Fallen From Grace

Q: What does the Bible say about falling from grace?

Falling from grace refers to a believer turning away from the gospel and relying on the law for justification, rendering Christ's work ineffective. Falling from grace, as described in Galatians 5:2-4, concerns individuals who have professed faith in Christ but then seek justification through the law, such as circumcision. The Apostle Paul states that if one seeks approval from God through law-keeping, then Christ's work holds no value for them. This indicates a serious spiritual condition characterized by abandoning reliance on grace alone for salvation, leading to a state where Christ is of no effect.

Q: How do we know the doctrine of grace is true?

The doctrine of grace is affirmed throughout Scripture, showing that salvation is by faith and not by works, thus reaffirming God's sovereign grace. The truth of the doctrine of grace is rooted in the entire biblical narrative, particularly in passages that emphasize salvation as a gift from God, not a result of human effort. Ephesians 2:8-9 clearly states that we are saved by grace through faith, and this not of ourselves; it is the gift of God, not works, so that no one may boast. Furthermore, Romans 3:20 shows that by works of the law, no flesh will be justified. Therefore, the doctrine of grace aligns perfectly with the core message of Scripture, displaying God's unmerited favor toward sinners and establishing the foundation of historic Reformed theology.

Q: Why is understanding justification by faith important for Christians?

Understanding justification by faith is crucial as it assures believers of their right standing before God solely based on Christ's righteousness. Justification by faith is foundational for a Christian's identity and relationship with God. It emphasizes that we are declared righteous not by our works or adherence to the law but through faith in Jesus Christ (Galatians 2:16). This understanding prevents believers from falling into legalism, which can undermine the assurance of salvation. When Christians grasp that they are accepted in Christ and that their standing before God is based on His grace alone, it leads to a life of gratitude, worship, and obedience that is empowered by the Spirit rather than rooted in trying to earn favor through works. It is, therefore, a liberating truth that fosters true Christian joy and assurance.

Q: What does it mean to seek justification by the law?

Seeking justification by the law involves trying to earn God's favor through moral or ceremonial works, contrary to the gospel of grace. To seek justification by the law means to rely on one's adherence to the law as the basis for being right with God. This concept is addressed in Galatians 5:2-4, where Paul warns that attempting to gain favor through the law negates the efficacy of Christ's sacrifice. Such reliance implies that a person believes their efforts can complement or enhance what Christ has done, which ultimately nullifies grace. Historic Reformed theology emphasizes that since all have sinned and fall short of God's glory (Romans 3:23), no one can be justified by the works of the law. Rather, it is through faith in Christ that believers find true justification, affirming that our acceptance before God is solely based on His grace.

Q: Can a true believer fall away from grace?

Yes, a true believer can fall from grace by turning to legalism and seeking justification through the law instead of relying on Christ's grace. The question of whether a true believer can fall from grace is addressed in Galatians 5, where the Apostle Paul speaks of individuals who, after initially believing in the gospel, turn back to legalistic practices for justification. This falling away is not about losing salvation in the traditional sense but indicates a departure from grace, resulting in the loss of Christ's benefits for those seeking justification through means other than faith. While some interpretations argue that genuine believers cannot ultimately fall away, Reformed theology warns that those who adopt a legalistic mindset and trust in their works are, in essence, falling from grace. The encouragement is to maintain trust in Christ's work, avoiding the pitfalls of self-reliance.

My actual text, what I want to speak most about is Galatians chapter five, verses two through four. But I'm going to read one through four just for a little more of the context. Of course, you know that we've been going over this, especially chapter five, verse one. I spoke on it for two or three Sundays. And I did feel last week, I did not realize it, to the degree that I realize it now, as I prepared this message, that last week's message was kind of open-ended. I never intended it that way, but it was kind of open-ended.

And I'll not go back and try to explain all that other than through what I'm going to, God willing, say this morning. but my text for this morning, again, it says Galatians 5, two through four, but I'm going to read one through four, but here's my title, and we will read this phrase, it's right there in the scripture, fallen from grace, okay?

So Paul starts out, or I'm sorry, Paul is continuing, and says, stand fast, therefore, in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Now that is the law. Behold, I, Paul, say unto you, now here's where my text starts.

Behold, I, Paul, say unto you that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. Now that's strong language, isn't it? If ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised that he is a debtor to the whole law.

