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It’s sad when someone, after initially embracing God, begins to move away from Him and keeps moving in that direction. This was true of the Israelites of the Old Covenant, who, despite being chosen by God and following the Mosaic law, kept falling away. It is also true of us, the chosen of the New Covenant, whose justification comes through faith in Jesus—a faith that should lead us away from worldly and unrighteous behaviors (Colossians 3:5).
Backsliding is a reminder that sanctification isn’t something we can achieve by our passion or own works. Rather, we must submit to the guidance and strength of the Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:23). It is the lack of submission that makes us believers live unchanged carnal lives pictured as a dog returning to its vomit or a washed saw returning to the mud (1 Corinthians 3:3; 2 Peter 2:22). The Bible shows that continued refusal to repent can make the individual lose sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, who is the only hope for the person to be convicted of sin and be led to repentance (Ephesians 4:19; John 16:8).
"...continued refusal to repent can make the individual lose sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, who is the only hope for the person to be convicted of sin and be led to repentance."
A believer faces stronger temptations as they grow spiritually. They are more susceptible to falling into sin if they are not firmly rooted in Christ (Colossians 2:7). Matthew 12:43-45 says that when demons come back to a heart they once possessed and find it empty and clean, they bring more evil demons to wage war for dominion of that heart which would result in a worse evil state compared to the first. It’s imperative therefore for a believer to be rooted in the Word, be established in the faith, relying on the armor of God if they are to withstand the temptations (Ephesians 6:10-18).
A believer faces stronger temptations as they grow spiritually. They are more susceptible to falling into sin if they are not firmly rooted in Christ (Colossians 2:7). Matthew 12:43-45 says that when demons come back to a heart they once possessed and find it empty and clean, they bring more evil demons to wage war for dominion of that heart which would result in a worse evil state compared to the first. It’s imperative therefore for a believer to be rooted in the Word, be established in the faith, relying on the armor of God if they are to withstand the temptations (Ephesians 6:10-18).
"It's imperative therefore for a believer to be rooted in the Word, be established in the faith, relying on the armor of God if they are to withstand the temptations."
Let us pray: Lord Jesus, thank you for saving me. I repent, my King, of the way I have grieved You through disobeying the Holy Spirit within me. I submit to you, take the throne of my heart again. May You magnify Yourself in me through the Holy Spirit that I may live a life that glorifies You. Amen.
