2/23/97 Jer. 3:6-18
WHAT IS BACKSLIDING?
Jer. 3:6-10 compared with todays news
BORN-AGAIN MAKES LITTLE DIFFERENCE IN BEHAVIOR
------->:A ROPER poll
National & International Religion
Report -- Oct 8 1990
- The behavior of born-again Christians after
their conversion experience is not very
different from what it was before. In fact,
the survey showed that participation in 3
major types of activity :
Adultery - 2% before -- 5% After born again
Illegal drug use - 5% Before -- 9% After
Drinking - Driving while intoxicated
4% Before -- 12% After
- Don Otis leader of the poll said that their
is a real moral decline in the church today.
------->:George Barna "TODAY’S PASTOR" P. 48
- Only 4 out of every 10 will read their bible this week.
- Those reading during the week will spend 1hr. there will be more time spent in showering, commuting to & from work, watching tv, talking on the phone,reading the newspaper.
- Most lay people cannot name the 10 commandments
- Most do not know that it was JESUS who preached the Sermon on the Mount.
- Ask about the book of Thomas and 1/2 of all adults will be unawre that such a book is not in the Bible.
- The Gospels (The 1st 4 books in NT) are not known to most people
- The most quoted verse is
"God helps those who help who help themselves"
is not in the Bible but from Ben Franklin
I. WHAT IF I CLAIM TO BE SAVED AND YET LIVE A SINFUL LIFE.
1. There is a possibility that I have never been saved
- I Jn 2:19
They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would [no doubt] have continued with us: but [they went out], that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
- I Jn. 3:18-22
3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, [then] have we confidence toward God.
22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him,
because we keep his commandments, and do those
things that are pleasing in his sight.
2. There is a possibility that I am in a backsliddenm condition.
- The flesh is the same
- The devil must be dealt with
- The world is antagonistic
3. Examples of backslidders in the Bible
- David
- Peter
- Jonah
- The Churches in Asia (Rev. 2-3)
II. WHEN AM I IN A BACKSLIDDEN CONDITION?
Two sociologist have discovered a formula of sorts for developing a faith that sticks or dosn’t stick depending which you use for young people.
- A consistent Christian home + regular church attendance + few religious doubts + membership in a Catholic or conservative church = PERSISTENT BELIEFS.
The formula for kids who end up rejecting their faith.
- Witnessing hypocrisy and dishonesty in the church + infrequent church attendance + religious doubts + membership in a mainline Protestant denomination
= RELIGIOUS DROPOUT
The sociologist also found that those who’d
abandoned their faith were: less happy dissatisfied with life held more liberal views had lower self-esteem Than their religious counterparts.
-:GROUP Mag. Sept. 93 p.11
1. - Often the backslidder is unware of his true condition
- Satan blinds the saved and unsaved
II Cor. 4:4
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the
minds of them which believe not, lest the light o\f
the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
2. - We have some false ideas about the backslidder
- It’s not just the sins in the flesh
ex. drinking - imorality - gambling
- What about the sins of the Spirit
III. HOW CAN I KNOW IF I AM BACKSLIDING?
1. If I willingly tolerate even "small" sins in my life I’m allready on the road to a backslidden condition.
2. If I am not pursuing and hungry for righteousness I’m backsliding.
- Matt. 5:6
Blessed [are] they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
- Ps 42:1-2
As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
42:2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
3. If I don’t care or have a love for other people I’m backsliding.
- Jn. 13:35
By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
4. If I put material things before spiritural things than I’m backsliding
1 John 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
5. If I am not involved in serving Christ than I am backsliding
- Jn. 15:16
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and [that] your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
- Eph 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
IV. IS THERE A SOLUTION TO BACKSLIDING?
- According to Jer. 3:12-13
7-"R’s"
1. Remorce for my guilt before God
2. Repent of my sin
3. Remember the Cross
4. Renounce and forsake my evil ways
5. Return to the Church
6. Read my Bible
7. Resign myself to my responsibilties & opportunities
"The Western Messenger"
A man with a missing index finger tells his story how the snake bit him when the stick broke. He kepted a 6 foot rattlesnake in a cage for a pet. One day, however, he took it into the living room and realeased it just to
tease his wife. As she fled in terror, he quickly took a stick and placed it behind the reptile’s head, holding it firmly to the floor. As the irritated snake twisted the man pushed herder to maintain control. Suddenly
the stick gave way with a loud crack. As quick as lightning, the rattler arched its back and made its attack. Its deadly fangs filled with venom, struck the man on the hand. Medical treatment saved his life, but his finger had to be amputated.
Sin is like that rattlesnake. You can’t tease or play with it, for it will never be satisfied until its poison is injected into your soul.
You think about that!
