1. How does God regard backsliding?

As a bitter mistake.

Jeremiah 2:19

KJV ¹⁹ Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord God of hosts. WEB ¹⁹ “Your own wickedness will correct you, and your backsliding will rebuke you. Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing, that you have forsaken Yahweh your God, and that my fear is not in you,” says the Lord, Yahweh of Armies.

He is not pleased with anyone who turns back.

Hebrews 10:38

KJV ³⁸ Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. WEB ³⁸ But the righteous will live by faith. If he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”

2. What has been the tendency of God’s people?

They have been determined to reject God.

Hosea 11:7

KJV ⁷ And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him. WEB ⁷ My people are determined to turn from me. Though they call to the Most High, he certainly won’t exalt them.

3. What inevitably leads to departure from God?

Evil thoughts or doubts.

Hebrews 3:12

KJV ¹² Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. WEB ¹² Beware, brothers, lest perhaps there might be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God;

NOTE: Unbelief is “the sin which doth so easily beset us.” — Hebrews 12:1

KJV ¹ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, WEB ¹ Therefore let’s also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with perseverance the race that is set before us,

4. In what ways did the constant backsliding of the people of Jerusalem manifest itself?

They held fast to their false gods and refused to come back to God. They didn’t admit to any wrong doing and rushed to carry on with their lives.

Jeremiah 8:5-6

KJV ⁵ Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return. ⁶ I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle. WEB ⁵ Why then have the people of Jerusalem fallen back by a perpetual backsliding? They cling to deceit. They refuse to return. ⁶ I listened and heard, but they didn’t say what is right. No one repents of his wickedness, saying, “What have I done?” Everyone turns to his course, as a horse that rushes headlong in the battle.

5. To what is backsliding likened?

It is likened to a wife breaking her wedding vows.

Jeremiah 3:20

KJV ²⁰ Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith the Lord. WEB ²⁰ “Surely as a wife treacherously departs from her husband, so you have dealt treacherously with me, house of Israel,” says Yahweh.

6. To regain God’s favor, what must the backslider do?

He must admit of rebellion and the worship of false gods.

Jeremiah 3:13

KJV ¹³ Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the Lord. WEB ¹³ Only acknowledge your iniquity, that you have transgressed against Yahweh your God, and have scattered your ways to the strangers under every green tree, and you have not obeyed my voice,’ says Yahweh.”

7. On what condition does God promise mercy to sinners?

On the condition that they give up their crooked ways and evil thoughts, and return to Him.

Isaiah 55:7

KJV ⁷ Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. WEB ⁷ Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Let him return to Yahweh, and he will have mercy on him, to our God, for he will freely pardon.

8. Why must the wicked forsake their thoughts and ways?

Because God's thoughts and ways are not like the wicked.

Isaiah 55:8

KJV ⁸ For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. WEB ⁸ “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways,” says Yahweh.

NOTE God desires that we shall think His thoughts, which are right thoughts, pure thoughts, everlasting thoughts. He desires also that we shall take on His ways, which are ways of pleasantness, and walk in His paths, which are paths of peace.

9. What is especially necessary to prevent backsliding?

To stay awake and pray.

Mark 14:38

KJV ³⁸ Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. WEB ³⁸ Watch and pray, that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

10. What are believers exhorted to do?

To test themselves to find out whether they are really true to their faith.

2 Corinthians 13:5

KJV ⁵ Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? WEB ⁵ Examine your own selves, whether you are in the faith. Test your own selves. Or don’t you know about your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you? — unless indeed you are disqualified.

11. If one has God’s law in the heart, what will not occur?

They will never take a wrong step.

Psalm 37:31

KJV ³¹ The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide. WEB ³¹ The law of his God is in his heart. None of his steps shall slide.

12. What is one characteristic of backsliding?

Ignoring God’s ordinances.ordinances.

Malachi 3:7

KJV ⁷ Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? WEB ⁷ From the days of your fathers you have turned away from my ordinances, and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says Yahweh of Armies. “But you say, ‘How shall we return? ’

13. In response, what neglected ordinance does God cite?

The ordinance of tithes and offerings.

Malachi 3:8

KJV ⁸ Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. WEB ⁸ Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed you? ’ In tithes and offerings.

14. What remedy is indicated?

To return the tithes into the storehouse.

Malachi 3:10

KJV ¹⁰ Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. WEB ¹⁰ Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, and test me now in this,” says Yahweh of Armies, “if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there will not be room enough for.

15. Because of Christ’s plain teachings, what did some of His disciples do?

They stopped following him.

John 6:66

KJV ⁶⁶ From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. WEB ⁶⁶ At this, many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

16. When the backslider repents, what does God do?

He will heal them and love them without limitation.

Hosea 14:2-4

KJV ² Take with you words, and turn to the Lord: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips. ³ Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy. ⁴ I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. WEB ² Take words with you, and return to Yahweh. Tell him, “Forgive all our sins, and accept that which is good: so we offer our lips like bulls. ³ Assyria can’t save us. We won’t ride on horses; neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, ‘Our gods!’ for in you the fatherless finds mercy.” ⁴ “I will heal their waywardness. I will love them freely; for my anger is turned away from him.

17. Will there be special danger of backsliding in the last days?

It is prophesized that evil will spread.

Matthew 24:12

KJV ¹² And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. WEB ¹² Because iniquity will be multiplied, the love of many will grow cold.

18. What are some of the evils against which we are specially warned at this time?

Excessive eating or drinking and worrying about life.

Luke 21:34

KJV ³⁴ And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. WEB ³⁴ “So be careful, or your hearts will be loaded down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day will come on you suddenly.

19. In view of the perils surrounding us, what are we told to do?

We are told to watch out and pray continuously.

Luke 21:36

KJV ³⁶ Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. WEB ³⁶ Therefore be watchful all the time, praying that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

O for a closer walk with God!
A calm and heavenly frame,
A light to shine upon the road
That leads me to the Lamb.
WILLIAM COWPER.