What Does It Mean To Backslide?

I have to say, I didn’t even know this word before I was a Christian.

In the Christian context backslide implies movement away from God rather the toward Him. A backslider is someone who is going the wrong way, spiritually. They are regressing rather than progressing.

The backslider had a one time demonstrated a commitment to God or once maintained a certain standard of behavior, by they have since reverted to their old ways.

Backsliding May manifest itself in several ways such as dropping out of church, losing fervor for God, walking away from a ministry or a church family, or falling back into old habits.

John 10:28-29 says, “God will not kick His children out of His family,”that is not how we will use the word. Backsliding simply means that someone is growing cold toward God. I think some people backslide because they are not growing in Christ ( meat). Although a backslide condition could indicate the person was never truly saved to begin with, and are only showing their true colors. It’s also possible for children of God to backslide, temporarily.

The Bible uses the phrase “fall away” rather than backslide, but the idea is similar. In the Bible “fall away” can mean two different things. In one instance, a person is saying break spearing and temporary period of questioning that could call a “crisis of faith.” In the other instance, the person was never saved at all the only temporary having behaved at the same person would. It’s like Taking a test drive and Christianity.

In Mark 14:27 Jesus told his disciples, “you will all fall away.” What he meant was that, when He was arrested, they would experience a crisis of faith, a life event so shocking that they would run from Jesus and question the very core of their beliefs. It was a night of offense, a night of stumbling for them. But this was a temporary condition. Three days later, Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to his disciples. Their faith and hope restored, stronger than ever.

The apostle Paul tells us how to handle a fellow believer who is backsliding: “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted” (Galatians 6:1), James concurs: “My brothers and sisters, if one of you could wander from the truth…Somebody should bring the person back.” (James 5:19). The back slider has wandered from where he should be and is “stuck” in sin, but the church will work to restore him and set him back on the path of righteousness.

There are events in life, such as death of a loved one, that may cause us to question God. This is OK, as long as we go to God with those questions rather than using them as excuses to live in rebellion. The result of a crisis of faith is often that we come to know God more intimately than before. In times of trial, we should delve into the Word, pray with persistence (Luke 18:1). and surround ourselves with those whose faith is strong.

I see another type of “falling away” in Hebrew 6:4-6 and Luke 8:13. Hebrews 6 describe the apostate, Someone who had only “tasted the goodness of the word” verse 5 and later rejects it. In Luke 8:13. Jesus illustrate apostasy with the rocky soil – some fall away or backslide because “they have no root.” And each of these passages, a person outwardly appears to be a Christian, at least for a while, but he has not committed himself to God. Such a person might be attending church, reading his Bible, listening to Christian music, hanging out with Christian friends. He likes the wholesome atmosphere and a good company of being around Christian affords. But his heart is not changedHe has never been born again. Eventually, he backslides. He had taken Christianity for a test drive and decided he wasn’t buying.

Salvation comes by means of a genuine confession of Jesus as Lord to the heart that believe in Jesus’s death and resurrection (Romans 10:9-10). It’s a person who has been truly stayed later backslides – that is, he slips back into spiritually damaging attitudes and behaviors the slide will be temporary. The chastening of the Lord will bring him back. The good Shepherd will seek out the wandering lamb. (Luke 15-3-7).

It’s the person who was never saved but only putting on a good front backsides – that is, he dropped the charade and showed his true colors his last decision will be worse than the first (Hebrews 10:26-31). How can we tell one type of backsliding from another? We can’t always, unless given time, and even then, we don’t know how much time. God will take in restoring the backslider. Only God can see his heart.

Jehovah Tsidkenu – God Is Our Righteousness

So many Christians attempt to live out their Christianity in their own strength, resource, and ability – sadly this always fall flat and comes up short.

Isaiah 64:6 tells us that even our best effort still only produces filthy rags.

So how is it possible to live out a godly life with the impossible standard we are called to?

