So today on lunch I saw a bumper sticker,
that really made me think. It read………

If going to church makes you a Christian /
Does going to the garage make you a car ?

WOW, Bam…..ouch!!!!!!

It also made me think, Can a TRUE Christian backslide?
Keyword is TRUE. Many people profess Christ but that
does not make them a true believer. Many people go
to church but that does not make that person a true
believer no more than living in a garage makes you a car.

Now obviously, only God truly knows the heart of a person.
We know there will be a lot of professing Christians at
judgment because Jesus said that MANY will be surprised
when he turns them away (Matthew 7:21-23)

Dr John McArthur answers this question thus:

Certainly true Christians can backslide, if by that you mean
they can regress into a period of spiritual dullness or
disobedience. Those who do so will bring God’s discipline
(Hebrews 12:6-11). That’s because God disciplines those
who are true sons (v. 8).

But no, if you are thinking of backsliding as a perpetual
state of willful rebellion or ungodly indifference on the
part of one who professes faith in Christ. That situation
is a sign of false profession (Matthew 7:21-23; 1 John 3:4-10).
The word backsliding is used two ways in Scripture. It is found
only in Old Testament references to the nation of Israel
(Jeremiah 3:22; 31:22; 49:4; Hosea 4:16; 11:7; 14:4, KJV).
Sometimes it speaks of backsliding as the action of
unregenerate people who turn stubbornly away from God
(cf. Jeremiah 8:5). In that sense the Word cannot be used to
describe true Christians.

Other times true believers are said to backslide (Jeremiah 14:7).
All believers go through times when they do not grow or are set
back in their growth by sin–they seem to be sliding backwards
like a calf on a muddy slope (cf. Hosea 4:16, KJV). In that sense
the word could apply to true believers.

Some people confuse this with "once saved, always saved so I can
do what I want and still go to heaven". Paul put it like this
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may
abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any
longer in it? (Rom 6:1-2)

The fact is, if you think like that, then that could be a good
indication that you are not truly born again in the first place.
If this is the case, it would be a good idea to examine yourself
to see if you are truly in the faith. (2 Cor 13:54)

Till the next time.......