Many of his disciples went back

'Many of his disciples went back'

— John 6:66

Through the course of our Lord’s earthly ministry he had men and women who followed him for a season, but for one reason or another forsook him. This was also the experience of the apostles in the early church. And it continues to be the experience of God’s saints today. In every church there are empty seats which were once filled by men and women who were highly esteemed, but who have now forsaken Christ. I have seen many who were so promising, for whom I had such high hopes, forsake Christ. Always, without exception, their apostasy can be traced to one of these four facts.

1. Some forsake Christ simply because they cannot endure the doctrine of the gospel. The natural man is highly offended by the gospel of God’s free and sovereign grace in Christ. He will not long endure a faithful, consistent declaration of the gospel. Some are offended by the grace of the gospel; others are offended by the simplicity of the gospel.

2. Some forsake Christ because they received the Word as stony-ground hearers. Having no root, they wither away as soon as some trial arises because of the Word.

3. Some forsake Christ because they received the Word as seed sown among thorns. After a while the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke out the influence of the gospel.

4. Some forsake Christ because they do not count the costs of following Christ. Once they find out what it costs to follow Christ, they determine that the price is too dear and they refuse to pay.

Whenever a professed believer forsakes Christ and the gospel it will be for one of these reasons. We must not be surprised or shaken when it happens. ‘They went out from us, but they were not of us: for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us’ (I John 2:19).