Words can be misunderstood!
And today, in our Text, Paul is NOT saying a man or woman can lose his or her salvation!
“Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.” Galatians 5:4
Paul IS saying that a person CANNOT trust BOTH the Old Testament Law (Moses) and the Grace of God (Jesus) for salvation!
It is one or the other!
Salvation is either something earned … or something freely bestowed!
It is a wage, a payment … or a tremendous Gift!
Here one class of people are being addressed: “whosoever of you are justified by the law.” Those Galatians (either who already had or were on the verge of) being “circumcised” (as a first “token” of their determination to follow all the Law of Moses) … people who were seeking “salvation” (“justification”) by acquiescing to the Works of the Law.
Wow!
By the way, fundamentally, the Law justifies nobody!
Need proof?
Bible proof?
First, Romans 3:20 … “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified!” Then to this let’s add Romans 8:3 … “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh!” What Moses could not do, Jesus did!!!
To those erring believers … Paul tells them the seriousness of their impending decision … “Christ is become of no effect unto you!”
The verb is “katargeo,” meaning “to become idle, to be inactive, to linger or delay.” In the King James New Testament the verb is specifically translated “to destroy” 5 times! “To do away” 3 times! “To abolish” 3 more times! And “to cumber” (to encumber) 1 time! All serious charges!
They are making Jesus’ Death on the Cross unnecessary by their silly theology!
If they are right (that Moses, the Law, saves lost souls) … then Calvary is redundant!
But … No!
No!
No!
Without the shed Blood of Jesus on that old rugged Cross … we would all die and go to Hell! Including Moses!
I want to do nothing to make Jesus’ vicarious Death impotent!
In fact, I want to preach it, the Cross!
I want to brag on it and on my Saviour Who died there!
Paul again, Galatians 6:14 … “But God forbid that I should glory (rejoice, boast), save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”
Amen!
Now to the often misunderstood clause … “Ye are fallen from grace.”