The Heart of the Backslider

1. The parable

1) The seed is trampled under foot.

2) It is on the hard road.

3) It never sinks into the soil.

2. The interpretation

1) The word is ignored and hence never understood.

2) The attention of the hearer is never given to the word.

3) The word never enters into the heart.

3. The application: This person has no realization of the word because. . .

1) He does not pay attention to the word.

a. Jesus warned this sort of person in Matthew 7:24-27

b. James speaks also of the man who hears but does not do–“Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and …” (James 1:21-25).

2) He puts off understanding the word

a. Simon the sorcerer was of this character (Acts 8:17ff); he asked for the power before he knew all of the facts in regard to it.

b. Felix was also. Acts 24:25 “And as he reasoned of righteousness, ….”

4. He backslides because he is totally ignorant of the word.

1) He is ignorant of God’s law like the Jews, cf. Romans 10:2-3 “For I bear them record ….”

2) He has forgotten his cleansing–2 Peter 1:8-9 “For if these things be in you, and abound, ….”

1. The parable

1) The seed is cast upon rocky soil.

2) The seed germinates and sprouts.

3) The root cannot penetrate the ground and get water.

4) Hence, the sun dries it out.

2. The interpretation

1) The word is thrown upon a shallow heart.

2) The word has an immediate impact in their life.

3) The word does not penetrate deep into their life.

4) When persecutions come they do not have a foundation upon which to remain faithful.

3. The application–This person has no rudiments of the work because. . .

1) He does not study to gain the necessary foundation to live faithfully.

a. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

b. 2 Timothy 2:15

2) He does not understand that the work of the Christian encompases his whole life.

a. Colossians 3:17

b. Matthew 16:24-26 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me….?”

4. He backslides because he does not have the knowledge he needs to endure persecution.

1) 1 Peter 3:15-16 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready….”

2) 1 Peter 4:1-2 “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves ….”

1. The parable

1) The seed is cast upon thorny ground.

2) The seed germinates and grows.

3) The other plants around it do not allow it the food it needs to live.

2. The interpretation

1) The word is put into a child of the world.

2) This person becomes a Christian.

3) However, the influence of his worldly friends and of his worldly desires do not allow him to grow.

3. The application–This person has no restraint from the world because. . .

1) He still loves the world.

a. 1 John 2:15-17 “Love not the world, neither the things ….”

b. James 4:4 “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world …”

2) He associates with people of the world.

a. 1 Corinthians 15:33 “Be not deceived evil companionships corrupt good morals.”

b. 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship….”

4. He backslides because the world has more influence on his life than the word.

1) We must let God have his influence over that of the world–1 John 4:4 “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” This verse is contrasted with those who were in the world. The one who is in us is the incarnate word–Jesus the Christ.

2) The world and the word are at conflict as Jesus mentions in John 17:14 “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” The Christian who is loved by the world has rejected the word.