And then he says basically the same thing that he says in verse two, only in different words. Look at the words now. Here's the main verse I want to, where our subject at, fallen from grace. Think about it. Christ is become. Notice it is not Christ may become. Christ will become. Christ is become. Paul is not warning about hypotheticals.

This had actually taken place, okay? And you remember what I did say last Sunday. Don't try to force, if you know, here's the truth of God, because Matthew, Mark, or Luke says it. Then don't try to force what Matthew, Mark, Luke, anybody else says into this passage. We are to bow to what God says in this passage and let the chips fall where they may. Look at what it says. Christ, now this is stronger language than even verse two. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law, ye are fallen from grace. Right? Isn't that what it says? That's what it reads.

Now, there are two phrases that Paul uses, and he deals with intent. As I mentioned last week, he deals with belief, and it may be good intent, it may be bad intent. Here, it's bad intent. Paul uses two phrases, and he deals with intent, belief, expectation, or spiritual desire, and those two phrases are this, every man that is circumcised. But as I pointed out last Sunday, this does not mean if you are circumcised, then you're shut out of salvation. But he does, he is saying, what he is saying is, behold, I pause saying to you, that if you be circumcised, if you're seeking any kind of favor from God for circumcision, Christ shall profit you nothing.

Okay? And here's the second phrase that he uses. Whosoever of you are justified by the law. That's the phrase he uses in verse four. Is anybody actually ever justified by the law? No, of course not. He said, oh, we've proved before, all men are guilty. By the deeds of the law, there shall no flesh be justified, none. But what he's doing is using the enemy's language.

They talked about being justified by the law. They talked about finding God's favor or God's pleasure through circumcision. Okay, you understand the phrase, the words that Paul's using here. He's not indicating some people were saved by Christ, but now they're being saved by the law. It's an impossibility to be saved by the law. Whether you wanna talk about justification, sanctification, redemption, any of it, it's an impossibility.

But he uses that language. Now think about this. He uses this language, and he's saying, in other words, what he's saying is, do you seek justification before God by any obedience to the law? If so, then take note of three dangerous facts. Now these are my words. I'm paraphrasing what Paul's saying. Here's the first dangerous fact. If circumcision plays any part in my expectation before God, Christ's work is of no value to me. Do you see that? It's what it says right there. Now, my Calvinistic mind says, well, but I need to explain that. No, I don't.

It means exactly what it says, even if I, right now, If I seek to be circumcised or I'm already circumcised and I start to find some kind of hope in that, Christ is profiting me nothing. It is a fact, not hyperbole or anything else. If circumcision plays any part in my expectation before God, Christ's work is of no value to me, verse two. Now I'm paraphrasing what I've just read Paul said.

You judge whether I'm telling you the truth or not. Number two, one act of law obedience demands full law obedience. Verse three, right? If we want justification by law, we've got to do it all. Now I know that causes a lot of problems because you can't start out in the negative and work, you can't start in the red and work your way into the black. We start out under judgment. But people who preach error don't deal with facts. And they definitely don't deal with truth. But again, I'm telling you the truth. I'm just paraphrasing what Paul has said.

One act of law obedience demands full law obedience, verse three. Here's the third warning. Here's the third danger. If my expectation before God is rightness in God's sight, okay, that's righteousness, or justification. And they're the same thing. To be righteous is to be justified. If you're justified, you're right, okay? If my expectation before God is rightness in God's sight by law obedience, then Christ is become useless. Isn't that what it should say?

Christ is become of no effect. Christ is become useless to me. I have dropped away. That's the word fallen. That's what it means. I have dropped away. I have been driven off course from God's grace. Verse four, these are facts, okay? These are facts.

Now, I have given you Paul's words, and I've kind of paraphrased them and put them in a little different language. Paul's not talking about this is what hypothetically would happen if. He's talking about what has actually taken place. Okay, and so that's why Paul, as I said, just is relentless in this thing.

This is not about, and I don't wanna confuse the issue, but I gotta say this, this is not about a saved person doing wrong and falling from grace, whatever that really is, and then losing rewards. Okay? It's not about that. And I don't want to deal with all the error, but it's also not about, here's a saved person who becomes lost and needs to be saved again. It's not about that either. But it means exactly what it says. And it's not for me to try to talk about other passages of scripture to try to disprove what this seems to say. We don't disprove what it says.

