“You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace”
You have become estranged from Christ,
When Christians involve themselves in legalism, they become “estranged from Christ.” The word “estranged” means to make inoperative, bring to nothing, make of no effect. Legalism renders our relationship with Christ ineffective. It paralyzes our spiritual life by producing a deadening effect on our spirituality.
you
The second word for “you” in this verse means whoever. The emphasis is upon the class of people who attempt justification by law. The principle of this verse applies to everyone, saved, or lost – it is a universal principle. In the immediate context, Paul addresses weak Christians in Galatia who were in the process of changing their theology of salvation by grace to one based on works. Even if people change their theology, this does not change their status quo with God, but it will render them ineffective in their spiritual life.
who attempt to be justified by law;
Those who attempt to be justified by the law estrange themselves from Christ and fall from grace. The present tense of the word “justified” implies that the Galatians were contemplating justification by the law. They had not fully come to that place yet.
you have fallen from grace
The words “fallen from” is literally to fall out of. Legalists are outside grace. They cannot experience God’s grace while they are in the way. A person falls from grace when he seeks salvation by merit. The Greek tense [aorist] indicates that at the point people enter legalism, they fall from the grace principle.
Paul challenged Galatian Christians to take a stand on their liberty (grace, 5:1,2), but they fell from the privileges of that standing. They put themselves in a place where they could no longer benefit from Christ. Either Christ must be everything or nothing to us. He does not accept divided loyalty. We must not lose our hold on Christ for daily living; otherwise, we will fall from a higher level of living by grace to the lower level of legalism. It is possible to receive the grace of God in vain (2 Corinthians 6:1). God wants us to “continue” in the grace of God (Acts 13:43).
“Grace” is not salvation in itself, but it is God’s way for us to engage salvation. Paul does not speak of someone losing their salvation in this verse but of the method by which one engages in a relationship with God.
Principle:
When we move into legalism, we fall from the grace principle and sever ourselves from the benefits that flow from Christ daily.
APPLICATION:
Whether in salvation or sanctification, living by legal prescriptions preempt us from Christ. Legal routes for relating to God are mutually exclusive from grace. They are in direct antagonism to grace. We renounce grace when we adopt legalism. When we wholly rest on God’s grace, we embrace Christ.
Either Christ is everything, or He is nothing; there is no in-between position. There is no limited faith or divided allegiance to Him. The man justified by grace is a Christian, but the man who trusts justification by merit is not. The man who seeks sanctification by law is not right with God, but the man who seeks fellowship with God by faith operates according to the grace principle. We cannot receive anything from Christ except by grace. Our spiritual life operates by grace alone. Grace finds a huge victory when we are most powerless. We cannot receive spiritual benefits from Christ apart from humility (2 Corinthians 12:9,10).
Falling from grace has nothing to do with committing some sin and then falling out of salvation. It has to do with the fact that we are too bankrupt to offer anything to God, for we have no righteousness in ourselves. Christians can fall from grace but not by sinning. We fall from grace by reverting to the law as a system of merit with God. Whether we realize it or not, we received justification at the point we came to trust Christ’s death on the cross to forgive sins. The law cannot impart a means of salvation, nor can it provide a rule of life for the believer. Jesus’ death on the cross freed us from the obligation to merit salvation and sanctification. If we reject God’s provision for salvation, we reject His grace. A genuine believer cannot truly depart from grace in salvation except in his contemplation of the possibility of it.
Legalism is as far below grace as kindergarten is below the graduate school. Christians can fall from the high principle of grace to the low valley of legalism. If they do, they operate on a principle that could never save a soul or sanctify a saint. In this situation, Christ has no effect on us, and we have no effective relation to Christ. We lose our hold on the grace principle for daily living.
The issue of this verse is not eternal security but a contrast of grace and law as systems of relating to God. Grace and law are mutually exclusive; we cannot mix them. A Christian cannot lose his justification. Legalism does not draw us close to God, but it drives a wedge between God and us.
Christians must understand the importance of taking a stand on the grace principle. Grace and legalism cannot co-exist. When we adopt legalism, we desert from the grace in Christ.
“And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work” (Romans 11:6).
Dear Sir,
I read your comments about Galatians 5:4-5. I have held to your views in that this passage is not referring to loss of salvation.
