80 Bible Verses about Christians Who Are Backslidden

1 John 1:9 ESV / 25 helpful votes

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Galatians 6:1 ESV / 21 helpful votes

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

2 Peter 1:5-9 ESV / 20 helpful votes

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

James 1:22 ESV / 20 helpful votes

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

Hebrews 6:6 ESV / 20 helpful votes

And then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.

Matthew 7:21-23 ESV / 20 helpful votes

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Romans 8:9 ESV / 19 helpful votes

You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

Jeremiah 29:11-14 ESV / 19 helpful votes

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.

Proverbs 14:14 ESV / 14 helpful votes

The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways, and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.

Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV / 11 helpful votes

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Hebrews 10:26 ESV / 10 helpful votes

For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

Hebrews 6:4-6 ESV / 10 helpful votes

For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.

James 5:16 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

Hebrews 6:5 ESV / 9 helpful votes

And have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come,

Hebrews 5:9 ESV / 9 helpful votes

And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,

Philippians 1:6 ESV / 9 helpful votes

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:17 ESV / 9 helpful votes

For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

Acts 16:31 ESV / 9 helpful votes

And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

John 5:24 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

Proverbs 24:16 ESV / 9 helpful votes

For the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.

Psalm 66:18 ESV / 9 helpful votes

If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.

1 Samuel 30:6 ESV / 9 helpful votes

And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.

Revelation 1:1 ESV / 8 helpful votes

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

Hebrews 6:4 ESV / 8 helpful votes

For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit,

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV / 8 helpful votes

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

Galatians 5:1 ESV / 8 helpful votes

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

John 8:32 ESV / 8 helpful votes

And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Isaiah 53:1-12 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. ...

Psalm 51:12 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

1 Peter 2:21 ESV / 7 helpful votes

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

James 3:1 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

Philippians 2:12 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,

Romans 8:30 ESV / 7 helpful votes

And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

James 2:24 ESV / 6 helpful votes

You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

Galatians 2:20 ESV / 6 helpful votes

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Romans 10:6 ESV / 6 helpful votes

But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down)

Romans 3:10 ESV / 6 helpful votes

As it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;

John 9:34 ESV / 6 helpful votes

They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out.

John 3:2 ESV / 6 helpful votes

This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”

Matthew 5:48 ESV / 6 helpful votes

You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Jeremiah 3:22 ESV / 6 helpful votes

“Return, O faithless sons; I will heal your faithlessness.” “Behold, we come to you, for you are the Lord our God.

Revelation 3:11 ESV / 5 helpful votes

I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.

Revelation 2:1-29 ESV / 5 helpful votes

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. “‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. ...

2 Peter 1:4 ESV / 5 helpful votes

By which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

Titus 1:2 ESV / 5 helpful votes

In hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV / 5 helpful votes

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Romans 10:17 ESV / 5 helpful votes

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Romans 6:1-2 ESV / 5 helpful votes

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

Romans 3:20 ESV / 5 helpful votes

For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

Luke 23:34 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.

Luke 22:37 ESV / 5 helpful votes

For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me has its fulfillment.”

Luke 9:23 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Mark 9:43-48 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’

Mark 7:20-23 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

Matthew 12:40 ESV / 5 helpful votes

For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Matthew 7:24-27 ESV / 5 helpful votes

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

Matthew 4:17 ESV / 5 helpful votes

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Hosea 14:4 ESV / 5 helpful votes

I will heal their apostasy; I will love them freely, for my anger has turned from them.

Hosea 11:7 ESV / 5 helpful votes

My people are bent on turning away from me, and though they call out to the Most High, he shall not raise them up at all.

Lamentations 3:1-66 ESV / 5 helpful votes

I am the man who has seen affliction under the rod of his wrath; he has driven and brought me into darkness without any light; surely against me he turns his hand again and again the whole day long. He has made my flesh and my skin waste away; he has broken my bones; he has besieged and enveloped me with bitterness and tribulation; ...

Jeremiah 8:5 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Why then has this people turned away in perpetual backsliding? They hold fast to deceit; they refuse to return.

Jeremiah 3:1-25 ESV / 5 helpful votes

“If a man divorces his wife and she goes from him and becomes another man's wife, will he return to her? Would not that land be greatly polluted? You have played the whore with many lovers; and would you return to me? declares the Lord. Lift up your eyes to the bare heights, and see! Where have you not been ravished? By the waysides you have sat awaiting lovers like an Arab in the wilderness. You have polluted the land with your vile whoredom. Therefore the showers have been withheld, and the spring rain has not come; yet you have the forehead of a whore; you refuse to be ashamed. Have you not just now called to me, ‘My father, you are the friend of my youth— will he be angry forever, will he be indignant to the end?’ Behold, you have spoken, but you have done all the evil that you could.” ...

Psalm 41:4 ESV / 5 helpful votes

As for me, I said, “O Lord, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against you!”

1 John 2:13-14 ESV / 4 helpful votes

I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

James 4:17 ESV / 4 helpful votes

So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

Hebrews 10:27 ESV / 4 helpful votes

But a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.

1 Corinthians 14:9 ESV / 4 helpful votes

So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air.

Romans 2:16 ESV / 4 helpful votes

On that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.

Acts 17:31 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

John 20:31 ESV / 4 helpful votes

But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Ecclesiastes 10:1 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

Proverbs 14:30 ESV / 4 helpful votes

A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.

2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV / 4 helpful votes

If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Genesis 6:5 ESV / 4 helpful votes

The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Genesis 2:1-25 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens. When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up—for the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground, ...

Romans 8:2 ESV / 3 helpful votes

For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

Mark 16:15 ESV / 3 helpful votes

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

Jeremiah 29:10 ESV / 3 helpful votes

“For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place.

2 Samuel 14:14 ESV / 3 helpful votes

We must all die; we are like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God will not take away life, and he devises means so that the banished one will not remain an outcast.

Psalm 51:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.

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