We bow to what it says and say God teach me. God teach me. Now listen to me. I've given you Paul's words. Now hear me now. This, what I'm gonna give you is fact. It's a fact, it's borne out in the complete testimony of scripture, and it's borne out in the experience of learned God-sent preachers for years, hundreds of years before me, and it's been my own experience to learn this truth as well. Listen to me.

Those who have never heard the gospel are not in this danger. You hear what I'm saying? Those who've never heard the gospel are not in this danger, but they are still in danger. That's a simple statement, right? But they're not in this danger. The danger of what? Christ profiting nothing, Christ becoming of no effect, fallen from grace, okay? Those who have never heard the gospel are not in this danger, but don't misunderstand me when I say that. They are still in danger. Here's another thought. Those who hear and believe only a false gospel are not in this danger.

You hear me? But they too are still in danger. Okay? I hope God's given you some insight of what I'm trying to get at here. Again, those who've never heard the gospel are not in this danger. They have their own dangers. Those who hear and believe only a false gospel are not in this danger.

And that's what I'm pointing this out because all of us here have people, have somebody that we probably, somebody we probably know that has some belief of the truth. I put that in quotes. But did they start out in the truth or did they start out in error with a little spattering of truth? Either you believe the truth or you don't believe Jesus Christ. Now, let me go on. Those, now listen to me, those who have professed faith in the gospel, those who have professed faith in the gospel may find themselves in this danger. Now, they're the only ones that can find themselves in this danger.

Now, I mentioned last week, I talked a lot about apostasy, and this is apostasy for some people, but it's not apostasy for all people. Now, I know that right now that may confuse you, okay? It may be, it is, but understand this. I said that for this.

Not all apostasy is the same. That is, some people have heard the truth, made a profession of faith in the truth, and then they turn from that truth and start adding in good works, start adding in law works, whatever it might be, tithing, circumcision, whatever, witnessing, whatever it might be, okay? But there are some people who've heard the truth, make a profession of faith, and they turn back to immorality and ungodliness. They just go back to the way they used to be. That is apostasy, too, but it's not the same kind of apostasy, but it is apostasy.

Paul is talking here about what could be, in certain instances, apostasy in the legal sense, okay? To a Gedastate, I know right now your mind's probably saying, what in the world? Those who believe and hear or no, I'm sorry, those who have professed faith in the gospel may find themselves in this danger. And there are two groups that may find themselves in this danger.

The first one is what I spoke mostly about last week, the apostate, okay? The actual apostate. And you remember last week we looked at this. Apostasy is not hypothetical, it is real. There are some people who actually hear the gospel, profess faith in the Christ of the gospel, and then turn back to legalism, or turn to legalism. It doesn't matter whether you started in legalism or not. If you turn to legalism, it would apply to you, but that's an apostate. What is this apostate? Remember I said there's two groups.

Those who have known and believed the truth, but who willingly, knowingly, obstinately turn from the truth. And remember what we read from especially Hebrews six last week? Those who do so, there is no remedy. It is impossible to renew them again and to repent.

They had a repentance. They had experienced something of the Spirit of God. And you know, there's not a person more that hadn't come into this place to hear the gospel preached, that hadn't in some way experienced the power of the Spirit of God. And some have even been moved by what they've heard here. whether it was me, or Joe, or Paul, or Earl, or other men who've stood there. But you and I have seen it happen.

They'll believe for a while, and in time of temptation, as our Lord said, what happens? They fall away. They go into apostasy. So the apostate is those who have known and believed the truth, but who willingly, knowingly, obstinately turn from the truth. And for them, there is no remedy. Somebody says, well, what does that mean? It just means what it says. Don't try to make it fit with all other truth in scripture. It just means what it says. But here's the second group of people.

The spirit-born, gospel-called believer. Now those who are spirit-born, gospel-called were predestinated unto adoption by God before the foundation of the world. Because they were predestinated by God into adoption, the adoption of children by Jesus Christ himself, they were chosen in Christ to be without blame and holy before God in love. Because they were predestinated and called, Jesus Christ bore their sins in his own body when he hung on that tree.

Okay? And not only did he bear their sins in his own body on the tree, but in God's time, under his providence and his wise, sovereign counsel, he sends the gospel to them, and the Spirit gives them life, and they hear that gospel, and they believe that gospel. But if then they're circumcised, trying to seek God's favor, Christ profits them nothing.

