DCLM Higher Everyday 14 May 2025 — Backsliding Is Transgressing

Topic: Backsliding Is Transgressing

Text: Galatians 2:17-21

17But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.

18For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.

19For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.

20I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

21I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Key Verse: “For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor” (Galatians 2:18).

Message

1. L. Heijkoop said, “The first step in departing from the Lord may be ever so slight, but one never knows where it will lead.” Backsliding can be explained as a condition of falling back into wrongdoing. The Christian backslider was born again but fell back into sin. It is like fainting or even death but spiritual, hence, it is a gradual spiritual decay where the Christian returns to old habits by transgressing God’s commandments. It may just begin with prayerlessness, fear of the unknown or being overcome by the love of this world. By self-examination using God’s Word, you can easily tell if you are in the faith and fellowship or backslidden. Are you still experiencing the former devotion and fervency or lethargic now? Are you doing the first works and still in your first love with Jesus or currently have departed?

Also Read: DCLM Higher Everyday 13 May 2025 – The Marks Of Jesus

Once you discover any sign of backsliding, repent and make desperate efforts to be immediately and genuinely restored because recurring backsliding or protracted backsliding always leads to hardness of heart and apostasy. Do not be a transgressor.

Quote: Backsliding begins with prayerlessness

Challenge: Examine yourself, whether you are in the faith.

Prayer for today: Holy Father, keep me from falling, in Jesus’ name.

GOSPEL REALM: STEPS TO SALVATION
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)