~ What About “Falling From
Grace”? ~
The doctrine of “eternal
security” (sometimes described as “once saved—always saved”) is widely accepted
with Christianity. There are however
some who deny this important teaching of Scripture—by pulling verses out of
their context to make them say something other than intended. In this series we look at what the Word of
God has to say about the subject. “Him
who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the
presence of His glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 24).
The Scripture
~ “Stand
fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a
yoke of bondage. Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if
you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man who becomes
circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. You have become estranged from Christ, you
who attempt to be justified by law; you have
fallen from grace. For we through
the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor
uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love” (Galatians
5:1-6).
The Interpretation Error
~ There are some who teach that
the phrase “fallen from grace” is a way of saying that a person has lost their
salvation!
The Question
~ What do these teachers not
understand about the term “eternal life”?
The Correct Understanding
~ The book of Galatians was
written to Christians, that is clear in the opening sentence of the quoted
Scripture above. Christians by nature
have received eternal life. Paul was addressing a common problem in the
church of Galatia which is also a common problem in our day—to not live our
lives in grace but rather choosing to live by the Law. Living by the Law is an impossible task! Paul
says to live in this way is to cause your salvation in Jesus Christ to have no
effect on you (Galatians 4:17). In other
words, what Christ has done for you must not mean anything to you!
Additional
proof that Paul is writing to believers is found throughout this epistle. A few examples include: [1] Paul refers to his readers as “brethren”
nine times in this short epistle, [2] he calls his readers “children of God”
(3:26), [3] “sons of God” (4:6), and [4] “heirs of the promise” (3:29).
Conclusion ~
“Falling from grace” has absolutely nothing to do with our eternal
salvation!
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW
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