Can I say that? I've got to say that. Paul's not warning these people about what is coming down the pike. He's saying it's already there. Now we'll look at this from the scripture. We'll go back through it quickly, but we'll go back through it. So we're talking now about spirit born, gospel called believers. Those who have heard the true gospel preached and have believed Christ, but then they begin to espouse legalism.

And that's this kind of apostasy here, okay, or not apostasy, this kind, wrong word, strike out, not the apostasy. This is what? This is falling from grace. The word fallen there is not the word apostasy. Although some apostates do this, they do it. Now listen. Both groups may be soon removed, chapter one, verse six. Both, two different types of people. Both groups may, May withdraw and separate. But here's the thing.

Who was it that did, now, who was it that did the withdrawing and the separating Paul speaks of in chapter two, verse 12, that Paul had to rebuke? It was Peter. That's what he said Peter did. What had Peter done? He had fallen from grace. Now he hadn't fallen away, he hadn't went into apostasy, but he had fallen from grace. And it was so evident, and they made such a big deal of it, that even Barnabas was carried away with it, and others were carried away with it.

You see? Now here you've got a person who's merely professed the truth, but don't really possess the truth, but they may look just like Peter. They may look just like Barnabas. They may look just like me. They may look just like you. But then they willingly, knowingly, obstinately turn from the grace of Christ. They go into apostasy. They still have what? Fallen from grace. And somebody says, I don't know if I like that. Doesn't matter whether we like it or not. It's just a matter of fact.

They may dissimulate, chapter two, verse 13, and walk not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, chapter two, verse 14. They both, that's both, both sides can be described as, chapter three, verse one, foolish, and may turn again to the weak and beggarly elements. Had some of these men and women in Galatia turned again to the weak and beggarly elements, Paul said they had, hadn't he? They'd fallen from grace.

You see, you got some Calvinists out there preaching. Now again, I don't wanna try to deal with all their, a true believer, this doesn't really happen to them. Hogwash. Hogwash. And there are others who say, well, you can be a true believer and then you can go into apostasy, but then all you gotta do is repent and believe again and you can be saved again. That's not true either.

You see, I say we, and I suppose that most everyone here does. If you don't, you are probably one of the very few exceptions to the rule. We like all of our ducks in a row. because it helps our puny little minds to somehow lay hold of it a little bit. Now think about it.

They can be described as foolish, they may turn again to the weak and the beggarly elements, chapter three, verse nine, to name just a few of the similarities. They all look alike. When that seed fell on the stony ground and it sprang up, what, immediately. That sprout looked just like the sprout that came up from the seed that fell on the good ground. Right?

Our Lord explained that to us. I don't have to make it all fit, Mac. I need to preach the truth. We need to preach the truth. Now think about it. That's just to name a few of the similarities. So similar, are the two that Paul stated these words, and we've already been through it. But now, verse chapter four, verse nine. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereby, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage. Is he saying you're in danger of almost doing this? Or he said, some of you done it. Which one? They done it, right? Ye observe. days and months and times and years. I am afraid of you. Why?

Because just on the outside, just looking at that plant when it starts to sprout up, you cannot tell the difference. And did our Lord not tell us to be careful when we see little sprouts sprout up? Because some of them are wheat, but some of them are what? tears, and we can't tell the difference. God tells us, we, now it doesn't say don't warn, it doesn't say don't warn men, but we don't pluck up any, well that ain't no good, we can get them out. No, that's God's business. Do you understand that? We need to put those kind of people in a country all by themselves. No, that's God's business. We're gonna make sure everybody in our church is saved. That's God's business.

There are tares among the wheat, and they both look the same when they first come up. The tares will never be saved, though it may look like they are. They may, in the beginning throes, look more like they're saved than the wheat is. Who knows? Look at this in a moment. So similar are the two that Paul says, I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labor in vain. Do you see that? Now, did he know for sure? No, because he can't see the heart. He just goes by what he sees out here and what we say here, what men say here.

Well, I believe this, I believe that. All right, I'll take you on what your word is. You tell me you believe the truth of the gospel of Christ, but now preacher, if I don't tie it, I just don't believe God will bless me. You're falling through grace. That quick. Like that. It's not this long.

I was always taught that. Again, I don't want to deal with all the error. When I was in religion, I was taught that if you're really saved, you'll always be saved, because he's one of those once saved all. Once you've made your decision, you're always saved.