We are told numerous times in Scripture that God alone can be righteous…

  • … Righteous and upright are He. – Deuteronomy 32:4
  • There is none righteous, no, not one… – Romans 3:10
  • My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous – 1 John 2:1
  • Now I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness, He judges and makes war. – Revelation 19:11

In our effort, in our strength, in our talent, in our ability, or whatever, it is impossible to live the Christian life as it was intended. I love what a one Major Ian Thomas says about the Christian life, he wrote

The Christian life can be explained only in terms of Jesus Christ, and if your life as a Christian can still be explained in terms of you – your personality, your willpower, your gift, your talent, your money your courage, your scholarship, your dedication, your sacrifice, or your anything – than although you may have the Christian life, you are not yet living it!… It has got to become obvious to others that the kind of life you are living is… beyond all human explanation! That it is beyond the comes of man’s capacity to imitate, and however little they may understand this, it is clearly the consequence only of God’s capacity to reproduce Himself in you!

From “Saving Life of Christ and the Mystery of Godliness” – Ian Thomas

So how are we going to live the Christian life? How are we going to walk in purity, holiness, and righteousness?

We need to be indwelt by the One who is the fullness of purity. holiness, and righteousness.

Isaiah 61:10 talks about the Messiah (Jesus) and declares, “I will rejoice in the Lord, My soul, shall be joyful in My God: For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness. As a bridegroom decks of himself with ornaments. And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”

We are to be clothed by Jesus Christ (Ephesians 4:20-24).

When Jesus indwells us by His Spirit (The Holy Spirit) then we experience His righteousness and fullness of life within us ( 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 4:24; Philippians 1:11 3:8-9).

We are not merely to “look” righteous on the outside ( action. words deeds) but more importantly be righteous on the inside (thoughts, motives, attitudes) – Matthew 23:27-28

In Jeremiah expresses the concept in Jeremiah 23:5-6, Jeremiah talks about Jesus calling him the Branch of righteousness and giving Him the Name Jehovah Tsidkenu ( God our Righteousness). It says:

Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord. That I will raise to David a Branch of Righteousness: A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved. And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: The LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Jeremiah 23:5-6

Jesus’s Name is “.Righteousness.”

Jeremiah continues this idea in Jeremiah 33:15-16. This Righteous Branch (Jehovah Tsidkenu) is brought into Jerusalem and the place where the Branch (Jesus) dwells, takes on the same Name – Jehovah Tsidkenu.

Wherever the One who is righteous dwells, that location becomes righteous.

How do we live a life of righteousness? By allowing the One who is righteous to indwell out lives via His Holy Spirit.

We are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and as He in dwells our life. He makes us righteous. Which is an amazing reality!

Jehovah Rapha – The God Who Heals

Jehovah Rapha Meaning

The origin of the name Jehovah Rapha can be traced back to two Hebrew words used in the Old Testament, which in combination means “God who heals.”

“Jehovah,” which is derived from the Hebrew word Havah can be translated as “to be,” “to exist” or “to become known.” The Hebrew translation of Rapha means “to restore” or “to heal.”

Jehovah Rapha is also recognized as Yahweh Rapha.

God first revealed Himself as Jehovah Rapha to the Israelites after their exodus out of Egypt.

After three days of wandering in the Desert of Shur, the Israelites were in desperate need of water. They discovered a river, however, the water was unfit to drink. As a reflection of the quality of the water and their emotional disposition, the Israelites named the river “Mahra” (bitter).

God divinely cleansed the water by instructing Mose to throw a piece of wood into the water, thereby making it drinkable.

Following this miracle, God declared Himself as Jehovah Rapha to His people by proclaiming, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in His eyes, if you pay attention to His commands and keep all Hos decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.’ (Exodus 15:26).

This promise was also a gesture of assurance from God to the Israelites, who bore witness to the 10 plagues that God had released over all of Egypt prior to their release from slavery.

The varying healing power of God tremendous healing power as Jehovah Rapha can be found in the following biblical passages to combat the following:

  • Sickness and infirmity – Psalm 41:3
  • Healing from mental, affliction – Jonah 2:5-7
  • Spiritual fatigue- Psalm 23:3
  • Emotional suffering- Psalm 147:3
  • Anxiety or worry – John 14:27

Old Testament References To God As The Healer

The following are a few biblical references that refer to Jehovah Rapha in the Old Testament:

Psalm 103:3, “Who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases.”

Psalm 147:3, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.“

Isaiah 30:26, “The moon will shine like the sun, and the sunlight will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven full days, when the Lord binds up the bruises of His people and heals the wounds he inflicted.”

Jeremiah 30:17, “But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds, declares the Lord because you are called an outcast, Zion from no one cares,”

Hosea 6:1, “Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but He will heal us. He has injured us but He will bind up our wounds.

