent, and do our first works.
Read Matthew 5:29-30, Matthew 18:7-9, John 17:15-16 & 20,
and Ezekiel Chapter 33. Read 1 Corinthians 15:31, Romans 8:13,
and 2 Corinthians 7:1.
Wherefore
come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord,
and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 2
Corinthians 6:17.
(5) Mortify
therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication,
uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and
covetousness, which is idolatry: (6) For which things' sake
the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: Colossians
3:5-6.
Mortify
means to control your physical desires by self-denial, fasting,
etc., as a means of religious discipline. We must discipline
our minds, bodies, and hearts, and by God's Spirit kill out
all sin in us. We must resist the devil and deny ourselves
the ungodly deeds mentioned and all other sin. Read Revelation
21:7 about the overcomer. If you want to get back to God,
pray through and get strength from God to quit sinning. Jesus
is our advocate. If you need deliverance, seek a child of
God who fasts and prays to help you.
2. YOUR
BACKSLIDING HURTS MORE THAN YOU
How SERIOUS
is backsliding?
First, when you refuse to serve God you cut yourself off from
God's mercy, blessing, and eternal life. You are no longer
covered with the blood of Jesus.
A. HYPOCRITES.
If you are backslid, acknowledge your sins, and return to
Jesus. Let him forgive you, and be restored into the family
of God. Hypocrites will be judged by God unless they truly
repent.
For what
is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when
God taketh away his soul? Job 27:8. Read also Job 13:16.
How many
people use hypocrites as an excuse to sin, thinking, " If
they are saved and do that, I can too"? Some even say they
can't go to church because of hypocrites. The Bible says to
put your confidence in the Lord. Read Psalm 118:8, Proverbs
25:19, Proverbs 3:5, Luke 6:42, James 3:17, and Romans 3:23.
1 Peter 2:1 tells us to lay aside hypocrisies.
We are
not supposed to compare ourselves with each other (2 Corinthians
10:12). Read Ephesians 4:13. Jesus is the author and finisher
of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Read 1 Peter 4:18.
B. THAT
MAN PERISHED NOT ALONE IN HIS INIQUITY.
Your backsliding hurts those watching your life. It could
weaken them and cause them also to backslide. Your family
could suffer because of the judgment of God upon you.
But the
children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing:
for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of
Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing:
and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children
of Israel. Joshua 7:1. Read Joshua Chapter 7.
Did not
Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing,
and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? and that
man perished not alone in his iniquity. Joshua 22:20.
It is
terrible when the people's leaders are hypocrites. Matthew
23:13 applies to preachers and other leaders today. Read Matthew
23:13-51 and Matthew 27:23-25. When the Jews crucified Jesus
and Pilate washed his hands of the matter, (Pilate was a hypocrite),
the Jews said, "His blood be on us, and on our children."
The Jews have had much trouble since that time.
Although
it does hurt others when you backslide, no one can use your
backsliding as an excuse to sin in any way. Each soul must
come to God for himself. Read Ezekiel 18:19-32. Exodus 20:5
says that God will ". . . visit the iniquity of the fathers
upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of
them that hate me." Read Exodus 34:7, Numbers 14:18, and Deuteronomy
5:9-10.
(1) The
word of the LORD came unto me again, saying, (2) What mean
ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel,
saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's
teeth are set on edge? (3) As I live, saith the Lord GOD,
ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in
Israel. (4) Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the
father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that
sinneth, it shall die. Ezekiel 18:1-4. Read all of Ezekiel
Chapter 18.
3. PUNISHMENT
Some
have heard false teaching that says the Lord is ONLY a God
of love. God IS love and loves us (John 3:16 and 1 John 4:8),
but he also is a God of judgment. 1 Chronicles 9:1 says Israel
was ". . . carried way to Babylon for their transgression."
They were God's chosen people, but they were disobedient and
God punished them many, many times. Saul died for his transgression.
(13)
So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against
the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, even against
the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking
counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to inquire of it;
(14) And inquired not of the LORD: therefore he slew him,
and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse. 1 Chronicles
10:13-14.
For the
wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23.
Being
chastened by God is part of being a Christian! Read Hebrews
12:5-13 about chastening. Read Jeremiah 10:24. God promises
us chastisement!
(31)
If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; (32)
Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their
iniquity with stripes. Psalm 89:31-32.
Fools
because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities,
are afflicted. Psalm 107:38.
And it
shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem
with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their
lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good,
neither will he do evil. Zephaniah 1:12. [Lees is the sediment
on the bottom of a drink.]
The LORD
killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave,
and bringeth up. 1 Samuel 2:6.
Read
Deuteronomy 30:15 and Deuteronomy 28 (blessings and cursings),
Isaiah 66:4, Hebrews 10:30-31, Romans 2:6-11, Psalm 25:18,
and Psalm 86:5. There are many others. Please be sure to read
Revelation 21:6-8 and Daniel 9:13, 14, and 18.
4. MERCY
Read
John 3:16, Titus 3:5, and Isaiah 53:8. Job 11:6 says, ". .
. God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth."
