Twin City church of Christ Blog
“Jan 18, 2024 - Fallen Away from Grace”
Categories: 2024 Reading DevotionalsFallen Away from Grace
Reading: Galatians 5:1-6
Paul’s concern about the Galatians adopting the Law of Moses boils over here. “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery”(Gal 5:1). Since the Law makes slaves, it would be like returning to their former slavery to paganism (Gal 4:8-9). But what exactly are they considering doing? “Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law”(Gal 5:2-3). These Gentiles—who are perfectly acceptable to God now through their obedient faith in Jesus—are contemplating being circumcised to be a part of God’s covenant people. Paul warns that this will make Christ “of no advantage to you” and instead they will be signing themselves up for keeping the entire Law of Moses (not just one or two parts).
His next words are his strongest: “You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace”(Gal 5:4). Christ and the Law are two different paths; we cannot serve two masters. Either we will be saved because we perfectly keep the Law or because we receive forgiveness from Jesus by faith. When we attempt to save ourselves by law-keeping, we “have fallen away from grace” because we declare that we no longer need God’s mercy. We’re fine on our own. “For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love”(Gal 5:5-6). Christians live by faith, awaiting our hope by the Spirit, working Jesus’ will through love, unconcerned with physical markers like circumcision. It is a new path.
“Fallen away from grace” describes the clear and present danger of Christians leaving Jesus behind and forfeiting his gift. Yet the reason for this estrangement is not relapsing into sin, but our insistence that we can save ourselves. Jesus’ grace has conditions—and one of them is that we trust him (rather than ourselves) to save us. I never graduate past obedient faith in him.
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One Thing to Think About: How might I try to “save myself”?
One Thing to Pray For: A faith that works through love
