Apostate or Backslidder, What’s the Difference?

In light of so many professing Christians, as well as “churches” that conform to contemporary cultural ideologies and practices, it’s important to know the difference between true Christians and those who are not Christians.

Apostates are not Christians even though they profess to be so. They have defected or abandoned what they once professed to believe. In fact, they are called “antichrists” in John 2:18. They are those who “went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us” (1 John 2:19).

Many of them still attend churches and even serve in various positions, including high leadership. By virtue of being “antichrists,” they are not for Christ but against Him. They never really believed in biblical teaching even though they “taught” the Bible. They are described in more detail in Acts 20:29-30; 2 Tim. 3:1-9; 2 Peter 2:1, 3, 10, 12-15, 17-19 (please read). These apostates once cleaned up their lives because they knew something about Jesus but didn’t know Jesus as their personal Savior and Lord. However, still being unsaved, they eventually lapsed back into their sinful lifestyle (see 2 Peter 2:20-22). It’s hard to tell the difference between an apostate and a backslider.

A backslider is a true Christian but has quit growing spiritually. He is described in 2 Peter 1:9 - “For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.” By “these things,” it is meant those mentioned in 2 Peter 1:5-8.

The backslider is not an antichrist because of what he has received in Christ:

1. “precious faith” 1:1

2. multiplied “grace and peace” 1:2

3. “knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord” 1:2

4. “all things that pertain to life and godliness” 1:3

5. “exceedingly great and precious promises” 1:4

6. “partaker of the divine nature” 1:4

7. “escaped the corruption that is in the world” 1:4

These blessings of salvation give a believer every reason to grow spiritually (verses 5-8). However, if no growth occurs, for whatever reason, the believer is “shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins” (verse 9). Thus, although the backslider is saved, he lives in doubt, fear, lack of assurance, and spiritual “amnesia.” Many more passages could be used to show the distinction, and reading the ones given in this lesson should be helpful. Just keep in mind that the backslider is saved, but the apostate is unsaved. It’s important for individuals to know their standing before the Lord. 🙏🏾

Blessings!