Fall From Grace

When the world talks about someone who has fallen from grace, they are referring to a person who was in a respectable position (usually in society) but he or she has done something disgraceful or scandalous even, which resulted in a loss of respect or prestige. Wikipedia defines “to fall from grace” as “an idiom referring to a loss of status, respect, or prestige” It is interesting that the Bible defines “falling from grace” or “having fallen from grace” very differently. Galatians 5:4 tells it plainly, “You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.” (NKJ)

The Bible is very straight forward when it comes to the definition of fallen from grace. The Amplified Bible paints a clearer picture :"If you seek to be justified and declared righteous and to be given a right standing with God through the Law, you are brought to nothing and so separated (severed) from Christ. You have fallen away from grace (from God's gracious favor and unmerited blessing).” This is as clear as it can get, as long as we try to seek our right standing with God through obeying the Law ( Ten Commandments), we are separated from Christ and fallen from grace, which is God’s unearned, unmerited favour.

From this verse, we can conclude that if we try to earn righteousness by our own effort of obeying the Law, we cannot qualify for God’s unearned favour or grace because grace cannot be earned. Romans 9:30-33 tell us about the Israelites seeking righteousness by works. “30What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; 31but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. 32Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the "stumbling stone." 33As it is written: "See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."

Righteousness or right standing with God can only be obtained by grace through faith “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—” (Ephesians 2:8 NIV) When we believe in the finished work of Jesus on the cross, we will be saved and right standing with God is given to us by grace. To fall from grace is when we rely on our own works to please God and to earn points with Him. Why do we have to do that when Romans 11:6 clearly tells us, “And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.” (NIV)

Have you fallen from grace?