Can an Elect Person Backslide?
1) Direct Answer
Yes—an elect person can backslide in conduct for a season, but not in their soul. They will be chastened, brought to repentance, and restored. The elect cannot be finally lost.
2) Scriptural Explanation
- The Bible says God’s sheep “shall never perish… neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand” (John 10:27-29). They may stray, but they are kept.
- “Whom he justified, them he also glorified” (Romans 8:30). God finishes what He starts (Philippians 1:6). That is security for the truly born again.
- “Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30). The seal holds till the day of redemption, not till the next mistake.
- “The just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again” (Proverbs 24:16). “Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand” (Psalm 37:24).
- Peter fell badly, but Jesus said, “I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not… and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren” (Luke 22:32). He stumbled, but was restored.
- True sons are corrected, not cast away: “Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth” (Hebrews 12:6-8).
- Those who go out and never return show what they were: “They went out from us, but they were not of us” (1 John 2:19). A pig goes back to the mire, but a sheep cannot be satisfied there (2 Peter 2:22).
- “If it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect” (Matthew 24:24). It is not possible to finally deceive and destroy the elect.
3) Simple Clarifying Logic
- A son may run from the Father’s house, but he is still a son; the Father’s love and discipline bring him home. The prodigal came back because there was a Father and a birthright drawing him (Luke 15).
- If the elect could be finally lost, then God’s seal could be broken, Christ’s intercession would fail, and His promise “never perish” would be empty. That cannot be.
- Backsliding proves weakness in the believer; staying in sin without repentance proves there was no new birth. The elect can fall, but they cannot remain fallen.
4) Reinforcing Statement
So yes, an elect person may backslide in behavior, but the Life in them will pull them back. God keeps His own, restores their steps, and finishes the work He began.
Ask a Follow-up Question
What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
Questions and Answers on the Holy Ghost
59-1219 §61
QUESTION: Now, here's one that's really a sticker. Question (I think it's the same person, because it looks like the same handwriting): If a person must have the Holy Ghost to be ... have the Holy Ghost to be converted and to go in the rapture, what will be the state of children that have died before the years of accountability? And when will they rise? Now, my brother, sister, I cannot tell you that. There's no Scripture on it in the Bible as I can find anywhere. But I can express my thoughts. Now, this'll strengt...
An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages
CAB 9:E-91
Let us examine the first phrase, "as many as I love". In the Greek the emphasis is upon the personal pronoun "I". He does not say as many would feel He should say, "as many as love ME". No sir. We must never try to make Jesus the OBJECT of human love in this verse. No! It is the MANY that are the LOVED ONES of God. It is HIS love, in question, NOT ours. So once again we find ourselves glorying in His salvation, His purpose and His plan, and we are confirmed even more strongly in the truth of the doctrine of the Sov...
An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages
CAB 5:E-121
...means the laity. Nicolaitane means, "to conquer the laity". Now why is this such a terrible thing? It is terrible because God has never placed His church in the hands of an elected leadership which moves with political mindedness. He has placed His church in the care of God-ordained, Spirit-filled, Word-living men who lead the people through feeding them the Word. He has not separated the people into classes so that the masses are led by a holy priesthood. It is true that the leadership must be holy, but then so mu...
Condemnation by Representation
60-1113 §85
...t about you Christian women. My voice is going around many nations.) But it's a hybrid. This America has become condemned. And what did she do, according to the vision? She elected the wrong person. I don't know how long it will take it to run out, but it will be someday. Thus saith the Lord! It will. She's on her downward move right now. She'll never come back again. She's gone. That's right. She's been gone since 1956 when she condemned and turned away God from the great revival hours.
What it takes to overcome all unbelief: Our faith
60-0729 §84
...ey lay their hands on the sick, they shall recover." Do you believe that? Then when I pray here for all of you, each one of you---don't pray for yourself now---pray for the person you got your hands on, see. Say, "Lord, give to this person I got my hand on, give to them the desire of their heart." Say that. Say, "Give them... If they're sick, give them healing." If you know the person, say, "Heal this person." And God's power will heal each one of you. And tomorrow night you'll be back here saying, "Brother Branham...