However, Martin Luther’s commentary on Galatians seems as though it is opposed to yours with respect to the potential loss of salvation. Here are two points that I copied…can you please provide feedback on these for me?
Verse 4. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
Paul in this verse discloses that he is not speaking so much of circumcision as the trust which men repose in the outward act. We can hear him say: “I do not condemn the Law in itself; what I condemn is that men seek to be justified by the Law, as if Christ were still to come, or as if He alone were unable to justify sinners. It is this that I condemn, because it makes Christ of no effect. It makes you void of Christ so that Christ is not in you, nor can you be partakers of the knowledge, the spirit, the fellowship, the liberty, the life, or the achievements of Christ. You are completely separated from Him, so much so that He has nothing to do with you any more, or for that matter you with Him.” Can anything worse be said against the Law? If you think Christ and the Law can dwell together in your heart, you may be sure that Christ dwells not in your heart. For if Christ is in your heart He neither condemns you, nor does He ever bid you to trust in your own good works. If you know Christ at all, you know that good works do not serve unto righteousness, nor evil works unto condemnation. I do not want to withhold from good works their due praise, nor do I wish to encourage evil works. But when it comes to justification, I say, we must concentrate upon Christ alone, or else we make Him non-effective. You must choose between Christ and the righteousness of the Law. If you choose Christ you are righteous before God. If you stick to the Law, Christ is of no use to you.
Ye are fallen from grace.
That means you are no longer in the kingdom or condition of grace. When a person on board ship falls into the sea and is drowned it makes no difference from which end or side of the ship he falls into the water. Those who fall from grace perish no matter how they go about it. Those who seek to be justified by the Law are fallen from grace and are in grave danger of eternal death. If this holds true in the case of those who seek to be justified by the moral Law, what will become of those, I should like to know, who endeavor to be justified by their own regulations and vows? They will fall to the very bottom of hell. “Oh, no,” they say, “we will fly straight into heaven. If you live according to the rules of Saint Francis, Saint Dominick, Saint Benedict, you will obtain the peace and mercy of God. If you perform the vows of chastity, obedience, etc., you will be rewarded with everlasting life.” Let these playthings of the devil go to the place where they came from and listen to what Paul has to say in this verse in accordance with Christ’s own teaching: “He that believeth in the Son of God, hath everlasting life; but he that believeth not in the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth in him.”
The words, “Ye are fallen from grace,” must not be taken lightly. They are important. To fall from grace means to lose the atonement, the forgiveness of sins, the righteousness, liberty, and life which Jesus has merited for us by His death and resurrection. To lose the grace of God means to gain the wrath and judgment of God, death, the bondage of the devil, and everlasting condemnation.
Thanks again, I look forward to your comments.
Martin
Martin, thanks for sending Martin Luther’s comments on this passage. It appears to me that the general point that Luther makes is the same as mine. The Galatians were in danger of falling from the grace principle to the law principle for salvation or sanctification. If a person rejects the grace principle for salvation, he is lost and cannot come to Christ without grace. Grace is what God does for our salvation; works or law is what we do for salvation. There is no salvation if we fall from the grace principle to trust in works.
Grant
Thank you for comments. I agree with you.
Doi you think this verse is related with romans chapter 7? Living in flesh. ( also Gal. 5. 17)
Catalin
Catalin, I don't believe there is a direct correlation between these passage.
Grant,
I have been going to a church for a few months and was speaking with the preacher last night about this very verse. He used the phrase 'to fall from grace' to show that a person can lose their salvation. His point was that you cant fall FROM something that you don't already HAVE. He was attempting to explain his position that if sin can damn me before I become a Christian, how can it not damn me after I become a Christian if I chose to return back to my sin and live in it unrepentantly. I do not agree with the idea of being able to lose my salvation, but could you perhaps shed more light on my preachers concept? I'm trying to keep an open mind, but do not want to believe untruth.
