The Road Back – Notes/Study Sheet

(Jas. 5:19:20)

Introduction:

* OT and NT both speak of apostasy. Denominationalists deny such.

- Hosea 11:7 – Israelites bent to backsliding

- Deut. 8:11-14 - Remember the Lord and His blessings

- Ezek 18:26 –

I. Bible evidence supporting apostasy.

* I Cor. 10:12 – Take heed

* Luke 22:31 – Satan desires to have you (Peter)

* Acts 8:12-13 – Simon the sorcerer

* Luke 8:13 – some will fall away

* John 15:1-6 – some branches pruned and burned

* Some did fall

- Judas (Acts 1:25; Jn. 17:12)

- Other disciples abandoned Jesus (John 6:66)

- II Tim. 2:16-18

- Heb. 6:4-6 – some fell back into Judaism

- Jas. 5:19-20 –

II. There is a road back to God.

* Some are too cold to return, others are lukewarm (Rev. 3:15-16)

* Step 1 – belief

* Step 2 – repentance

* Step 3 – confession

- 3 venues in which to confess

* How is it that so many who skip church for weeks and months on end simply think they can slip back into a pew

without a word to the congregation?? Ways to announce their intentions to the church?

* Step 4 – prayer

III. Conclusion

* Just because one has been immersed doesn’t mean he or she is living a life of righteousness