The Possibility of Apostasy (2)

(Galatians 5:4)

Mike Johnson

Can a child of God fall from grace?  Galatians 5:4 plainly says to those who are Christians that they can fall from grace.  It seems some were teaching it was necessary to obey certain aspects of the old law to be saved, such as circumcision.  Paul told them (v. 1), “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”  He further told them (vs. 2-4) if they were circumcised, Christ would profit them nothing, and they would be a debtor to keep the whole law.  He then added, “…you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace” (4).  Could it be any clearer?  A child of God can fall from grace.

Most would admit that those under consideration were in a lost state.  So how would the “once saved, always saved advocate” explain this passage?  Typically, they say that a Christian is not actually under consideration in these verses.

Paul clearly addresses Christians instead of non-Christians in these verses.  Earlier in Galatians, such passages as 1:2, 4, 6; 3:13, 27-29; 4:5-7 make this clear.  Chapter 4 concludes with a discussion of the allegory of Hagar (who depicts the old covenant) and Sarah (who represents the new covenant).  Verse 31 says, “So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.”  Then in 5:1, Paul said, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”  These had been made “free” and had escaped the “yoke of bondage” (the old law).  They were in danger of being “entangled again.” He is speaking to Christians, and these Christians, if they went back to the old law, would fall from grace.

Further, these people fell from grace.  How can people fall from something they were never in?  Also, salvation is by “grace” (Eph. 2:8-10).  If we fall from grace, how then can we be saved?  We can fall from that which saves us.