Sherry, it is dangerous for me to comment on your preacher's statement since I do not know the context or the full argument. However, that position is contrary to the argument of the entire book. I suggest you read the Introduction to Galatians found at the top of the page. The argument of this immediate section of Galatians is toward Christians. Note what follows in the remainder of chapters five and six. Also, the essential argument of chapters 1-4 is that a Christian is saved by grace and lives the Christian life by grace as well. If a person falls from the grace principle, they relapse into legalism (legalism vs grace is the entire thesis of the book).
to be sure it says Christ is of { no } Effect.~it does not state in PART. of no effect.. this is one of the most, clearly stated effects of being under the Old Covenant law & its.. effects.. under the law it is stated you are under the CURSE.. it does not state you are under the law,, the reason is the Law was & is Already Broken { see Exodus } Moses Broke the Tablets.. Law is clearly stated as being a ministry of Death… there is no partial life stated there in.. there are 613 laws… under the law we are debtors to do the whole of the law.. not as christianity does it in part.. an interesting point is.. the concequenses of breaking the law { ARE PART } of the law.. one cannot seperate them from the law .. that means if you break one you have to fulfill the concequence of the law.. just as Christ did.. he fulfilled the law & the Concequenses of the law.. that is clearly seen in every detail of his Sacrifice at the cross..as Christians we do not understand what being a debtor to do the WHOLE of the law.. means.. GAL:5 :4 takes on a Whole new meaning.. Either he is of effect or not.. That means in ALL He is not just partly,,
Ian, amen, if I understand you correctly.
Dr. Grant, I guess I'm not understanding. My belief is that if you receive salvation through Grace, your salvation is secure in Christ. However, if you do happen to fall from Gods Grace it doesn't change your standing (your eternal salvation), just your state ( your current condition). Please clarify.
Daniel, it is important to keep the entire argument of the book of Galatians in view. If you have not followed the context from the beginning of these studies I suggest that you read the Introduction to Galatians at the top of the page. However, to summarize, chapters 1-4 argue the principle of grace versus law. Chapter 5 begins the practical section. Verse 4 has to do with the Christian life, not salvation. There are Christians who revert into legalism for Christians. When they do this they fall from the grace principle for Christian living.
Hi Dr Grant,
I am reading from an exposition for this verse which I find easier to understand.
“If somehow you think that keeping the law justifies, you are wrong. It never justifies. That’s the key to verse 4. Who is fallen from grace? Answer: Those who think they are justified by the law – an impossible task. Only grace through faith justifies. Verse 4 does not say “fallen from salvation.” It says “fallen from grace.” These are people who rejected grace in lieu of law keeping – people who never got saved in the first place because they fell away from the grace that could save them…choosing law instead. Some folks who believe you can lose your salvation pull this verse out of context to attempt to prove such.”
Can you comment?
Margaret, I agree but would add that this passage is not only or primarily dealing with initial salvation but with the entire Christian way of life, which is the argument of this passage. Legalism is not a proper way to live the Christian life. The daily life of the believer must be grace-oriented.
The passage is easy to understand. Grace and justification are in view, not some temporary condition for those who are justified in spite of their lack of faith. (Let’s not avoid the obvious.) Keep standing firm, Paul says. Don’t be tangled again in the slavery you have been delivered from.
Severed from Christ is as strong a warning as Paul could give. Nevertheless later in the same chapter, Paul states that he has warned in advance, and he’s doing it again. The warning is if they – and anyone else – walk in the flesh, they “will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Bobby, this passage is only “obvious” to those who believe that their salvation depends on them by keeping a standard of works if they interpret this passage by pretext. The most important principle of interpretation is context and the most important context is the argument of the entire book. The argument of Galatians is that Christians were tempted to revert to legalism as the Christian way of life. If you studied the first four chapters, you can see this argument “clearly.” Even the apostle Peter reverted into legalism of which Paul had to rebuke him.
Hi Grant.
Praise Jesus.
Just a clarification; From the arguments “falling from grace but not salvation” – does it mean once saved, always saved?
Robert, this passage does not deal with the subject of eternal security but with the believer failing to live the Christian life by the grace principle to living by legalism. Here are two studies dealing with eternal security: https://versebyversecommentary.com/articles/doctrine/eternal-security-2/
I am on the fence on this one. It is clear that Jacob Arminius and John Calvin were sincere. There are other verses we need to look at. John 15:6, we are eternally secure as long as we abiding in Christ and nothing can touch us Romans 8: 38. We also have to look at the prodigal son the Bible States he was dead and is alive again. Now we know it’s not a physical death. You are quite right we are eternally secure IN Christ. The main point is not to argue. Our Lord hates discord. I believe those who believe in one saved always saved and those who reject that doctrine -the outcome is the same. “Christianity (the Walk of faith )is a journey not a destination”-AW Tozer. Faith ( pistes ) is a verb. God bless!