But what this falling away happens, real gradual. and real slow, next thing you know, you quit going to church. Next thing you know, if you were an alcoholic, you start drinking again. Next thing you know, if you were a womanizer, you start kind of, and it just kind of, and the next thing you know, you just quit going altogether.

This has nothing to do with that. And falling away is not this long, gradual process. It happens like that. I'll be circumcised, all right? God'll look favorably on me. Right that quick, it's happened. You see? Well no, preacher, it ain't that serious. It's that serious. Well I'll just, I gotta pay my 10th. As a matter of fact, God doesn't tell us to pay our tithe. The law demands we pay tithes, right?

I had a long discussion with a guy over text. It was the church he went to in Florida, and it's not anyone we know. We're just hammering on tithing. He was just tore all the pieces, and I said, don't worry. You give what God put in your heart, but don't support them if you're teaching you error. Go somewhere else. Of course, he hadn't wrote me back, so anyway.

Look at what it says in verse 20. Chapter four, I desire to be present with you now and to change my voice for I am perplexed. Do you see it? For I stand in doubt of you. Paul didn't know whether they were just a believer that had fallen from grace or a mere professor of grace that had went into apostasy. Why? Because the fall. Do believers fall? Yes. Does an apostate fall? Yes. The only difference is that second word, away. Away, okay? Both fall, and in the beginning, it looks just the same.

If that don't put just a little bit of fear of God in your soul, I don't know what in the world would. Hmm think about this. I realize that what I've just now said and brought up from remember this warning This danger is not hypothetical It's real and for some folks it may be total irremedy I can't say the word without remedy total ruin I For others, it means something else, and he goes into what that'll mean. What does it mean? We'll deal with that more later.

But if you bite and devour one another, take heed that you be not consumed of one another. You see, once legalism gets its hold in a true born-again believer, once we fall away, what do we do rather than loving one another and encouraging one another and understanding that we're all fallen and we all sin against God, we start pointing the finger. or start saying things like, well, if that would have been me, I wouldn't have done that. Well, maybe so, but it's only by the grace of God. It's only because God restrained you or me.

I realize that what I have just said, listen to me now, I realize that what I've just said raises a myriad of questions, doesn't it? So then what about this? So then what about that? And as you leave here, unless God will enable you to get a hold of and concentrate on what I'm just about ready to say, you'll go home and all these questions will bombard your mind. What if this happens? What if that happened? What about this person? What about that person?

Believe you me, I know, because I did it while I was studying this. And I was miserable. But I realize this raises a myriad of questions. But here is the question, and I know this is, somewhere it's been in your mind, or either you've not been paying attention at all this morning to what I've just said. Is there any way to tell the difference? Isn't that a pretty decent question? Okay, wait a minute. If either I'm a believer and I can fall away, and I will suffer consequences because of that falling away, okay? Or maybe I just think I believe. I profess to believe. I may really believe but didn't turn from it. Turn back to legalism.

Which one am I? Now if you're hearing that hasn't bothered you at all and you believe Christ with all your heart, mind, and soul, you're a liar. I love you but you're a liar. You hear me out, you're a liar. Isn't that a valid question? Is there any way to tell the difference? Not at all. You thought you'd gonna have some answer to have this audit, not at all.

Especially in the initial froze of falling from grace. Because they both look the same in the apostate, as it does, looks the same as it does in the spirit born gospel called believer. It looks exactly the same. And that's why Paul says, you perplex me. Right? I stand in doubt of you. That's hard language, right? Is there any way to tell a difference? As I said, not at all. But there is somebody that knows the difference. Now turn to 2 Timothy chapter two. Now I'm here, you know, Paul preached about, Paul preached about how faith is right, it's at the forefront It's at the forefront. It's not only, Mac, how I start.

It's gotta be how I live in this world, for I'm crucified with Christ. Nevertheless, I live. Yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. In the life that I now live, in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Faith is right there at the forefront, and as we will see later, faith and love, they're not two different things. They're like this. Faith and love.

If you're missing either one of them, The other part is nothing. If I got faith but not love, my faith is really nothing. If I got love, a lot of people got a lot of emotion, don't they? A lot of love, a lot of compassion, but they got no what belief of the truth. Faith, faith is energized by love. Don't have time to deal with that right now. Is there any difference? Can we tell the difference? You and I cannot. At best, the only way we can tell the difference is to watch and wait all the way to the end. And then we can't be sure. I just wonder, now this is not thus saith the Lord, I just wonder if the old thief on the cross, he evidently knew some things. You know, he had some Bible training, and you know what I mean, God training.

