The Pilgrim's Regress: Guarding against Backsliding and Apostasy in the Christian Life

by Mark Jones

Mark Jones addresses the uncomfortable topic of backsliding believers—and, to a lesser extent, apostasy—in a serious, hopeful, and pastoral work informed by wise theologians of the past and present.

Endorsements“Each chapter is a wake‑up call providing clear spiritual medicine for Christians to progress and not regress in their faith. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It’s a must-read.”
—Rosaria Butterfield, author, Five Lies of Our Anti-Christian Age

“Warning! Don’t read this book if you don’t want to be confronted with the danger of backsliding to which every Christian is constantly exposed. Warning! Don’t read this book if you don’t want to be encouraged by learning of the resources readily available to every Christian for countering the ever-present tendency to backsliding. Reading this book has been a searching experience for me personally, as Mark Jones carefully delineates the various regressive tendencies that plague the Christian life, explores the difference between them and irremediable apostasy, and unfolds in a deeply probing way the thoroughly sufficient and efficacious remedies that Scripture provides. Don’t heed my warnings. Read this book!”
—Richard B. Gaffin Jr., Professor of Biblical and Systematic Theology, Emeritus, Westminster Theological Seminary

“Few address the subject of this book, yet backsliding and apostasy are genuine realities in the story of the church. This fresh study of the subject not only examines the nature of backsliding but also, in John Owen–like fashion, probes deeply into its sources. . . . Sadly, this is a much-needed tract for our crooked age. Thankfully, though, it provides a robust gospel remedy for this ill that ails so many of our churches.”
—Michael A. G. Azad Haykin, Professor of Church History, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

“Dr. Mark Jones’s The Pilgrim’s Guarding against Backsliding and Apostasy in the Christian Lifeis a masterly exploration of the complex spiritual journey that every believer undertakes. With eloquent prose and an unwavering commitment to biblical truth, Jones weaves a tapestry of profound theological insight, pastoral wisdom, and genuine compassion that speaks to the heart of every Christian pilgrim on his or her path to consummated glory. Delving into the intricate dynamics of the Christian walk, he unravels the mysteries of grace, perseverance, and the relentless battle against indwelling sin. His profound insights and practical solutions offer guidance to believers of all backgrounds. This literary masterpiece is a beacon of understanding, providing solace, wisdom, and hope for every follower of Christ. This is a must-read for all believers.”

—Christopher Yuan, Speaker; Author, Holy Sexuality and the Gospel; Producer, The Holy Sexuality Project Video Series for Parents and their Teens

“In a culture now beginning to be wearied by the hypocrisy of so-called positive energies, a culture that in turn proposes to embrace the ‘true self’ by giving in to the downward stream of turning from God, this refreshing book reminds us of a genuinely Christian way of being authentic as sinners saved by grace.”
—Shao Kai Tseng, Research Professor in the School of Philosophy, Zhejiang University

Genres: Theology, Christian Living, Christian, Spirituality, Christianity

246 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 29, 2023

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Rev. Dr. Mark Jones (PhD, Leiden Universiteit) has been the Minister at Faith Vancouver Church (PCA) since 2007. He is also Research Associate in the Faculty of Theology at University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa. He lectures at various seminaries around the world and is currently writing a book titled, "Knowing Christ" (Banner of Truth, forthcoming).

He also blogs at Reformation21.org.

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is much to appreciate in this book. It is written with a pastoral heart, is well-grounded theologically, covers the topic well, and includes much heart-searching application. Perhaps my favorite parts of the book are the rich quotations from authors like John Owen, Stephen Charnock, Octavius Winslow, and Andrew Fuller.

There are two reasons, however, why I only give the book 3 stars. First, I disagree with Jones's exegesis of the warning passages in Hebrews, particularly Hebrews 6:4-6. Jones is in good company, taking the same interpretation as John Owen and most Reformed theologians. But the scholarship of Thomas Schreiner, Ardel Caneday, and David Peterson (among others) has persuaded me of an interpretation that makes better sense of the text and shapes pastoral application in a different direction.

Second, on a literary level, I do not think this book is well-written. I thought Jones' book God Is: A Devotional Guide to the Attributes of God was excellent, even better than J. I. Packer's Knowing God. But his writing style in The Pilgrim's Regress lacks elegance and fluidity. Other readers may not be as persnickety as I am on such matters; if so, don't let my fussiness keep you from reading this book. It is a needed book on an important topic and I hope it will serve the church well.

[Peter Bringe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book on an important topic.

[Brooke Zolnik · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an excellent book.

I wanted to explore the subject of backsliding because I have witnessed not only well-known Christians in the spotlight backslide but also personal friends I love. Also, I tremble for myself and want to guard my own soul. Sadly, backsliding is a topic that's not addressed enough I feel, especially in reformed circles. But this subject is sooo important considering the fact any Christian could potentially backslide.

What is backsliding? It's when a Christian "is gradually led off from a close walk with God, loses the lively sense of divine things, becomes too attached to the world and too much attached to secular concerns, until at length the keeping of the heart is neglected, closet duties are omitted or slightly performed, zeal for the advancement of religion is quenched, and many things once rejected by a sensitive conscience, are now indulged and defended."

This is not the same as short seasons of feeling more on the cold side to spiritual things which every Christian goes through (can't we all relate to that part of the hymn, Come Thou Fount, "prone to wander, Lord I feel it"?). Small seasons of dryness of soul is not backsliding. When one backslides, obedience to God is no longer pursued. And that is a completely different situation.

Mark Jones explains in depth the symptoms and causes of backsliding including: unbelief (which he said is the root of backsliding), a neglect of prayer and the Word, pulling away from God's people, an attraction to the world, pride, a neglect of killing sin, lack of godly fear and other things...Each chapter is so good and full of so many profound quotes.

