To answer the question of whether God loves the backslider or not, we first need to look at what the scriptures say concerning backsliders.
As you have come to this post, you may be wondering and asking yourself this question, “does God love the backslider?” Especially if you have backslid.
By the end of this post, you are going to know whether God loves a backsliding Christian or not or if there is any hope that a backsliding Christian who has fallen from grace can be restored.
Does God Love The Backslider?
Yes, of course, God still loves the backslider even if they have turned their backs on Him and promises any backslider restoration if they come to Him in true repentance for their backslidings.
One such example where God’s love for backsliders can be seen is in the book of Jeremiah 3:22 where the Lord pleads with the children of Israel to return to Him so that He can heal their backslidings.
As you know, throughout the bible, the Israelites are notoriously known for backsliding and turning away from the Lord countless times back into idols and various sins that they were told not to indulge in.
So, if you are a sinning Christian who has backslid, just know that the Lord still loves you and hasn’t given up on you but it’s up to you to respond to Him as He will never force you to do so as you are a person with a free will and free choice.
Remember, just because God loves backsliders doesn’t mean that they will get away with their sinful backslidden condition. If a backslider continues to willfully reject God’s forgiveness, they might get into apostasy which is a very dangerous condition one can get into.
If you become an apostate, it’s very likely you might not return to the Lord Jesus Christ because that prompting of the Holy Spirit to convict you of your sins would have completely left you due to your stubbornness. Don reach that stage, please.
See Also: 7 Major Signs Of Backsliding [Indicating A Fall From Grace.]
The Story Of Israel’s Backsliding.
The prophet Jeremiah was sent by God to preach to Israel. Israel had turned away from God and gone after idols. God told Jeremiah to preach against this sin and warn them of the consequences.
But God also told him not to worry about his message falling on deaf ears because He would plant His words in their hearts and minds (Jeremiah 1:12). Why would God do this? Because He loved them.
Jeremiah 3:2 says, “Lift up your eyes to the bare heights and see! Where have you not been ravished? By the waysides, you have sat awaiting lovers like an Arab in the wilderness.
You have polluted the land with your vile harlotry.” But in verse 12, he writes, “I will surely save my flock; they shall no longer be a prey. And I will judge between sheep and sheep.”
God loves us even when we turn away from Him as we can see in the above bible verses. He gave this warning through Jeremiah because He wanted Israel to repent and return to Him.
If they did so, He promised to bless them with all good things (Jeremiah 32:41). The people didn’t listen, but that didn’t stop God from loving them. Isn’t that wonderful?
Who Is A Backslider?
A backslider or backsliding Christian is simply a Christian who has fallen away from the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and turned back to sin and the world they once forsook.
Someone who is a backslider is just like the prodigal son Jesus Christ talked about in Luke 15:11-32 who ran away from his father to live riotously and sinners are just like the prodigal son Christ talks about in the above verse in the new testament.
You must know that backsliding begins in the heart before it fully manifests physically outside such as going back into the world or returning to your former sinful lifestyle which I am guilty of as well.
Can A Backslider Come Back To God?
Of course, dear any backslider can return to God and be better and stronger than they were at the beginning before they backslid if they truly repent and resolve in their heart that they don’t want anything to do with sin and the world anymore.
We can see numerous examples in the bible both in the old testament and the new testament of backsliders who returned to God when they fell into sin. One such example is King David who slept with Uriah’s wife which was sinful but repented in Psalms 51:1-5.
The other example is the apostle Peter in the new testament who denied our Lord Jesus Christ thrice and cussed in Luke 22:54-62 but later repented of the grievous sin of denial he committed and the list goes on. You as well can be restored if you truly repent in your heart.
Does God Condemn A Backslider?
Of Course not. God doesn’t condemn a backslider right there and then as He’s patient and longsuffering not willing anyone to perish but come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9) but pleads and asks them to return unto Him before it’s too late to do so.
We can see this in Jeremiah 3:22 where the Lord pleads with Israel which is notoriously known for turning away from God numerous times to return to Him so that He can heal their backsliding.
The same applies to any backsliding Christian or believers out there who have fallen from grace as the Lord Jesus Christ hasn’t given up on them yet. So if you backslid, there is still hope for you to be restored if you truly want to in your heart.
How To Be Restored As A Backslider.
There are several steps you need to take if you want to be fully restored to the Lord Jesus Christ and be stronger than ever before. Below are the three steps to take for restoration
(i). True Repentance.
True repentance from the sins or sinful lifestyle you have once again fallen back into is a must if you want to be fully restored unto the Lord and to obtain forgiveness of your backslidings.
Proverbs 28:13 says that only if you truly repent and forsake your sins will you obtain mercy, pardon and forgiveness of your sins which will be a precursor for your restoration back to God.
Without a genuine prayer of true repentance, forget about getting fully restored unto the Lord. You have to mean business with the Lord via true repentance and turning away from your sins if you want to be fully restored.
See Also:
- Seven Fruits Of Repentance (That Signify Real Salvation.)
- 13 Signs Of True Repentance (Signifying Real Salvation.)
(iii). Pray For Genuine Salvation.
Secondly, to be fully restored, a genuine prayer for a real salvation experience is needed on your part as having genuine salvation is what will enable you to have the nature of Christ restored to you which will enable you to forsake the sinful lifestyle you have fallen back into.
You need to have a genuine salvation experience in your Christian life which brings eternal life if you have gone back into sin and the only way you can have a genuine salvation experience is by praying the way David prayed in Psalms 51:1-5 when he fell into sin.
As you can see in the above bible verse, David was truly sorry for what he had done which is why he was restored in no time. The same can happen to you if you pray a genuine prayer of repentance which David did.
See Also:
- How To Be Saved According To The Bible (+ Video Sermon).
- 7 Things To Do After Getting Saved (To Keep You Standing In The Lord).
- Importance Of Salvation And Why Care? (+ Video Sermon).
(iii). Vow Not To Turn Back.
After doing the above steps, your full restoration will be on your way and the only thing left for you to do is to not turn back to your former sinful lifestyle. The no turning back motto is what you must now live by after being restored.
This is very important because many people forget to do this. Instead, they backslide again and go back to the very same old sinful lifestyle they vowed not to return to which explains the rising and falling in many believers.
But if you truly want to be restored and not go back into sin and the world, you need to have the heart of the woman Jesus Christ forgave in John 8:7-13 who never returned to her adulterous lifestyle when she was forgiven.
See Also: How To Have Power Over Sin In 7 Easy Steps (Video Sermon)
Conclusion.
I hope this post on the question of does God love the backslider has thoroughly answered your question about whether God loves backsliders or not. In closing, if you found this post edifying unto your soul, kindly let me know in the comments below along with any questions you might have on what you have just read. Stay blessed and don’t forget to share.
Further Reading.
- How To Stop Being A Lukewarm Christian [In 7 Simple Steps].
- How To Crucify The Flesh Daily [In 7 Simple Steps].
- 13 Characteristics Of The New Nature Of Christ [+ Sermon].
Sharing is caring.
Thank you, very helpful. But I still don’t deserve His mercy for all the wickedness I have done.
True indeed we all don’t deserve God’s love but God is rich in love and mercy and loves us with everlasting love that has no equals which is why He sent us His only begotten Son to die for our sins knowing that we might never love Him back. That’s true love dear friend that no human can ever give you.