I just wonder if he'd made a good old Jewish profession way back years ago, and somebody said, white old boy's a goner, huh? He done turned from it, went to stealing and robbing and killing, huh? And what'd God do? He saved him, hanging right there on that tree. Now didn't he? And then others look, what about old Judas Iscariot? Now right there's one. He'd been preaching the gospel, he'd been casting out demons, huh? But the whole time, you couldn't see it. Couldn't see it. I don't even know if he knew it to start with. He had the devil in him.

Is that not what the book says? How do you tell the difference? You don't. but somebody can tell the difference. Somebody knows the difference. Listen to God's holy word, 2 Timothy 2 verse 15. I realize this don't help us feel great and comfortable about ourselves and everybody else, but remember, it's all about faith. It's just about believing God, taking God at his word, trusting him. He that has begun a good work in me, if he really did, what's he gonna do? What's he gonna do? He gonna perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Yes or no? Even if I fall flat on my face and I fall from grace. Does that excuse me to fall from grace? No, sir. Somebody says, why does God suffer that to happen? Just to remind us what we really are. That apart from him, we'd abandon him. We'd be every category of apostasy. Okay, here it is, let me get to where I was at.

2 Timothy 2 verse 15, study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman. Now notice, you don't study so that you can show everybody else how approved you are, right? Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman, that doesn't mean you're a righteous person, you become really holy, really sanctified, but you know what God's book says. You care about reading and studying God's book.

Look, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing. Now, what divide does it mean? See, what we like to do, our flesh loves to bring it all together. There's some things you gotta leave, Matt, divided. Because they don't seem to fit together, but God knows about it. God knows how it fits together, but we will not, rightly dividing the word of truth, but shun profane and vain babblings, for they will increase unto more ungodliness, listen, and their word will eat, doth a canker, and we can maybe think of that in the sense of a cancer, Of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus, listen, who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already, and overthrow the faith of some. And what do we want to, were they really saved or not? Isn't that what we want to try to answer? The Nazareth does it. Doesn't answer it.

Nevertheless, the foundation of God stand assured, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his. If he be gonna give him work in you, he will not quit. He said, I will never, in the Greek, it's like I will never, never, never, ever, ever forsake you. But look, that's not all. It's not, well, the Lord knows, I'll just go do what I want. Is that what we're told to do? No. Nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal. The Lord knoweth them that are his, and that every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

Now, what's that let me know? I still got it, and I need to run from it. I'm still capable of it and I need to try to get away from it, right? Jackie, what that's telling me there? I'm still sinful. Don't give in to it. I'm still capable of everything I always was. Don't give over to it though. Don't give over to it though.

Aren't you glad somebody knows the difference? You see, God knows the difference between the wheat and the tar, even when it's just the wheat and the tar, right? He knows the difference, because who plants the wheat? The sole winner? Even the gospel preacher, who plants the wheat? God does. Who plants the tar? The enemy does. But God knows the difference. Aren't you glad somebody knows the difference?

And so it sounds like preacher you're saying I need to just give in to Jesus Christ. That's exactly what I'm trying to say. Just submit to him. Believe him. Rest in him. As much today if not more in the fact that you know more now. God's revealed much more about yourself and himself to you. And trust him just today as much or not more than you did when he initially opened your eyes. You remember that first when all of a sudden it dawned on you and you said, I believe in Christ, I rest in him. That needs to grow, not diminish, Mac. Right? That needs to grow, that's what it means to grow in grace. It doesn't say grow in graciousness, although I believe we should, but it says grow in grace. What is grace?

Unmerited favor from God. Because I never get good enough where I don't need his unmerited favor. And we'll deal with this more later, too, that even, I know some people, even here, have not understood this yet. Maybe not here this morning. I don't know your hearts, that our righteousnesses are as menses cloths in God's sight.

Because when we say, well, there wasn't nothing wrong with that. Really? But we're prone to think unrighteousness, menses cloth, is all immorality, right? Sexual perversion, right? No, our best deeds. Our best deeds. Sandy, I still ain't got a hold of that like I need to. That my best efforts are a menses cloth in God's sight. I forget that like that.