I am especially thankful for the author's acknowledgement that true Christians can't lose their salvation ("perseverance of the saints") yet is very clear we have a responsibility to keep from backsliding by partaking in the means of grace that God has given us. I was really hoping this would be addressed because one can too easily go too far on either side ("it's completely all up to you" VS "you don't have to do anything") and I thought how he handled this subject on backsliding was biblically sound, balanced, and very well done.

Truly, this book was amazing and would benefit every Christian. It is sobering but also encouraging.

I will end this incredibly long review (lol) with part of Tim Challies' forward: "Until our race is complete and we are safely in heaven, not one of us can stay still, not one of us can coast, not one of us can rest on our laurels."

Amen.

[Vincent Lemieux · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing. Really helpful and much needed. Mark Jones have the gift to says much in few words.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jones is among the most insightful theologians today—thoroughly gospel-centered while also recognizing certain blind spots and neglected aspects within Reformed gospel-centered churches.

This book shares a connection with his work Antinomianism. While that book critiques the tendency to downplay or disregard the moral law in preaching and counseling—leading to complacency in Christian living—this book focuses on the dangers of backsliding and the warns against the possibility of apostasy. Both issues, I believe, are often overlooked in our circles.

In this book, he examines several factors that can contribute spiritual decline, including, the deceitfulness of sin, a waning love for God, the dangers of pride, the loss of the fear of God, the neglect of Scripture, prayer, and commitment to the local church. He concludes by offering hope to backsliders, anchoring it in the grace of God.

His work is grounded in the doctrines of grace, and ensures that readers do not fall into the trap of trying to earn their salvation while also addressing the struggles of those who wrestle with assurance. Yet, Jones’ central aim is to highlight underemphasized biblical truths for the spiritual health and well-being of believers.

This book would be helpful for any pastor evaluating whether backsliding and apostasy receive sufficient attention in their preaching and counseling. It is also a valuable resource for any believer seeking to grow in grace, remain steadfast until the end, and place their ultimate hope in God's grace.

[Stephen Hoogerhyde · Rating 3 out of 5]

As Jones notes in his conclusion, as a pastor he must deal with reality, and one of the difficult realities is backsliding among Christians. The intent of this book is to help pastors and elders care well for their people, and for individual Christians to be aware of and guard against the danger of backsliding.

Jones walks us through the testimony of Scripture to sin remaining in the believer's life, reviews the battle between the old man of sin and the new man in Christ, points out some of the evidences of backsliding, the steps in backsliding, and the effects of backsliding, shows the difference between backsliding and apostatizing, shows the danger of a believer's neglecting prayer, the Bible, and the church, and suggests how backsliders can be recovered.

All this is thoroughly suffused with reminders of the sustaining grace of God, how "he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Phil. 1:6). As he states in the end, "after all that God has done for us, he will continue to do more for us to make sure that his children, despite their departures in this life, will never be snatched out of his hand." Amen!

P.S. In his acknowledgments, he makes reference to a Tina Turner song. Love it!

[Jonah Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good. Lead a summer study at church with this book, and it sparked much convo and debate. All productive, all fruitful.
If you live and minister in a context where team church and team sports are competing, with the latter seeming to gain a slight edge, his chapter “The Abandonment of Church” smacks. Many of the people that read this book with me in our group hated it and also said they needed it so much.
👇🏼

“There are few more worrying questions that children can ask their parents than "Do we have to go to church?" or "Are we going to church this week?' These are the questions that emerge from doubt over a practice that should be beyond doubt. Two indisputable truths should characterize every Christian parent-child relationship: children should know that their parents love them, and their parents love Christ more. This will mean that corporate worship on the Lord's Day comes first, not Johnny's baseball game or Lydia's soccer travel team, if there is a conflict. True love to them cannot compete with true love for God. A parent who chooses
God first shows his or her child true love, since the best love
that we can show our children is the love whereby God has no competitor.”

[Andy Schreiber · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tremendously helpful & edifying book! Mark Jones has done it again! I have read a good number of Jones' books, and I have never once concluded that he has wasted my time. As he often does, he takes a difficult subject (backsliding & apostasy) and brings clarity to it, both by Scripture and by reference to the writings of the Puritans and others. He has a way of making the Puritan writers accessible to the modern reader. Don't let the title or subject matter scare you off - get this book & read it. It is written with the instruction & edification of the church in mind, written not only by a top-notch theologian, but first & foremost by a pastor who cares for the flock.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Timely book in an era of evangelical deconstructionists. Jones is thorough yet readable and gives plenty of references for further study. His book would be improved with actual examples of backsliding or apostasy, but the reader can use one’s own experience to read between the lines. Not necessarily the book I would give a backslider, as I would prefer a shorter book with even greater urgency of address in the second person to the backslider. But as a theological foundation summarizing the great works of the Puritans it is superb.

[Adam Kareus · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent work on backsliding and apostasy which Christians should read. It addresses many issues that come up when someone "falls away." This issue is especially important at a time when deconstruction is seemingly everywhere. Pulling on the wisdom of the Puritans and other giants of the past, Jones writes in a way which is accessible to the average reader.

[Danieltituscom · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was not overly impressed with this book. Chapters 9 and 10 were exceptional, but most of the book lacked power. I applaud Mark Jones for writing on the subject of backsliding. (More needs to be written.) But this work did not stack up to others on the same subject. (Viz. /Getting Back In the Race/ by Joel Beeke.)

[Bambi Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

[Steve Herreid · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid book on a much neglected topic. I liked it.

[Bert Dreifuss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of warnings and encouragements, I'll be returning to this tome a few times to renew my resolve to follow Christ and receive maximum joy through God's means of grace.

[Cameron Borders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential Reading. Balm for the backslidden soul.