The Pilgrim’s Regress

How can the Christian be warned and prepare against backsliding? In The Pilgrim’s Regress, Mark Jones writes on guarding against backsliding and apostasy in the Christian life.

Grow in Grace

With help from Puritans such as Owen, Bunyan, and Goodwin — Jones gives advice on how to prevent backsliding and grow in grace. In fact, he states that the opposite of backsliding is growing into conformity with Christ.

I was most pleased to see Jones explain how the habitual sight of Christ belongs to true believers. He tells us to keep catching glimpses of God. He calls us continually to behold Christ. It is the backslider who stops beholding the glory of the Lord. I was reminded to keep my eyes fixed on him, and continue to call others to look and gaze upon God.

Living a Life of Faith

As Jones considers the insidiousness of sin, he gives us the cure: continue to live a life of faith. It is a constant act of faith toward God that keeps us from backsliding. Abandonment of love, the rise of pride, and the loss of godly fear are studied. Disregarding Scripture, abandoning prayer, and neglecting the church are also examined. I was challenged to continually search my heart for these warning signs and fight against them.

The book ends with a word on how even “weak grace” can overcome hardened hearts. We should not be content with small strides, but we can rest in knowing that God’s grace will win in the end. For those of us who are strong, we should encourage the weak. And for those who are weak, we must remember that we can throw ourselves wholly into God’s grace.

I received a media copy of The Pilgrim’s Regress and this is my honest review. Find more of my book reviews and follow Dive In, Dig Deep on Instagram - my account dedicated to Bibles and books to see the beauty of the Bible and the role of reading in the Christian life. To read all of my book reviews and to receive all of the free eBooks I find on the web, subscribe to my free newsletter.