Galatians 5:4 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.
We have already spoken a few times about receiving grace. But did you know you could walk away from it, too? It doesn’t change the fact that God still gives grace. But we can choose not to walk in that grace. It begs the question, if someone has fallen away from grace as this verse indicates, did they ever truly have it to begin with? I ask that because why would you purposely walk away from something as amazing and life changing as the grace we have in Christ?
Perhaps they never did have it. In this verse we see a sharp contrast – those who try to be justified by the law and those who have grace. Those who seek to be justified by the law don’t understand grace. They are striving to earn their way to atonement and salvation, ignoring the free gift from God that is His loving grace. Those covered by grace experience righteousness freely, with no effort other than their faith in Christ’s sacrifice that atoned for their sins and His resurrection three days later.
It is beyond my understanding why anyone would want to try to be justified by their own merits. Attempting to be justified by the law is not only a lot of work, but it also leads to being cut off from Christ. His work and grace are of no effect in that person’s life.
The danger faced by trying to be justified by our own works or by keeping the Law is that we fall from grace. We are not justified by works. We cannot earn grace or righteousness. It is a gift, a free gift that cost our Savior His life. Nothing we do can give us the atonement that those who strive to do it on their own might give. Don’t fall victim to this type of thinking. Know that it is by grace we have been saved, not by our own efforts.
Are you trying to do it all on your own? Are you falling from grace by trying to do things by yourself? Today is the day to stop trying so hard to live a holy life through works, and to bask in the goodness of His grace. It is free for the taking. Quit putting so much effort into trying to earn it and simply live in the holiness He has brought into our lives.
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