JER 31:20. Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD.

LUK 15:4. What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

LUK 15:5. And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

LUK 15:6. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

LUK 15:20. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

LUK 15:21. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

LUK 15:22. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

LUK 15:23. And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

LUK 15:24. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

GAL 6:12. As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.

2TI 2:24. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

2TI 2:25. In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

2TI 2:26. And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

B. Don't give up on one-time backsliders:

JER 31:17. And there is hope in thine end, saith the LORD, that thy children shall come again to their own border.

LUK 22:54. Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off.

LUK 22:55. And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.

LUK 22:56. But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.

LUK 22:57. And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.

LUK 22:58. And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not.

LUK 22:59. And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean.

LUK 22:60. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.

LUK 22:61. And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

LUK 22:62. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.

MAR 16:7. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.

ACT 2:14. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:

ACT 2:12. And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?

ACT 2:14. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:

ACT 13:5. And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.

ACT 1:13. And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.

2TI 4:11. Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.

C. But forget trying to win chronic backsliders:

JDG 10:13. Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more.

JDG 10:14. Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.

JER 8:5. Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return.

HOS 4:17. Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.

MAT 15:14. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

HEB 6:4. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

HEB 6:5. And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

HEB 6:6. If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

1TIM 6:5. Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

TIT 3:10. A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;

TIT 1:11. Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.

D. Some people were never really part of your fellowship:

GAL 2:4. And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

1JO 2:19. 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.

E. Some backsliders become enemies of the cross:

MAT 12:30. He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

PHI 3:18. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

MAT 26:14. Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,

MAT 26:15. And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.

MAT 26:47. And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.

MAT 26:48. Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.

MAT 26:49. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.

MAT 26:50. And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus and took him.

MAT 27:5. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.

1TIM 1:19. Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

1TIM 2:1. I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

2TI 4:14. Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:

2TI 4:15. Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.