Backsliding?

Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits. Hebrews 6:1-3

For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. Hebrews 6:4-6

Basically, two doctrines of faith come from these verses from God’s Word. And this is the moment that your integrity in reference to personal Bible Study comes to bear. This also brings to question whether or not you are reading God’s Word for yourself, reading commentaries and/or listening to preachers and other ‘Bible Teachers’ for your understanding.

I know where I stand on these critical issues because of
· my personal Bible studies,
· commentary reading,
· and listening to others make comments concerning them.

And do not leave out a very large dose of prayer

Do not take what I have to give you as the truth. Refer only to God’s Word for truth. Read and Study diligently what the Word of God gives to you. You might want to use what I have to give you as a reference point, and that is okay. But do this for yourself first of all and then go to other places.

However, if you do not want to believe what I have to say, you can be wrong if you desire. Take that with a grain of salt, too. Ha.

Two of the critical means of studying Scripture also come to focus here as well; Deductive and Inductive methods.

Deductive - a proposition that is necessarily true independent of fact or experience.
Advice is that no one should study God’s Word deductively. Therefore, I will not say more.

Inductive - proceeding from particular facts to a general conclusion
Advice here is that persistence and diligence is the key are the keys to effective study. Finding the ‘nuggets of truth’ form Scripture does not come easily nor without prayer.

“Falling from Grace” and “Backsliding” are two cats that come from the same bag and they fight all of the time with no solutions. These two have real issues when faced with this biblical truth. “It is impossible…..then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt” Hebrews 6:4 & 6.

Have you ‘fallen away’ or ‘backslidden’? Look hard at this. For Baptists the question of ‘falling from grace’ is not an issue, and because I am Baptist I will not go there this morning; Tomorrow.

“Even in laughter the heart may ache, and the end of joy may be grief. The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways, and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways. The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.” Proverbs 13:14-15.

Look for yourself, but this is the only verse in all of Scripture that uses the word ‘backslide’. I find it difficult to teach and preach the ‘doctrine of backsliding’ for this reason. Bad theology.

‘drift’ is found only in Hebrews 2:1-3, “Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?”

‘drifitng’ is not found in the best translations, either. And I have heard great sermons using this analogy for ‘backsliding’ Christians. Be careful.

Now, with this said, look at the following verses with prayerful and careful understanding….Hebrews 3:12 – 4:3

Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end, while it is said, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS, AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME." For who provoked Him when they had heard? Indeed, did not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief. Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said, "AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH, THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST," although His works were finished from the foundation of the world.

Now, look at Hebrews 6:4-6 and compare with Hebrews 3:12 – 4:3.
That phrase “For it is impossible” looms large, does it not?, especially when connected to, ‘to restore them again to repentance” that is found in that same sentence.

Take you time to study this without reading commentaries, and referring to your pastor or favorite Bible teacher. Get this understanding from your personal study and prayer (discussion) with God.

One more comment. Be careful not to interpret God’s Word from personal experiences with other people or even your own. Rather, allow God’s Word to interpret the experience.

Enjoy in Him…..