(18)
Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and
passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage?
he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth
in mercy. (19) He will turn again, he will have compassion
upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast
all their sins into the depths of the sea. Micah 7:18-19.
(13)
And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and
for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished
us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such
deliverance as this; (14) Should we again break thy commandments,
and join in affinity with the people of these abominations?
wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed
us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping? (15)
O LORD God of Israel, thou art righteous: for we remain escaped,
as it is this day: behold, we are before thee in our trespasses:
for we cannot stand before thee because of this. Ezra 9:13-14.
Read Job 41:10 and Luke 21:36.
Affinity
means any close link or connection.
By mercy
and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD
men depart from evil. Proverbs 16:6.
5. DON'T
BACKSLIDE
And I
will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts. Psalms 119:45.
Read all of Psalm 119, memorizing Verse 11.
Fight
the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto
thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession
before many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:12.
Blessed
be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according
to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively
hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1
Peter 1:3.
(17)
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. (18) But grow in
grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. 2 Peter
3:17-18.
For further
study read 1 Corinthians 15:58 1 Peter 1:3-9, 1 Corinthians
16:13, 1 Corinthians 9:26-27, Philippians 1:20-21, Philippians
4:11-13, Hebrews 12, Hebrews 6:18-19, Romans 12:1-3, 2 Corinthians
4:16, Ephesians 4:23, Colossians 3:10, Ephesians 6:10-18.
Read Ephesians 5:27, Revelation 21:27, and 1 Peter 1:16. Nothing
that defiles will enter heaven.
6. TREATMENT
OF A BACKSLIDER BY A CHRISTIAN
(21)
Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother
sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? (22)
Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times:
but, Until seventy times seven. Matthew 18:21-22. Read Colossians
3:12-17 and 1 Corinthians Chapter 5.
But now
I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that
is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater,
or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an
one no not to eat. 1 Corinthians 5:11.
(6) Sufficient
to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.
(7) So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and
comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up
with overmuch sorrow. (8) Wherefore I beseech you that ye
would confirm your love toward him. 2 Corinthians 2:6-8. Read
all of 2 Corinthians Chapter 2.
(1) Brethren,
if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual,
restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering
thyself, lest thou also be tempted. (2) Bear ye one another's
burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Galatians 6:1-2.
(14)
Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven,
that one of these little ones should perish. (15) Moreover
if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him
his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee,
thou hast gained thy brother. (16) But if he will not hear
thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth
of two or three witnesses every word may be established. (17)
And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church:
but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee
as an heathen man and a publican. Matthew 18:14-17. Read ALL
of Matthew Chapter 18.
(10)
A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition
reject; (11) Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and
sinneth, being condemned of himself. Titus 3:10-11.
7. BACKSLID
AND NOT KNOW IT?
Can you
backslide and not know it? If you play around with sin long
enough God will let you believe a lie and you will go to hell.
Read Isaiah Chapter 28 and Deuteronomy 32:35 (their foot shall
slide).
(10)
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that
perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that
they might be saved. (11) And for this cause God shall send
them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: (12)
That they all might be damned who believed not the truth,
but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12.
(16)
So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot,
I will spue thee out of my mouth. (17) Because thou sayest,
I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing;
and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and
poor, and blind, and naked: (18) I counsel thee to buy of
me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white
raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of
thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve,
that thou mayest see. (19) As many as I love, I rebuke and
chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. (20) Behold, I
stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and
open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him,
and he with me. (21) To him that overcometh will I grant to
sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am
set down with my Father in his throne. Revelation 3:16-21.
Read Hebrews 12:25.
Thine
habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they
refuse to know me, saith the LORD. Jeremiah 9:6. Read also
Jeremiah 13:10 & Isaiah 30:27-28.
The heart
is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who
can know it? Jeremiah 17:9.
1 Samuel
16:14 it says the spirit of the Lord departed from Saul. Judges
13:24-25 tells us the Spirit of the Lord moved on Samson at
times, but he played around with sin. Read in Judges 16:19
how Delilah made him sleep. Betraying him, ". . . she began
to afflict him, and his strength went from him."
And she
said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out
of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before,
and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed
from him. Judges 16:20.
8. HOW
LONG WILL GOD ALLOW A MAN TO SIN, AND SIN, AND SIN?
A. CARNAL.
Sometimes Christians are carnal, but to be carnally minded
is death (Romans 8:6-8). Read Romans 10:3 & 1 Corinthians
3:1-3. We must be born again and then "grow up" in Christ.
We are supposed to "die daily" and overcome the devil by the
grace of God. At what point does a Christian backslide? God
knows. That person MAY know. If they have entertained sin
and not repented they may be deceived into thinking they are
still okay. Read 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12. God gives a space
to repent (Revelation 2:21-23).
(4) Whosoever
committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the
transgression of the law. (5) And ye know that he was manifested
to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. (6) Whosoever
abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen
him, neither known him. (7) Little children, let no man deceive
you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he
is righteous. (8) He that committeth sin is of the devil;
for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose
the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works
of the devil. (9) Whosoever is born of God doth not commit
sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because
he is born of God. (10) In this the children of God are manifest,
and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness
is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. 1 John
3:4-10.