Jehovah Rapha In The Next Testament

The prophet Isaiah foreshadowed the healing ministry of Jesus in Isaiah 61:1. This was confirmed by the Apostle Matthew in Matthew 8:27.

In the New Testament, Jesus is known as the Great Physician (Mark 2:17)). The 4 Gospels record the various healing miracles that Jesus performed, including the following:

Healing the man with leprosy – Matthew 8:1-4

Forgiving and healing a paralyzed man – Mark 2:5-12

Raising Lazarus from the dead – John 11:41-44

Restoring the eyesight two blind men – Matthew 9:27-31

Healing a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years – Luke 8:42-48

Healing of a multitude of from touching Jesus’s garment in Gennesaret – Mark 6:53-56

Jesus’s healing incorporated the qualities that Jehovah Rapha bestowed upon the Israelites of the Old Testament – healing from the physical ailment as well as spiritual healing through forgiveness (James 5: 14-16).

Jehovah Rapha Today

We can call, upon Jehovah Rapha today to heal us of our physical ailments and to provide redemption for our sins. Through the power of the blood of the Great Physician – Jesus Christ -, we can rise from our old sinful life as a new creation in eternal fellowship with God.

Additionally, as the Israelites were cleansed of their bitter hearts and resentment at the river Mahra, so we can ask God to examine our hearts we can examine our own hearts also) and cleanse them of bitterness, pride, and other afflictions of the heart that are rooted in sin (Psalm 52:10: Psalm 139:23-24).

Do You Have Regrets?

If you’re human, you have regrets. I have been thinking about regrets lately. So I decided to see what the Bible says about it.

We all have minor regrets and I’m sure some of us have major regrets. The choices we’ve made in life, the things we’ve done or haven’t done.what are your regrets? Have you regretted your choice of school, your choice of job, you choice to get married or not? I think my biggest regret was not accepting Jesus as my savior sooner.

But the Bible says “repent and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out” -Acts 3:19

1 John 1:9 says, If we confess our sins he is faithful to you for just forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

So don’t be too hard on yourself, for regretting your past. Luke 15:7 “Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents and over 99 righteous ones with no repentance.”

The Bible tells us that Jesus regretted having set Saul as king, Saul turned back from following Jesus and did not performed his commandments.

Doesn’t it seem a bit surprising that God had regrets? At least it does to me. Yet God has emotions; The Bible is full of examples. Note that in these verses, God didn’t stay in it therefore, we shouldn’t either. So how do we overcome our regrets biblically?

2 Co7:10 says, “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly grief produces death.“

David was a man who has some regrets here is an example of how he felt:

I am feeble and severely broken; I groan because of the turmoil in my heart. Lord, all my desire is before you; and my sighing is not hidden from You. My heart pants, my strength fails me; As for the light of my eyes, it has also gone from me.

Psalm 38:8-10

Jeremiah also wrote how he felt after he turned away from God:

After my return, I felt regret; After I was instructed, I struck my thigh in grief. I was ashamed and humiliated because I bore the disgrace of my youth.

Jeremiah 31:19

God tells us to let go of the past:

Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it will spring forth; Show you not know it? I will even make the road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

Isaiah 43:18-19

How To Deal With Your Regrets Biblically

Remember that there is no condemnation in those who are in Christ (Romans 8:1). Regret is not a sin. You just might need to forgive yourself and,et go of the past.

Give your Reggie God. Isn’t it wonderful that He understands what we go through? His comfort and rest are waiting to replace a,of your shame and regrets. Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” /Matthew 11:27).

Forget about it. Take Paul’s goal of “Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead” (Philippians 3:13). Since God forgets your sins after you’ve repented, you can forget your sins too, “And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins” (Hebrews 8:13).

Look for the good. I know it’s difficult to think of what good can come from bad Choi, but if you try, you will often find something. If anything, God can use it as a learning experience. He can cause spiritual growth. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

Is It Possible To Avoid Having Regrets?

While it’s not possible in our humanness to avoid having regrets completely, it certainly is possible to decrease the potential for them when you live yielded to God. For example, if we rely on our own wisdom, we’ll probably find ourselves with a renter in the future.

We should pray for God’s direction and get His wisdom moving forward. I like what James 1:5 says, “if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly and it will be given to him.

I hope it encourages you to see that you are not alone. Maybe one or more of these verses stood out to you.