What about you? Is there any way to tell the difference? Not from our side, but not only that, not only does God know the difference, God will in his time manifest between the two. Look at our text. I didn't read that one, but we'll deal with it God willing more later on. Let's just go on.

Verse five, for we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. You're not gonna see what you really like to see right now. I'd like to see myself done with sin. I'd like to see myself not even begin to think the thoughts I think and then find myself carrying out or giving in to them thoughts.

But I do. That's the one thing that's impossible to do, is totally bar all the evil thoughts from your mind. Because we start to think good about ourselves, and that's just as evil as doing good, having other bad thoughts. You know? Look, for we through the spirit wait for the hope of righteousness, how? By faith.

For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision. So what's the truth? You don't have to be a law keeper. But that don't mean you're supposed to be a law breaker either. What that says, that's what he's talking about there. It ain't, well, since I'm free, I'll just break the law. You will. You will. Every day you wake, when you sleep and you have dreams, you break God's law. I do too. Hmm? Look. But faith, which is energized by love, that's what matters. You see, now look, ye did run well.

Who did hinder you? And as Earl told us years ago, somebody throwed a body block on you. You were running, and that linebacker come out and just knocked you plum off course. And it can happen to us. Let no man, any man thinks he stands, take heed. God'll send you a body blocker. He'll send you a body blocker. You did run well, who did hinder you that you should not obey the truth?

This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you a little leaven. Leaveneth the whole lump. So how does it start? A little leaven, or like that. Now it'll grow. Before what I said, I'm not saying that this falling from grace won't grow. But all it takes is a little leaven. What happens? It'll leaven the whole lump. Sounds pretty depressing, don't it? If I find myself falling from grace, don't it? Maybe even frightening Because am I an apostate? Huh? Am I an apostate and not just a fallen believer? Look! Look!

I have confidence in you But it didn't stop, did he? Through the Lord If you're, what's he saying? If you're one of God's, he will not let you go. He may let you fall miserably, but he will not let you go. I have confidence in you through the Lord that ye will be none otherwise, and how does it start?

It's not all just about this. It starts where? Where does the falling away start? Up here in the mind. We start thinking the wrong thing. And it don't have to be immorality. It might be my own righteousness. My own tithing. My own not stealing. Huh? Look at it. I have confidence in you through the Lord that you will be unmind otherwise minded.

But he that troubleth you, these are the apostates. Remember these, even the preachers who had come to Galatia professed to believe in the free reign and grace of God. They did not deny the authority of Jesus Christ. They said, but you just need circumcision. But why did they give just that one? Because they knew once I get them hooked on that, it's easier to give them this other one too. Next thing you know, you got a group of followers. People following them rather than following Jesus Christ. People trusting them for proper instruction rather than trusting Christ and his spirit and the word of God. But he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. God knows the difference, and God will show the difference.

But you know what? He doesn't have to show it to me. Now I'll just give you a little bit here. I know we have the table to take, but I don't want to rush through this last little bit. And this is kind of in line with what I'm talking about. I'm talking about flesh. Our flesh is so maniacal because it can put on a good show. We often think of flesh as the really base, nasty, immoral things, but it can be right there in the high church, right there with all the scripture readings and the psalm singings and the prayers being prayed and the compassion being showed and the hugs and the handshake, right? That could be flesh too. And I often think, God, of what value is this? At one time, all these seats were filled. Had all kinds of people that seemed to care. Now, most of them had died, but not all of them. Some of them had just turned their backs and walked out of here.

And if you ever wondered, what's this for? But I can tell you this, just these little, God give you this little glimpse every once in a while. I've had so many people that'll call me or text me or email me, whatever it might be, or a combination of the three or whatever it might be, and we'll just talk and talk and next thing you know, they just quit. You don't hear from, unless you always make the effort, you just, eventually they just quit. Okay?

And you wonder, what's it all for? Is it really benefiting anybody? It's benefiting me. My being here and hearing Joe and Paul preach, it benefits me. I know you don't have to raise your hand, but I ask, is it benefiting you? Then it's worth keeping on, ain't it? Hmm? It's worth keeping on.

But I tell you, God gives you little glimpses here and there of somebody that is benefiting way out there somewhere. Like I told you about the guy that texted me from California and just said, tell Joe how much I appreciate that message, huh? And I know this, I don't mean this the wrong way, but Jack, it helps put a little pep in your step, if you know what I mean. It encourages you, because you get discouraged.

