Today, we continue our defence of God's security in the salvation that He grants to us.
We've looked at a variety of verses that people attempt to use to deny the very words of their Lord (if indeed they are saved).
Last time, we look at a well know proof text in the old testament book of Ezekiel.
This time, we'll look at another well known proof text, but in the new testament epistle to the Galatians.
Galatians 5:4
Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
This verse is used to say, 'see, to fall from grace is to lose your salvation'.
Is that really what this means?
Once again, we first stand on the rock of our salvation.
Jesus says that He gives His sheep eternal life. They will never perish and He will not lose any of them.
Now, when we look at Galatians 5:4 from this position, we know that it can't be talking about salvation.
Isn't this what we just learned from the last parable? When we are in doubt, we ask the master of the house and trust His word.
So we, know what the Lord says.
Secondly, we know that it's not talking about salvation because there would be no point in Paul talking to them if they had fallen from salvation.
Remember the previous scripture...
Hebrews 6:4-6
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, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 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.
These people can't be saved again if indeed Paul was talking about salvation in Galatians 5:4
Since it's not talking about salvation, what is it talking about.
Before we look at the context, we should first look at what grace is.
Grace is unmerited favour. Blessing or goodness that has been given to us when we didn't deserve it.
Grace, as it refers to salvation, is not simply that we didn't deserve it, but what we deserved the complete opppsite of grace.
Grace, as it refers to salvation, is inseparable from mercy.
Mercy is to withold that which we rightly deserve.
In salvation, God grants us both mercy and grace.
So, can someone fall from this grace?
Is it possible to fall from something that wasn't given to you because you deserved it anyway?
Is it possible to fall from something that wad given to you even though you literally deserved the complete opposite... judgement?
What is it that one can do to separate themselves from such a grace, which is merged with mercy, and displayed to us through the life, death and resurrection of Christ in that while we were still sinners... not looking for God, but were His enemies... Christ died for us?
Doesn't sound like you can separate yourself from this kind of grace. After all, it's grace that we take another breath.
But even though we come to that conclusion, Paul says that these people have fallen from this same grace.
So now, let's look at the context. The problem is that the context starts in Galatians 1:1
The entire book of Galatians is about how people were telling them that they had to do according to the law in order to be accepted by God.
From the beginning of Paul's letter we read...
Galatians 1:6-7
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Paul tells us that this false gospel didn't come from the brethren either.
Galatians 2:3-5The apostles themselves were being affected by this false gospel.
But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: 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: to whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
Galatians 2:11-14Paul then calls them to reason within themselves.
But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, 'If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?'
Galatians 3:1-5
O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Paul then goes on to explain to them the reality of the situation. The nature of the law and salvation.
Galatians 3:22-28
But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
With all of that as the backdrop, we can now look at the immediate context of our verse.
Galatians 5:1
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Paul says that seeking to be justified by the law, is to seek to be entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
We have been set free from the bondage of the law, because we are dead to it... being crucified with Christ.
Galatians 5:2-3
Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
Paul emphasises that when we attempt to be justified by a portion of the law that we must do all of it, as it's only in doing all of it that one can be justified... even though that was never the purpose of the law in the first place.
Next is our verse.
Galatians 5:4
Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
Now, with all that Paul said previously, if someone was trying to be justified by the law, it makes sense that Christ has become of no effect.
The salvation through Christ is by grace alone.
It would also make sense that they have fallen from grace.
Note though, this is not in the sense that they lost their salvation, but in the sense that they've taken upon themselves the yoke of bondage.
By grace, they had liberty... freedom. Under the law, only bondage. They have fallen from freedom to bondage.
We must remember though, Paul hasn't stopped here... so let's continue.
Galatians 5:5-10
For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.
A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.
Did you catch what Paul said here?
After telling them that they've fallen from grace, he tells them that he trusts that the Lord will sort them out.
Not only that the Lord will correct them but that the Lord will deal with the person who brought in the false gospel.
Galatians 5:11
And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.
In the next verse, Paul calls them brethren.
So, not only does paul trust the Lord for their salvation and help them deal with false doctrine, but he shows that this "falling from grace" doesn't remove one from salvation at all, else how could he continue calling them brethren?
