Have I Fallen From Grace?

Some people believe that because their sins are so many and so messy they have fallen from grace.

Is this true?

Can a person's sins be so bad that he could possibly fall from grace?

The biblical answer is no.

What does it mean to fall from grace?

The verse about falling from grace is in Galatians 5:4.

It reads:

"Those who are trying to justify themselves by law have alienated themselves from Christ; they have fallen from grace."

In this verse, as well as in all of Galatians, there was a group of people who were seeking to make themselves righteous before God and acceptable to him through religious activity and morality (law).

However, the only way we can become righteous before God and acceptable to him is by grace through faith in Jesus.

Those who seek to justify themselves by religious activity, such as practicing spiritual disciplines, attending religious services, participating in religious activities, etc...are not depending upon Jesus and his grace freely provided for them through his death.

Rather, they are depending upon themselves.

Consequently, they have fallen from grace.

This doesn't mean a loss of salvation.

To fall from grace simply means that a believer has moved away from depending upon Jesus alone for righteousness (innocence before God and acceptance with God) and is now depending upon his religious activity and morality.

This person may be depending partially on faith in Jesus and partially on following a set of spiritual disciplines and practices, as well as depending on a moral standard such as the Ten Commandments.

Therefore, this person has fallen from grace - still saved - but not depending fully on Jesus alone for righteousness.

It is impossible for a person's sins to cause him to fall from grace.

It is our sins that reveal our need for grace.

Romans 5:20 says "Where sins increase, grace increases all the more."

According to the Bible, it is impossible to out-sin grace.

So can a person's sins be so many and so messy that they fall from grace?

No.

They fall into grace.

The prodigal son fell into grace.

His older brother fell from grace.

Both were still the Father's sons, but the younger brother related to the Father by grace and the older brother by law.

So, have you fallen from grace because of your sins?

No...you have fallen into grace.