“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” – Matthew 6:33
What Does The Bible Say About Backsliding
Backsliding happens when a person who once followed God turns away from Him and goes back to their old ways of living. The Bible talks about how backsliding is a serious issue because it shows that someone has stopped trusting in God and is choosing to follow their own path instead. It is often a slow process that begins with small compromises, like neglecting prayer or reading the Bible, and gradually leads to a deeper separation from God.
The Bible describes backsliding as turning away from God’s truth and choosing sin instead. This separation from God brings spiritual darkness, a loss of joy, and a sense of distance from Him. However, the Bible also gives hope by showing that God is always ready to forgive and welcome back anyone who repents and returns to Him. God’s love and mercy never end, and He always wants to restore those who have strayed. He calls everyone to turn back to Him, reminding them of His goodness and the abundant life He offers.
Backsliding is not a permanent state, and anyone can come back to God by sincerely seeking His forgiveness and committing to follow Him again. God promises to renew and strengthen those who return to Him, giving them a fresh start and a new sense of purpose in their spiritual journey. The Bible encourages believers to stay close to God, rely on His strength, and continue growing in faith to avoid falling back into old patterns of sin.
Also Read: Bible Verses about Walking With God
God’s Call to Return to Him
Backsliding is a common struggle for many believers. However, God continuously calls His children to return to Him with open arms. The Bible provides numerous verses encouraging repentance and a renewed commitment to God.
Jeremiah 3:22
“Come back, wandering children! I can heal your wanderlust!”
Hosea 14:4
“I will heal their waywardness and love them lavishly. My anger is played out.”
Joel 2:13
“Change your life, not just your clothes. Come back to God, your God. And here’s why: God is kind and merciful.”
Isaiah 55:7
“Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.”
Ezekiel 18:32
“I take no pleasure in anyone’s death. Decree of God, the Master: ‘Make a clean break! Live!’”
God’s Compassion for the Backslider
God’s compassion is boundless, even for those who have strayed. The Bible shows how God, in His mercy, always provides a path for reconciliation and restoration for the backslider.
Micah 7:18
“Where is the god who can compare with you—wiping the slate clean of guilt, turning a blind eye, a deaf ear, to the past sins of your purged and precious people?”
Zephaniah 3:17
“God is present among you, a strong Warrior there to save you. Happy to have you back, he’ll calm you with his love and delight you with his songs.”
Luke 15:20
“When he was still a long way off, his father saw him. His heart pounding, he ran out, embraced him, and kissed him.”
Psalm 51:17
“I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered. Heart-shattered lives ready for love don’t for a moment escape God’s notice.”
2 Chronicles 7:14
“And if my people, my God-defined people, respond by humbling themselves, praying, seeking my presence, and turning their backs on their wicked lives, I’ll be there ready for you.”
The Danger of Backsliding
Backsliding poses spiritual dangers that can lead to separation from God. The Bible warns believers about the perils of turning away from the faith and the importance of staying on the righteous path.
Hebrews 10:26
“If we give up and turn our backs on all we’ve learned, all we’ve been given, all the truth we now know, we repudiate Christ’s sacrifice.”
2 Peter 2:20-21
“If they’ve escaped from the slum of sin by experiencing our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ, and then slid back into that same old life again, they’re worse than if they had never left.”
Proverbs 14:14
“A mean person gets paid back in meanness, a gracious person in grace.”
Revelation 2:5
“Do you have any idea how far you’ve fallen? A Lucifer fall! Turn back! Recover your dear early love. No time to waste, for I’m well on my way to removing your light from the golden circle.”
Galatians 6:1
“Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out.”
Encouragement to Persevere in Faith
Despite the challenges, the Bible encourages believers to persevere in their faith. Staying steadfast in God ensures a strong relationship with Him, which helps avoid the pitfalls of backsliding.
James 1:12
“Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life.”
1 Corinthians 15:58
“With all this going for us, my dear, dear friends, stand your ground. And don’t hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort.”
Philippians 3:14
“I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.”
2 Timothy 4:7
“This is the only race worth running. I’ve run hard right to the finish, believed all the way.”
Hebrews 12:1
“Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it.”
Repentance: A Step Toward Restoration
Repentance is a critical step in restoring one’s relationship with God after backsliding. The Bible emphasizes the importance of turning away from sin and seeking God’s forgiveness to renew spiritual strength and direction.
