Introduction
“You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.” Galatians 5:4
The phrase “fallen from grace” has been dramatically abused throughout time. It is typically used to describe someone who has been scandalized by failure. Politicians caught in lies, athletes cheating, pastors falling, performers faking, etc. but in the context of the Bible to “fall from grace” means to turn from Christ to the law to be made right with God and others.
Have you ever sinned, asked God for forgiveness, but then gone on to work hard to “make it up” to God? This is a fall from grace.
Or maybe you have looked to the death and resurrection of Jesus for salvation, but now you think you need to get a handle on your sin issues by working a program or doing extra good works to balance out your sins. If so, you have fallen from grace.
Have you been offended by the scandalous sin of another, heard of or seen the sinner repent, but resented the forgiveness and restoration they received? Does your personal pain eclipse your ability to rejoice with the sinner that repents? You have fallen from grace.
To “fall from grace” in the context of this passage does not mean to lose one’s salvation. To “fall from grace” means to turn from Christ and turn to the Law for sanctification. To “fall from grace” is turning to a pharisaical way of life centered in appearances, the flesh, merit, and self. To “fall from grace” means you are working for your sanctification apart from the grace of God and not experiencing the grace that abounds at the cross of Christ, and if you’re not experiencing it, you’re unable to give it to others.
This was the experience of the believers in Galatia. They started out by “seeing” the picture of Jesus Christ and Him crucified, that Paul had “painted” with gospel words (Galatians 3:1). They believed this message. They were saved by grace alone through faith in Christ crucified. They were justified before the Father by the blood of the Lamb from the Cross. But then they were lured away from the cross with the idea that the law was their guide to sanctification and perfection. So, Paul writes: “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” Galatians 3:1-3
Friend, when you lose sight of the cross of Christ, you fall from grace. You do not grow out of the gospel or mature apart from the cross of Christ. You only grow in grace by remaining in the love of Jesus that flows from His cross. “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” (Galatians 5:6 NIV) And “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” 1 John 3:16 NIV
As a believer, you belong to the Lord (Romans 14:8). If you would please God, you must believe in Jesus (John 6:29), experience His love (1 John 4:16) and be compelled by His love (2 Corinthians 5:14). In Christ, grace abounds and love wins.
The law leads you to condemnation, judgment, and suffering, but on the cross, Christ stood in your place. Jesus fulfilled the law for you and attributed His righteousness to you. Grace abounded to you at the cross; do not be diverted from it now. “Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness” (Romans 10:4).
Illustration
In Matthew 18:21-25, Jesus tells the story of a king’s servant who owed a great debt to the king. This debt was so substantial the servant could not pay it off, so the king “took pity on him,” that is, the king had mercy on him and gave the servant grace. The king forgave this servant his massive debt and put his servant under grace. The servant was forgiven and freed from his financial obligation to the king.
However, the forgiven servant did not embrace the grace shown to him, for he left the king’s presence, went out to his fellow servant, who owed him a small debt, and demanded immediate payment. When the servant with the little debt could not pay, he was thrown into prison by the first servant.
Perhaps the first servant doubted the reality of the king’s grace and thought he should be prepared to pay off his forgiven debt just in case the king changed his mind. Or perhaps he was trying to prove that he was worthy of the grace the king had shown him. Either way, the first servant thought he needed to do more. This is what it means to fall from grace. The evidence that he fell from grace was in how he treated others.
To fall from grace is to refuse to accept or to forget that your sin debt has been paid off by Jesus on the cross, and to seek to do more or earn the grace of God. When we place ourselves under the law, we become harsh and unmerciful like the law. But when we fix our eyes on Jesus, believe and receive His grace, remember He has paid our sin debt in full, we can live in generosity and love with others.
Application
Are you focused on yourself and what you are doing for God? Are you a conviction junkie, always wanting to know what you need to do to please God, but never looking to Christ’s finished work which made you pleasing to Him? Do you resist grace, always wanting to pay your own way and earn everything you get? Repent of your pride and return to the foot of the cross to remember the supernatural love with which you have been loved. See the nail-pierced hands, feet, and side of Jesus pouring the blood that atoned for your sins. Receive the payment of your sin debt and embrace your freedom in Jesus. Stop working for the love and acceptance of Jesus and start living in the love and acceptance He purchased for you. Grace abounds to you today, dear friend. Receive it and be raised to walk in God’s love!
Do you judge others harshly? Are you unable to rejoice in the mercy of God towards sinners? Do you look down on others for their past or current sins or struggles? Look to Jesus and His cross and remember that Jesus paid for your sin with His precious blood. Everything you have, righteousness included, was given to you by grace through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Humble yourself in the love of Jesus and embrace His grace that loves others and wants them to know and experience all the joy and love of belonging to the body of Christ. Don’t fall from grace, fall into grace, dear friend.
“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:13-14
“Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.” Revelation 2:4-5 NIV
How does looking to Jesus keep you from falling from grace today?
Mike L. writes, “Apart from Jesus I am nothing, my righteousness is as filthy rags before a Holy God. In Christ I have everything I could ever need, He is my righteousness, my justification, but it’s not even that it’s the love I see when I look to the cross, His unbelievable humility, I mean this is the King of everything laying His life down for me, and I deserved nothing but hell and damnation. This world tells us we need to earn everything we get, which is why God’s grace is so mind-boggling, yet it is truly what changes a person from a blasphemous sinner to a worshiper of the most high God. Thank you Lord Jesus for your unending grace toward me, may I never abuse it or take it for granted, in Your Holy, Beautiful and Precious Name!“
Sophia writes, “The only way to keep from falling from grace is to keep sight of the cross where grace abounds and love wins! It’s impossible to NOT see Christ’s love when he laid himself down on the cross for me (I JOHN 3:16). The pity he took on me (Matt 18:27). God help me to keep my eyes fixed on you, to realize that there is nothing good in me, but all perfection is found in you. Keep me humble and away from the pride that tells me that I am good in an of myself. I am only righteous because you look at me and see Jesus!“
Kevin writes, “Looking to Jesus helps me see the great debt for which I was forgiven. When I humbly recognize that Christ took my sins and gave me His righteousness, I am filled with joy and compassion for others. Condemnation goes out the window along with being judgmental, self-righteous, or thinking I can earn grace.“
Wendy writes, “I am not sure. I think I’m struggling with this concept. I know intellectually that God loves me and died for me; but sometimes or a lot of the time; I have a hard time feeling His love or truly believing it at a heart level. These bible studies are helping me to change that. I’m starting to get to know some of God’s ways better. I pray that He shows himself to me in scripture clearly. I pray that He penetrates my heart and mind and soul so clearly and strongly that I can simply bask in His love. I know that His perfect love has been driving out all my fears. He is changing me. It’s sometimes very slow; but it is happening.“
Reprinted by permission from the Looking to Jesus study at www.settingcaptivesfree.com. SCF exists to help men and women find freedom in Christ through the gospel.