… you have fallen away from grace.
Summary: Falling away from grace doesn’t sound so scary until we realize that God’s grace is essential for true life in the flesh and eternal life in the spirit.
Paul continues to grapple with finding ways to help the Galatians understand what they have done. In the last passage, he pointed out that people who put their faith anywhere but Jesus are “alienated from Christ.” In this passage, he declares they have “fallen away from grace.”
So, what does it mean to “fall from grace?”
To answer that question, we need an understanding of what it means to be in the place called grace.
Like many things in the Bible, I think the answer to this question is multi-faceted. I don’t expect to be able to give you a complete answer. I don’t think anyone here on earth could, nor do I believe we can even comprehend the full scope of the meaning of God’s grace.
Let’s start with the basics.
First, the Bible tells us that God “causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45). We don’t deserve the good God does for us. Even the very basics like sunshine and rain. Yet, without these things, no one could live. These things are what I would call “Basic Grace.”
Putting our faith in God opens a door to another level of grace. In my experience, acknowledging God generally leads to learning about Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Knowing Jesus, really knowing him, is a form of God’s grace all by itself. Jesus promises us eternal life (John 3:16). I call that “Essential Grace.”
But God doesn’t stop there. Jesus also promises to send us the Holy Spirit (John 14:26). God’s Spirit comes to live in our hearts. That is another level of grace that is beyond anything we have any right to expect or imagine. Because the power of God’s Spirit is unlimited and unpredictable (John 3:8) I call this grace “Amazing Grace.”
When Paul says, “[Y]ou have fallen away from grace,” it sounds like he is talking about both “Essential Grace” and “Amazing Grace.” “Basic Grace,” of course, only lasts during our lifetimes in the flesh. If a person passes over without the “Essential Grace” of Jesus Christ, then all grace is lost indeed.
Application: Keep our eyes on Jesus!
Food for Thought: Are there other kinds of God’s grace that you can think of?
I have come to understand a grace that is described as “training grace.” The grace of God that saves also instructs us to live as a new creation transformed by the renewal of the mind so that we may discern the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. We are redeemed by Christ, by grace, but also, in grace, we are able to learn, despite our sinful nature, how to live a life that pleases God. We do so in eager anticipation of Christ’s return. In faith by grace we are redeemed and promised transformation, and that the One who has redeemed us will come back for us. In grace we are not abandoned, but are given salvation and the means to draw closer to God.
Titus 2:11-14
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Romans 12:2
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Chris,
I like the idea of “training grace!” God is faithful to continue to teach and occasionally discipline us (Hebrews 12:6).
Are there other kinds of God’s grace that you can think of?
Common Grace, He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate – bringing forth food from the Earth: – Psalms 104:14
Prevenient Grace, John 6:44
Preached Grace, Colossians 1:6
Saving Grace, Ephesians 1:6-7
Grace of Acceptance, Philippians 2:6-7
Sanctifying Grace, Titus 2:11
Adopting Grace, Ephesians 1:4-5
Provisional Grace, James 1:17
The Grace of God’s Presence, 1 Corinthians 15:10
Sustaining Grace, 2 Corinthians 12:9
Enabling Grace, Romans 12:6
Serving Grace, 1 Peter 4:10
Glorifying Grace, Romans 8:30-32
Miraculous Grace, Acts 6:8
Eternal Grace, Romans 4:16
Every aspect of our existence on earth, salvation, spiritual life as believers, power to acknowledge and serve God through Christ, comes from God by the power of the Holy Spirit. Our only true boasting before God is that we are in Christ, that all we have we owe entirely to Him; we can only glory in, not ourselves or what we have or are, but in the fact that He is our benefactor.
Nicely done! I’m going to keep this list.
Thank you, Ron!
Well done. I might say your answer was “grace-FULL.” 🙂