
The word “backsliding” occurs 16 times in the Old Testament and “backslider” only once. The word literally means to go back or away from. It is to turn the back to God. Of Israel God complained of old: “And they have turned unto me the back, and not the face” (Jer. 32:33). For a person to back-slide in the Old Testament was for him to turn away from the worship of Jehovah and back to the old life of sin and idolatry. Backsliding is the gradual abandonment of the way of truth.
The word backsliding does not occur in the New Testament. The idea of backsliding is expressed though. The New Testament seems to use the word “fall.” I Corinthians 10:12 reveals how a person may backslide or fall into sin: “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” Peter bragged to Christ: “Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended” (Matt. 26:33). Peter thought that he stood very firmly. He was trusting in his own heart. But the next day he denied the Lord of glory. Peter fell into sin, and so will every self-confident believer.
Author: Milburn R. Cockrell
Binding: Paperback
Location: M4
- Stock: 83