Acts 3:19
“Now it’s time to change your ways! Turn to face God so he can wipe away your sins, pour out showers of blessing to refresh you.”
1 John 1:9
“On the other hand, if we admit our sins—make a clean breast of them—he won’t let us down; he’ll be true to himself.”
Luke 13:3
“Unless you turn to God, you too will die.”
2 Chronicles 30:9
“And do not be stiff-necked, as your ancestors were; submit to the Lord. Come to his sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever. Serve the Lord your God, so that his fierce anger will turn away from you.”
Isaiah 1:18
“Come. Sit down. Let’s argue this out. This is God’s Message: ‘If your sins are blood-red, they’ll be snow-white. If they’re red like crimson, they’ll be like wool.'”
God’s Promise of Restoration
God promises restoration to those who return to Him with a sincere heart. The Bible reassures believers that God’s plan includes redemption and a hopeful future, even after backsliding.
Jeremiah 29:11
“I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.”
Joel 2:25
“I’ll make up for the years of the locust, the great locust devastation—locusts savage, locusts deadly, fierce locusts, locusts of doom, that great locust invasion I sent your way.”
Psalm 71:20-21
“You who made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again.”
Hosea 6:1
“Come on, let’s go back to God. He hurt us, but he’ll heal us. He hit us hard, but he’ll put us right again.”
Isaiah 61:7
“Because you got a double dose of trouble and more than your share of contempt, your inheritance in the land will be doubled and your joy go on forever.”
God’s Faithfulness Despite Our Failures
Even when we fail and fall into sin, God remains faithful. His faithfulness is unwavering, offering us hope and assurance that His love and grace will always be available, no matter how far we fall.
2 Timothy 2:13
“If we give up on him, he does not give up—for there’s no way he can be false to himself.”
Lamentations 3:22-23
“God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up. They’re created new every morning. How great your faithfulness!”
Deuteronomy 7:9
“Know this: God, your God, is God indeed, a God you can depend upon. He keeps his covenant of loyal love with those who love him and observe his commandments for a thousand generations.”
1 Corinthians 1:9
“God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that.”
Psalm 36:5
“God’s love is meteoric, his loyalty astronomic, His purpose titanic, his verdicts oceanic.”
Walking in the Spirit to Avoid Backsliding
Walking in the Spirit is essential for avoiding the traps of backsliding. The Bible emphasizes living by the Spirit’s guidance to stay on the path of righteousness and maintain a vibrant relationship with God.
Galatians 5:16
“My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God’s Spirit. Then you won’t feed the compulsions of selfishness.”
Romans 8:1
“With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ’s being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud.”
2 Corinthians 3:17
“Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone.”
John 16:13
“But when the Friend comes, the Spirit of the Truth, he will take you by the hand and guide you into all the truth there is.”
Isaiah 30:21
“Your teacher will be right there, local and on the job, urging you on whenever you wander left or right: ‘This is the right road. Walk down this road.’”
Christian Quotes on Backsliding
“A backslider is a Christian who follows Christ from afar off.” – Charles Spurgeon
“The backslider likes the preaching that wouldn’t hit the side of a house, while the real disciple is delighted when the truth brings him to his knees.” – Billy Sunday
“To forsake Christ for the world, is to leave a treasure for a trifle, eternity for a moment, reality for a shadow.” – William Jenkyn
“Backsliding, generally first begins with neglect of private prayer.” – J.C. Ryle
“Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.” – Ravi Zacharias
“The believer’s backsliding always begins in the heart. It is there that the first steps away from God are taken.” – J.C. Philpot
“Backsliding is the turning of the soul away from God.” – John Bunyan
“The true way to be humble is not to stoop until you are smaller than yourself, but to stand at your real height against some higher nature that will show you what the real smallness of your greatness is.” – Phillips Brooks
“A soul that is not hungry for the things of God is a backslider. No matter how active in Christian work he may be.” – A.W. Tozer
“Revival is when God gets so sick and tired of being misrepresented that He shows Himself.” – Leonard Ravenhill
Final Thought
Backsliding is a reality for many believers, but it is not the end of the story. The Bible provides numerous verses and teachings that offer hope, encouragement, and a pathway back to God. Through repentance and renewal, believers can overcome the struggle of backsliding and experience the fullness of God’s mercy and grace. God’s unwavering love and faithfulness are always available to restore and strengthen those who turn back to Him. Remember, the journey of faith is not without its challenges, but God’s promises of restoration and His call to perseverance remain steadfast.