One common misinterpretation I hear a good bit is when people say that someone has “fallen from grace”. I hear it in songs. I hear it on TV and in movies. I hear people using it in public conversation. They use it meaning that someone has gone too far or sinned too much. They have fallen out of God’s grace; He has turned His back on them. Does the Bible teach that you could sin too much to be saved or that you could lose your salvation?
Yes, the Bible in Galatians 5:4 does say “you have fallen away from grace”. And if you were to look only at this sentence, rip it out of its immediate context, and ignore the rest of the Bible’s teachings on salvation by grace alone, it does sound like someone could lose their salvation. That’s why this particular misuse is dangerous.
Lets apply our three rules for sound biblical interpretation; context, context, context. Who is the “you” in question? To whom is Paul talking? What is the subject/topic of discussion?
So, lets see what Galatians 5:4 means by reading 5:1-12. Actually the bulk of letter to the Galatians is about salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. So, knowing that would help, but 5:1-12 will be enough here to let us know what’s going on.
Galatians 5:1-12 [emphasis mine] 1 For freedom CHRIST HAS SET US FREE; stand firm therefore, and DO NOT SUBMIT AGAIN TO A YOKE OF SLAVERY. 2 Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you ACCEPT CIRCUMCISION, Christ will be of no advantage to you. 3 I testify again to every man who ACCEPTS CIRCUMCISION that he is obligated to keep the WHOLE LAW. 4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be JUSTIFIED BY THE LAW; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit, BY FAITH, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. 6 For IN CHRIST JESUS neither circumcision nor uncircumcision COUNTS FOR ANYTHING, but ONLY FAITH working through love. You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion IS NOT FROM HIM WHO CALLS YOU. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in the Lord that you will take NO OTHER VIEW, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. 11 But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. 12 I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!
So, in this case it’s actually very easy to see what Paul is communicating. And all we did is read a few extra verses. The “you” here is a very specific group of people. “You” is anyone who thinks that circumcision is necessary for salvation. “You” who are trying to attain salvation by your works (ANYTHING added to grace is a work), “you” have pulled away from the grace of Christ. You have fallen away from grace.
There were men coming into the church saying that along with trusting in Christ for salvation, you also need to be circumcised. He’s talking about people turning their back on God’s gift of salvation by grace alone through faith alone, and trying to earn it by obeying the Law, specifically circumcision. Trying to earn salvation through obedience is slavery! t’s not that they were saved and now have fallen out of God’s good graces, and He turned His back on them. If He has saved you by grace through faith, that can never happen. Paul is making the point that if someone thinks they can save themselves by obeying the law, then they have to obey the entire law… perfectly (which no one can do).
Paul uses very strong language here to make his point because it is a very serious issue. It’s the Gospel. It’s eternity on the line. Really need to get that one right. By trying to earn salvation they have cut themselves off from the grace of Christ. And that in order to make sure they are doing everything they can to ensure they’re saved, since they’re circumcising themselves… they might as well go all the way and cut it all off – just to be safe.
Salvation is by grace alone. Grace by definition is undeserved, unearned. Jesus knew every sin we would ever commit and He still died for us, while we were at our worst, His enemies. You can’t earn that! You can’t be too far gone for that! You can’t fall from that! If we are in Christ, He says that we are in His hands, and that He is in the Father, and that no one can snatch us out of His hands, not even ourselves (John 10:27-29).
God’s Word is so good and so rich! It’s so much better than we even realize. It gives life, peace, direction, meaning, it shows us how to rightly think about ourselves, and most importantly it’s where God reveals Himself to us. It’s worth taking our time, thinking about it, and praying for the Holy Spirit to lead us into understanding it.