Ain't nobody here or nothing. Yeah, they are. Now, why did I say all that for? Why did I pour out my heart to you in that form? God sees. He don't have to show me what he's doing. He don't have to show me what he's doing. It ain't about me being happy about it. It's him being honored and magnified in the declaration of the person of his son and he'll save his people to the praise, it says it over and over, Paul did in Ephesians one, to the praise of the glory of his grace. He gets the glory.

And one day, I just kind of, this is just, again, I thought one day back, I think we'll just get the glory and say, looky there, see what I was doing through you? See what I was doing in you? Jack, we don't see much right now, do we? Folks, our country's falling apart. I mean, I've been listening to some messages I've got by Earl, and Earl was just hammering away on things, and I'm on this end of it now, I'm thinking, Earl, you probably, he did, he, I don't even have, with what they're doing now? What they allow now? It was going, no, I won't go into that. Folks, in our lifetime, things could get a whole lot worse. You know that? A whole lot worse.

But God knows the difference. Now I gotta sum this up. God, as I said, God at his time will manifest the difference. Now listen to this, this is for some right now comfort for me and you. Anybody who's hearing me out there later and you're just perplexed by this, it troubles you, this whole subject just troubles you, I hope it does trouble us a little.

We need to have our boat shaken every once in a while, you know? We need to have our world rocked as we say. You know, we need to have our own confidence, because it's usually in us. We need to have that rocked to its core. But listen to this hope. Hebrews chapter 10, if you wanna turn to it, but I'm gonna start reading. Verse 35, cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. Now I know some people teach that when you get to heaven, you'll get all, it's talking about now. Now. Okay? Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompensive reward.

For ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Don't think, well, God's just waiting till the last one comes in. No, God's bringing the last one in, and when he brings the last one in, he can wind it up, Mac.

Let us remember all of those that God has snatched from us that we loved. This place was full of people, people that we now have reason to believe, they believe God. They died in faith. Now we miss him, yeah, we miss him. But God blessed him. But he's wise in leaving us behind. He's got his reason, okay?

Look, for yet a little while, and he that shall come will come and will not carry. Now the just shall live. How do you even live? Not just start, not just finish, but how do you live? Right? Now the just shall live by faith. Don't ever grow above that. I know it seems simplistic, and it is to the flesh, but it's a glory. Think of what faith is. It's a little, can I put it this way? It's a little piece of God that he put in us. A piece of his holy, righteous character, faith.

Now the just shall live by faith, but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back, but see it unto perdition. There will be times when you're thinking, I've drawn back. Yeah, you may have drawn back, but bless God, if you're one of his, you will not draw back unto utter ruin.

Is God not making the difference there? Huh? And that's a little bit for us to not see, but just believe. It's all about believing. Because as we'll see, God help me, I gotta, as we'll see, for we, through the Spirit, wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. Because right now, I don't see it. I see some faith in you. You see some faith in me. The question is, is it real? Huh? Will I hold out? Will I endure to the end? Will I? Or will I go into apostasy? The only answer to that is what?

Just believe, just keep on believing God. That's where it's at, look. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition, but of them that what? What's it still say? Believe Like Tim James said, it's okay to just believe God. It's a good thing. It's the only good thing we've ever done, but it takes God working in us, both the will and the doom, it's good pleasure. But we're not of them that draw back into perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. My brothers and sisters, I'm telling you, I wish I had the language, it would make it more applicable to us, but I don't. It's okay to just believe God.

That's the manifestation of his grace in your soul, huh? It is, Heavenly Father. Lord, we thank you for your truth over this clay pots that stammer and stutter. Lord, apply your truth to our hearts, feed us. Lord, cause us to grow. but to grow in that way that honors you and gives you the praise and honor. Lord, as we partake of this table, may it truly be that all of us here this day, as we partake of this bread and this wine, that we do so in the remembrance of your son. For it's in his name we ask, amen.

Fallen From Grace

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about falling from grace?

How do we know the doctrine of grace is true?

Why is understanding justification by faith important for Christians?

What does it mean to seek justification by the law?

Can a true believer fall away from grace?

Sermon Transcript

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Fallen From Grace

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about falling from grace?

How do we know the doctrine of grace is true?

Why is understanding justification by faith important for Christians?

What does it mean to seek justification by the law?

Can a true believer fall away from grace?

Sermon Transcript

Comments

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