The Bible
says in 1 John 2:1, ". . . sin not. And if any man sin, we
have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:"
Then 1 John 3:9 says that if you are born of God you cannot
sin. Read 1 Corinthians 2:14 about the things of God being
spiritually discerned. We have all sinned and come short of
the glory of God. When we do wrong we are to immediately repent.
When they despised Moses' law, they died without mercy if
there were two or three witnesses (Read Hebrews 10:28-29).
Thank God for his grace. In 1 Corinthians 3 Paul spoke of
Jesus being our foundation and to build on that. Read verses
1-3 and 11-17 in particular. Paul was talking to Christians.
Read 1 Corinthians 13:11.
B. SPIRITUAL
FORNICATION AND ADULTERY.
But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity,
and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger
away, and did not stir up all his wrath. Psalm 78:38.
(2) For
I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused
you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin
to Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:2.
In Revelation
2:21-23 the Lord was talking to the church of Thyatira, but
the message is for whoever will listen. Fornication can mean
the actual physical act OR the spiritual act. Spiritually,
the fornication and adultery that God is talking about here
is this. Once having known God through Jesus, we are to be
the bride of Christ. However, if we backslide we have another
"husband." The replacement husband can be our own will or
whatever we love more than God. In this way we have committed
fornication or adultery against him; it is sin.
(21)
And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she
repented not. (22) Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and
them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation,
except they repent of their deeds. (23) And I will kill her
children with death; and all the churches shall know that
I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give
unto every one of you according to your works. Revelation
2:21-23.
Turn,
O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto
you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family,
and I will bring you to Zion: Jeremiah 3:14. Read Romans 7:1-6.
And my
people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called
them to the most High, none at all would exalt him. Hosea
11:7.
But they
hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels
and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward,
and not forward. Jeremiah 7:24. Read Lamentations 1:8 and
Jeremiah 3:6.
C. HOW
FAR IS TOO FAR?
Why then
is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding?
they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return. Jeremiah 8:5.
Thou hast
forsaken me, saith the LORD, thou art gone backward: therefore
will I stretch out my hand against thee, and destroy thee;
I am weary with repenting. Jeremiah 15:6.
Speaking
lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot
iron; 1 Timothy 4:2.
(4) For
it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and
have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers
of the Holy Ghost, (5) and have tasted the good word of God,
and the powers of the world to come, (6) If they shall fall
away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify
to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open
shame. (7) For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh
oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom
it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: (8) But that which
beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing;
whose end is to be burned. Hebrews 6:4-8.
Read
Jeremiah Chapter 10 and look at verse 18-19. It HURTS God
when his children backslide. In Genesis 6:3 the Lord says,
". . . My spirit shall not always strive with man. . . ."
Read all of Nehemiah Chapter 9.
(26)
For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge
of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
(27) But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery
indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. (28) He that
despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three
witnesses: (29) Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye,
shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the
Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith
he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite
unto the Spirit of grace? Hebrews 10:26-29. Read Hebrews 12:16-17.
Now as
Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist
the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the
faith. 2 Timothy 3:8. Read also Romans 1:28.
He, that
being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be
destroyed, and that without remedy. Proverbs 29:1. Read Proverbs
6:9-19.
D. REBELLION.
Read Isaiah 1:19-20. Read in 1 Samuel Chapters 8-10 how God
chose Saul to be king. 1 Samuel 10:6-10 tells how great the
Spirit of the Lord was upon him. Verse 9 said "God gave him
another heart." That is what happens to us when God gets a
hold of us; we are changed. Read in 1 Samuel 15 where Saul
disobeyed God. Samuel said Saul rejected the word of the Lord
and because of it God rejected him from being king. His sin
was rebellion. Read Hosea 4:6, Mark 7:9, Isaiah 30:9 & 18-21,
Psalm 32:1, Isaiah 30:1.
For rebellion
is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity
and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD,
he hath also rejected thee from being king. 1 Samuel 15:23.
9. I KNOW
YE NOT
(11)
Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord,
open to us. (12) But he answered and said, Verily I say unto
you, I know you not. Matthew 25:11-12.
A froward
heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person.
Psalm 101:4. [Froward means stubbornly willful.]
(24)
Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto
you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. (25) When
once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to
the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the
door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer
and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: (26) Then
shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence,
and thou hast taught in our streets, (27) But he shall say,
I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me,
all ye workers of iniquity. Luke 13:24-27.
(21)
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter
into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of
my Father which is in heaven. (22) Many will say to me in
that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name?
and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done
many wonderful works? (23) And then will I profess unto them,
I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matthew
7:21-23.
(8) In
flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and
that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: (9) Who
shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence
of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 2 Thessalonians
1:8-9.
(15)
Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are
defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind
and conscience is defiled. (16) They profess that they know
God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient,
and unto every good work reprobate. Titus 1:15-16.
(3) And
hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
(4) He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments,
is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 1 John 2:3-4. Read
1 John 4:2-6, Isaiah 1:4, Psalm 80:17-19, Isaiah 28:13, and
Proverbs 14:14.
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