The verb restore means to reinstate someone to their former position or condition. And so it is with Christians who have “strayed” from the “Christian pathway,” and returned to their former lifestyle, that is, the way they lived prior to coming the Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Such believers “ran well” with a love, passion, joy, and enthusiasm for the Lord, but somehow decided to abandon their faith in God and be entangled in the affairs of this godless world.
At one time, the Galatians had made a commendable start in the Christian life. However, something had eroded their love and enthusiasm for the gospel of the grace of God. In addressing the issue, the apostle Paul told them: “You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?” (Galatians 5:7).
The problem was that the Galatians who were once obedient, started placing their trust and confidence in “legalism,” which is complete disobedience to sound truth of God and His salvation. They decided to accept the evil and erroneous, false doctrines of the Judaizers and legalists of the day.
“Legalism does away with the offense of the cross.” Writes William MacDonald. “The cross is an offense to man. It offends him or stumbles him because it tells him that there is nothing he can do to earn salvation. It gives no place to the flesh and its efforts. It spells an end to human works” (Believer’s Bible Commentary, pg. 1892 Thomas Nelson Publishers).
Not everyone who has turned their backs on the Lord, would fall in the aforementioned category of the Judaizers and legalist in Paul’s day. However, the principle remains the same. Sadly some believers in Christ apparently became cold and indifferent to God and lost their enthusiasm and commitment to continue to “grow in the grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).
God knew that there would come the time when “some will depart from the faith,” In writing to Timothy, the Apostle Paul stated, “In latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1,2).
The Scripture exhorts Christians to “set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 5:1-3). And, Paul continues his exhortation, “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”
Being born again means exactly what God says, which is, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). “For you died” in the text means you trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior.
This present world system is filled with sinful enticements and attractions to get people, including Christians, to become godless or “depart from the faith.” And in spite of this backslidden state, restoration and God’s forgiveness are available to all who would confess and repent of the sin. Backsliding means “to lose one’s resolve and give into temptation.”
The Scripture says: “If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Confession leads to forgiveness of sins and cleansing from unrighteousness. After confession, cleaning, and forgiveness restoration follows.
Keep in mind we cannot lose our salvation. The Bible is very clear: “nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39). And there are other texts in support of this truth.
However, we can certainly lose the “joy of God’s salvation.” After King David had committed the sin of adultery with Bathsheba, in his confession He prayed asking God to “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit” (Psalm 51:12).
David subsequently realized he “lost the joy of God’s salvation.” Jesus said: “These things I have spoken to you that My joy may remain in you and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11).
Trusting Jesus as Lord and Savior means that He comes to reside within us through His Spirit, and He will never depart from us. Paul writes, “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you” (1 Corinthians 3:16).
Furthermore, we are adopted into God’s family making us His children. Our salvation depends solely on Jesus Christ, who died to forgive all our sins, was buried, and rose from the dead for our justification, thereby making us right with God.
God in His wisdom, love, mercy, and grace never abandons us, even when we stray from the truth. Through restoration, the “backsliding” Christian can repent of the error of his sinful ways, and reset his disrupted focus on God.
If, as a born-again believer, you have “strayed from the faith,” where Jesus is no longer at the center of your life, why not seek restoration as David did? Repent and confess the error of your ways to God, seek His immediate forgiveness and be fully restored and be “cleansed from your sin.”