Don't Forsake the Truth

Does God show us how we can prevent falling away from Him and the truth? Are there, on the other hand, certain steps one has to make before one actually does fall away? We can draw seven principles from the first chapter of the book of Romans, describing the steps one needs to make to fall away from God. In that chapter, Paul addresses people who once knew God and His truth, but who neglected to glorify Him as God and to give Him thanks. As a consequence, they became futile in their thoughts, until their foolish hearts were darkened. They exchanged the truth into a lie and did not like to retain God in their knowledge. Finally, they became haters of God, despising God and everything He stands for. It is impossible to renew a person to repentance who had been converted, but who has become once again a hater of God.