FALLEN FROM GRACE
Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
No one has ever become “unsaved” after they have ever been regenerated! You can’t be unborn after you have been born! Those who think this little phrase, ye are fallen from grace means that, have mistaken washed sows for the Lord’s people! They have mistaken stony and thorny ground hearers for true converts! They have NEVER seen a sheep enjoying the mire! For they have not the nature of the sow! Nor have they EVER seen a sheep returning to his vomit again! Only dogs do that! (2 Peter 2:20-22) Christ’s gift of eternal life is – – – eternal! “God don’t make no junk!”
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. The same gang that the Father foreknew and chose in Christ before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4), shall, without the lost of a single soul (John 6:37), be finally glorified throughout eternity!
Then what is this phrase to mean? It means that anyone relying on justification before God by their attempt to keep the law have fallen from the entire concept of grace! For if anything is added to grace, it becomes a disgrace! Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
Romans 9:11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
Ephesians 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Matthew 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
There is a requirement for the pursuit of holiness in the matter of sanctification, but never in justification! For justification regards the pardoning of our sins! Romans 4:4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
Justification is a legal matter, transacted only once! Abraham in heaven right now is not one degree more just that the newest believer on earth! But sanctification is a matter of the Spirit’s infusion of holiness within us and of our spiritual growth. 2 Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
And these two matters – justification by the works of the law, and by faith alone – cannot be mingled! As already stated, to attempt to stand before God by self-righteous works is to fall from the entire concept of grace! Consider carefully these scriptures. Romans 9:31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
Romans 10:3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. 5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
Galatians 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. 5:2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
This Rule
Legalism is opposed to faith! Ishmael had a legal document to prove he was Abraham’s first born – a birth certificate! But Isaac only had a promise and a hope based on that promise! Therefore Ishmael had a false confidence that he was to inherit everything from Abraham. But God had said, In Isaac shall thy seed be called! (Gen. 21:12). Listen to the Apostle Paul relate to us how the rule of grace alone, without the works of the law defines the true Israel of God! For not a single religionist who thinks to have come to God by morality and right living is included in the true church, God’s true Israel!
Galatians 6:12 As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. 13 For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. 14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. 15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. 16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
Galatians 4:24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. 25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. 26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. 28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. 30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. 31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
Pastor Gene Breed
September 17, 2010.
