The Falling Away

[InHisGrip]

I could never understand when people told me they were Christians, and have now become Atheist, or chosen another religion. I couldn't understand how could someone who is born of the Spirit, filled with the Spirit, tasted the Lord and seen that He is good, know His truth, turn away from Him. How is that possible?

I've been reading a book by Charles Swindoll - Growing Deep in the Christian Life, and he speaks on that subject. I am grieved that there will be a falling away from the faith. In 1 Tim 4:1-2 "Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron"

I can't imagine turning from my Lord and Saviour. He is the very air that I breathe. I pray earnestly that in the time of serious adversity, or persecution, I will hold on to Him, and His promises, for my inheritance lies with Him. I know that we are weak humans, Jesus is our strength, and there are some people who are not strong in their faith. If they would just realize what it means to abide in Him, and He will abide in us, they wouldn't fall away. If they did fall away, then they can't have had that intimate relationship with our Lord to know that He is the only one whom they could trust.

Backsliding is different. I backslid twice during my walk, and during those periods, I was very, but very aware that I was sinning against God, and that is what brought me back to Him. But I never denounced Him or became Atheist. I suppose it's something I will never truly grasp, but I will trust in Him who saved me from the pit.

MuchLoved
J

 

[ladylovesJesus]

I quite agree with you I would not want to walk away from Jesus who died to give us everlasting life. It's all about Him and a personal relationship with Jesus.

If they would just realize what it means to abide in Him, and He will abide in us, they wouldn't fall away.

The Message Bible

John 15
The Vine and the Branches
1-3 "I am the Real Vine and my Father is the Farmer. He cuts off every branch of me that doesn't bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more. You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken.

4"Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can't bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can't bear fruit unless you are joined with me.

5-8"I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you're joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can't produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.

9-10"I've loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you'll remain intimately at home in my love. That's what I've done—kept my Father's commands and made myself at home in his love.

11-15"I've told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I'm no longer calling you servants because servants don't understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I've named you friends because I've let you in on everything I've heard from the Father.

16"You didn't choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won't spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you.

17"But remember the root command: Love one another.

God bless you sister

LLJ :rainbow: :rose:

 

[Faithful Son]

Hi sister InHisGrip and sister Lady. I think the following text in the Bible is also quite clear. I apologize, I was looking for specific scripture which speaks about the turning away of Christians. The Bible says somewhere, that once someone has returned to their old life, denying Jesus, they can never return. I couldn't find it. But the following scripture is just as beautiful and fitting:

Hebrews 12:14-29
Warning Against Refusing God
14Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 16See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears.

18You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; 19to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, 20because they could not bear what was commanded: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned." 21The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, "I am trembling with fear."

22But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, 24to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

25See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens." 27The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

28Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29for our "God is a consuming fire."

 

[Word of Life]

Hi sister InHisGrip and sister Lady. I think the following text in the Bible is also quite clear. I apologize, I was looking for specific scripture which speaks about the turning away of Christians. The Bible says somewhere, that once someone has returned to their old life, denying Jesus, they can never return. I couldn't find it. But the following scripture is just as beautiful and fitting:

I think that might be Hebrews 10:26, that you are looking for:

Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

 

[Faithful Son]

That's close sister, but it's actually a whole chapter or page dedicated to the subject. I'll have to read some Bible again.

God bless

 

[InHisGrip]

Hi Teraside

I believe this is the scripture you are looking for.

Hebrews 6:46 (NKJ) "For it is IMPOSSIBLE for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, IF they should fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to open shame"

That is quite hectic. It does happen, I'm just incredibly saddened by it. the emphasis is on the word IF, because it's quite difficult to. Which can only mean that they were not truly saved? What are your thoughts?

MuchLoved
J

 

[Faithful Son]

I think that passage is quite straightforward sister. That is the passage I was looking for.

.......who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit....

This means that they were truly saved. Because the Holy Spirit is not of the world. The natural man does not have the Holy Spirit. Only the saved man has the Spirit of God.

John 14:17
the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

1 Corinthians 2:12
We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.

The Christian life is quite complex, because it's a mighty act of God. We are worthless, the Father calls us and draws us to Jesus and we receive the Spirit of Truth. Once we received this gift and turn our back on God, we can never return.

John 6:44
"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.

God bless
Much love
teraside