“Guide My Steps Away From Deliberate Sins!”

“Guide My Steps Away From Deliberate Sins!”
In my church there is a rite for “the re-admission of excluded members and of members who left on their own.” In the presentation of the rite the minister says amongst other things, “Here present is our brother/sister…who was seperated from us for some time…”
In the introduction the minister continues, “Dear brother/sister, you have come before God and this congregation to renew your promises to God and to be fully received into the fellowship of his people…”
We call such persons backsliders. By considering them backsliders our focus is that they withdrew from the fellowship or that they left the denomination.
To backslide is to “relapse into bad ways or error.” If that is so, then most times even us the ministers who are receiving back the backsliders need to be received back as well!
To backslide is not mere exclusion from the fellowship or leaving on your own. To backslide is deliberately sinning!
Hebrews warns: “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment…It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God”(Heb.10:26-31), because “our God is a consuming fire”(Heb.12:29).
Once we have known and experienced the grace of God through Jesus Christ, if we fall back on evil ways it may be worst for us than those who have not tasted grace at all. “It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of his coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because of their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace…”(Heb.6:4-8).
Therefore my friend, as you prepare to receive the Lord Jesus Christ, hold tight to the goodnews which you received. Do not shrink back, but be among “those who believe and are saved!”(Heb.10:39).
Weekend prayer: Holy Spirit guide my steps away from deliberate sins. Amen!
Have a blessed weekend! Peace be with you!