"If A Work of God Doesn't Continue,"

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

I would want to have something else clarified, since not everyone who has "left from among us" is a backslider. At least, not in my opinion.



Yes--in the sense that God leaves a lot in our hands. Case in point:

II Kings 13:18-19

18 And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground. And he smote thrice, and stayed.

19 And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice.

In your example, the work of God was not stopped. God began the work and finished the work, based on the response of the King of Israel.


The speaker of my quote was specifically speaking of people who once was said and or thought to be saved, only to be three of four years later not attending anyone's church, not living for the Lord in any identifiable way.

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

In your example, the work of God was not stopped. God began the work and finished the work, based on the response of the King of Israel.

I didn't say that He stopped the work of God, but it certainly was limited. My point was that how far it went was in the hands of the king. What would have happened if he had refused to shoot arrows?

The speaker of my quote was specifically speaking of people who once was said and or thought to be saved, only to be three of four years later not attending anyone's church, not living for the Lord in any identifiable way.

I still disagree; God can work in someone's life, they can begin to live for Him, and then they can choose of their own accord to go a completely different direction. The speaker sounds a bit Calvinist in his thinking.

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

I didn't say that He stopped the work of God, but it certainly was limited. My point was that how far it went was in the hands of the king. What would have happened if he had refused to shoot arrows?



I still disagree; God can work in someone's life, they can begin to live for Him, and then they can choose of their own accord to go a completely different direction. The speaker sounds a bit Calvinist in his thinking.

I thought so too.

However, I don't think that I can say that I disagree.
I am thinking that in order for this statement to work, the BIBLICAL definition of backsliding CAN'T INCLUDE the appearance of one to completely turn away from Christ that lasts the rest of one's life- as that would seem impossible based on scripture.

In order for this to work, BIBLICAL BACKSLIDING is limited to red hot on fire Christians who seem to simply settle down, calm down, who remain committed, but not as committed, consecrated, but allowing a little more stuff than they once did, etc.