How Do I Know When I Am Falling Away from the Faith?

As we studied in our last two lessons, in order for one to know for sure they will be in Heaven when this earthly life is over, they must not only begin to have true genuine repentance and faith in God and His Word, but they must also continue in the faith and not depart from God in a heart of unbelief. 

(Acts 14:22), strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”

(2 Corinthians 13:5), Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?–unless indeed you are disqualified.

God’s Word warns us to examine ourselves whether we are continuing in the faith. This could be done by using the;

• WORKS TEST
• SIN TEST
• WORD- TEST

The Works Test

Having a true faith in God and His Word produces a desire to do good works such as, pray, read God’s Word, faithfully attend a Bible believing church, tell others about our Lord Jesus Christ, help out others, live a holy life, etc.

Because faith in God and His Word motivates us to do these things, we know then that we are falling away from faith if these good works are not as evident or no longer in our lives. 

(James 2:14), What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?

(2 Corinthians 5:17), Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

(Titus 1:16), They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.

The Sin Test

Having a true faith in God and His Word produces a desire in our hearts to live holy lives. We want to live a clean and pure life because of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and when we do fail, we feel sad and we feel sorry and want to ask God for forgiveness immediately. 

Because faith in God and His Word motivates us to live holy lives, we know then that we are falling away from faith if holiness is not as evident or is no longer in our lives. 

(Galatians 5:19-21), Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

(Hebrews 12:14), Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:

(1 John 2:3-4), Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 

The Word Test

Having a true faith in God produces a desire in our heart not to just want to hear and believe the Word of God, but also to retain, keep God’s Word in our heart and memory. God’s Word will be in our daily thoughts to guide us in paths of righteousness and help us make the right decisions.

Because faith in God produces the desire to retain His Word in us, we know then, that we are falling away from the faith if God’s Word is not as evident in our lives or is no longer there.

(1 John 2:5), But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.

(1 John 2:24-25) Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that He has promised us–eternal life.

(1 Corinthians 15:1-2), Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you–unless you believed in vain.

(John 8:51), Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.

(Luke 8:15), But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.

God has given to us these three tests as warning lights and indicators. If our lives no longer bear the fruit of holiness, as seen by good works, if our lives continue in unrepentant sin and if we no longer keep the Word of God in our hearts and minds, then we know that we are falling away. It begins by losing our first love in the Lord. As time goes on, we no longer read and study our Bible. We lose interest in God’s Word. We no longer pray, attend church, and give from cheerful hearts. Sin becomes more of a dominating factor in our lives and the Word of God no longer comes to memory. At best, we fall into a “lukewarm” state of mind, heart and spirit concerning the things of God.

(Revelation 3:13-16) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ‘ “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,’These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

• The Works-Test
• The Sin-Test 
• The Word-Test

By these three tests we know whether we are in the faith or are falling away from it.