Can a Follower of Jesus Fall Away?

Answer: Yes. The apostle Paul mentioned that there was even the possibility of his falling away in 1 Cor. 9:24-27 NASB): “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.  (25)  Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.  (26)  Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air;  (27)  but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.” Paul recognized that he could be disqualified and fail to win the crown of life if he was not obedient.

Paul writes in Heb. 6:4-6 (NASB) if any become a follower of Christ and then turn away, there is no hope for them of a resurrection. “For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit,  (5)  and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,  (6)  and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.”

Paul adds in Heb. 12:26-29 (NASB) how this falling away takes place. “For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,  (27)  but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES.  (28)  Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.  (29)  How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?”

Once we come into Christ and become a follower, we are no longer to yield ourselves to sin. (Rom. 6:12-23; 8:12,13) While we cannot follow Jesus perfectly, if we stop fighting against sin and instead, sin willfully, then we have turned our back on the sacrifice of Jesus by which we were justified and there remains no more possibility of forgiveness from God. Instead, we will receive God’s judgment and be destroyed forever at death.

Some of Paul’s contemporaries fell away which brought him sadness. “For Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica.” (2 Tim. 4:10 NASB) “For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ,  (19)  whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.” (Phil. 3:18,19 NASB)

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