Galatians 5:12
I would they were even cut off which trouble you.
These are very strong words indeed. For those spreading the false gospel that causes believers to "fall from grace", Paul wishes for God to kill them.
Yet today, we are not scared to add or take away from the gospel of Christ.
As a matter of fact, we're not even taught that we should be fearful of doing so.
Galatians 5:13-18
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
Here, we see Paul giving us clarity as to what he means by "falling from grace".
To fall from grace is to walk according to the flesh.
We use our freedom in Christ, to somehow attempt to garner God's favour by doing what is in the law.
We start to see our blessings... not as gifts of grace from God... but payment for doing according to the law.
But Paul tells us that it is impossible because of the very nature of the law.
Once God saves us, we have become dead to the law. We are no longer under the law because the price for breaking the law has already been paid by Christ.
And now that Christ is risen, we have been given this newness of life.
So it's actually impossible for a person who is dead to the law, to make themselves alive to it again.
The only thing they can do is believe that it is so, which is a perversion of the true gospel... that Christ died under the law in order to pay the price for those under the law, and all those whom He paid for will walk in the ressurected life that He now lives.
The law has no power over us because Christ lives.
Those who have been misled into thinking they have to keep parts of the law in order to hold onto their salvation, or please God... rob God if His due glory, because the crux of the gospel is that He saves people that have nothing good to show or present to God.
To believe that we can do a work, obey the law, to appease God in some way is not the gospel at all.
This is falling from grace... walking according to the flesh... depending on our own efforts in order to be pleasing to God as it relates to salvation.
Now that we understand that, the question that should be asked is... can we fall from grace today?
The answer is, of course, yes. Since falling from grace is a doctrinal issue that causes a person to view God, salvation, and all blessings in a diminished light, by having the person who believes the false doctrine try to earn favour with God by following the Law... all those who do this today, should be deemed as falling away from grace.
Ironically, the people who often quote this verse to try and prove that we can lose our salvation, actually fit into this category of those who have fallen from grace.
Remember, they have to work to keep their salvation. They have to provide some good work, as per the Law, to somehow satisfy God on their own... apart from Christ... in order to hold onto their salvation.
This is why Paul wanted the people who taught this doctrine to "be cut off", because it essentially removes the gospel of grace and replaces it with salvation by works.
They will say, 'no, we believe that salvation is by grace'.
This is only partially true. They believe that salvation is initially by grace, but that's where it ends. The rest of salvation though, is not by grace at all, but is the work of the believer. This is the only way someone could lose their salvation.
Remember, Paul even put this question to the galatians.
Galatians 3:1-5
O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
This issue is exactly the same as that found in the modern doctrine of tithing. Those who believe that we must tithe, do so on the basis of the Law. They say that if we do not tithe, then we are robbing God, and thieves won't inherit the kingdom of God.
In other words, salvation is not by grace. As it is written...
Romans 11:6
And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
This is why this is such an important topic. Even though those who are actually saved, will not lose their salvation by falling from grace... believing that works keeps us saved... but we are not believing in the real gospel but a false one. Not only that, but we end up promoting and preaching a false gospel, and not the real one.
People will come to God believing that they have to follow the commandments in order to be saved. They will believe that they are saved, because of their good works, but in reality not be saved at all, and will "depart from the faith".
Again... as it is written...
Romans 9:30-33
What shall we say then?
That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
Wherefore?
Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
I emplore my brothers and sisters who believe they are in Christ but reject the security of the salvation of God to cease walking in the flesh. You have fallen from grace, because you don't believe that it's by God's grace that you are saved, but by your own efforts.
Doing what's right, following the Law, never made anyone perfect. We are not justified because we obey or don't obey. It's not our righteousness that we look to in order to be accepted.
Walk according to the Spirit. And in doing so, you will realise that it's by God's grace alone why we are saved, continue to be saved, and will be saved.
Join us next time as we continue to examine the scriptures, and seek to declare what our Lord, Christ Jesus of Nazareth said was true...
He will give His sheep eternal life. They shall never perish. He will not lose any one of them.
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