Eternal Security

[Doug Brents]

Well, thats it, Christ fulfilled all the conditions, the Heirs receive the Inheritance, which is the eternal inheritance Heb 9:15


And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

Bright, I have earned a thousand dollars, and it is a gift to you. If you come to Atlanta, GA in the next 5 hours you can spend it any way you like.

Now, I have fulfilled all the conditions for you to own this money: I have earned it, I have designated it as yours, and it is ready for you. But you do not have possession of it, and will not unless you meet the conditions I have set for you to receive it. This is the position you are in with God. He has paid for your salvation and designated it for you. But you have not received it until you obey Him. This comes directly from Scripture, and is my last word on this subject with you.

 

[Maurice]

Dictionaries define “eternal” as “without beginning or end”; “everlasting”; “timeless”; and “forever the same; always true or valid; unchangeable.

”If the purposes of God in salvation have been established from eternity, nothing in time can thwart them because time itself is foreign to eternity. To state the obvious, whatever is established in eternity for eternity is established forever.Scripture tells us that the believer is, or will be, the possessor of a number of things to which the word “eternal” is added.

I would like to list a few Scriptures, that the believer can look forward to as an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.

This shows us the eternal purpose of God:
For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!] 2 Corinthians 4:17

Here we have a vision of eternal comfort:
This is in accordance with the terms of the eternal and timeless purpose which He has realized and carried into effect in [the person of] Christ Jesus our Lord Ephesians 3:11


Then we have eternal redemption that has been given to us:
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, Who loved us and gave us everlasting consolation and encouragement and well-founded hope through [His] grace (unmerited favor) 2 Thessalonians 2:16

We are called by God to eternal glory
He went once for all into the [Holy of] Holies [of heaven], not by virtue of the blood of goats and calves [by which to make reconciliation between God and man], but His own blood, having found and secured a complete redemption (an everlasting release for us). Hebrews 9:12

The Scriptures repeatedly employ the term “eternal life” in reference to the believer. But this is much more than merely having eternal existence. Eternal life refers not only to the duration but to the quality of an eternal existence. Consider again the meaning of “eternal.” Words lose all meaning if eternal does not mean eternal. Why would God have used the term “eternal” if He meant something that is, quite literally, infinitely less than that?

Eternal nullifies all time, and thus if at any point one can be said to possess eternal life, by definition this life cannot be less than eternal. In other words, it cannot be temporal. Again, time has no meaning compared to eternity. Trillions of computers could multiply trillions of years trillions of times multiplied to the trillion trillionth power a trillion times over and the surface of eternity would not even be slightly impacted. Eternity wouldn’t be affected at all.

The one who possesses eternal life, therefore, can never be lost, or else he could never have possessed eternal life to begin with. If God had intended to convey the idea that a believer could never be lost, He could not have spoken in clearer terms than to use the term eternal. If He had intended to convey the idea that a believer could be lost, He would never have spoken of eternal life as a present possession.

We are eternally secure as Believers in Jesus Christ.

 

[Doug Brents]

Also limited to the called, not merely an outward call either, but the inward effectual call by the Spirit, thats particularly who the Heirs are, so this speaks to election and limited particular redemption Heb 9:15

And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

They which are called is preceded by the definite article emphasis on particular people chosen people, this inheritance is certain and sure to the seed.

You seem to be so steeped in the false doctrine and interpretation of Calvinism that you cannot see or accept what Scripture says. I understand what you are saying about the elect, and know how you get there, but Calvin's interpretation does not conform to all the passages of Scripture on the subject. As such, there are massive holes in his doctrine that render it unbiblical and false. Please, take a step back from what some ministers teach, what you learned at school, or wherever it is that you got your training on Calvin's doctrine, and take Scripture at the Holy Spirit's word. That is the last and only authority on any Biblical subject.

 

[Rockson]

Dictionaries define “eternal” as “without beginning or end”; “everlasting”; “timeless”; and “forever the same; always true or valid; unchangeable.

I have no problem with that. Aren't you forgetting something though. Eternal Life isn't just a thing but a person. It's Jesus himself.

For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto usThat which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 1 JN 1:1,2

Eternal Life....is Jesus .But the gift of eternal life comes from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ its Giver, and that must be continuous and ongoing. Let's put it this way....what did ETERNAL LIFE say? You do know ETERNAL LIFE speaks? Let's hear it or better put let HIM speak,

"Remain in Me, (oh so we can leave eternal life? Seems so) Remain in me and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me,(that is remains in eternal life) the one who remains in me and I in him, will bear much fruit.

For apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned.(so the end result of one who doesn't remain in eternal life) 7If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, proving yourselves to be My disciples." John 15

 

[makesends]

I'd say therefore that you reached a wrong conclusion and I commend you for acknowledging that your point of view may be way out of line.

That's mere assertion. Your "therefore" does not have a precedent explanation. Maybe you can show your reasoning for saying I reached a wrong conclusion?

 

[brightfame52]

Bright, I have earned a thousand dollars, and it is a gift to you. If you come to Atlanta, GA in the next 5 hours you can spend it any way you like.

Now, I have fulfilled all the conditions for you to own this money: I have earned it, I have designated it as yours, and it is ready for you. But you do not have possession of it, and will not unless you meet the conditions I have set for you to receive it. This is the position you are in with God. He has paid for your salvation and designated it for you. But you have not received it until you obey Him. This comes directly from Scripture, and is my last word on this subject with you.

Christ has kept all conditions, so that the heirs come into possession of the inheritance. Christ is the rightful heir and believers were co heirs Rom 8:17

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

 

[brightfame52]

You seem to be so steeped in the false doctrine and interpretation of Calvinism that you cannot see or accept what Scripture says. I understand what you are saying about the elect, and know how you get there, but Calvin's interpretation does not conform to all the passages of Scripture on the subject. As such, there are massive holes in his doctrine that render it unbiblical and false. Please, take a step back from what some ministers teach, what you learned at school, or wherever it is that you got your training on Calvin's doctrine, and take Scripture at the Holy Spirit's word. That is the last and only authority on any Biblical subject.

Only the chosen in Christ are heirs and come into possession of the eternal inheritance Eph 1:4,14

4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

See the us in Vs 4 the chosen are the our in Vs 14 the heirs who gain an inheritance.

This has been purposed and certain from eternity to eternity !

 

[dwight92070]

Salvation in the Bible is not just a one-time event. Being born again, or being justified by faith, is the "door" into salvation, but the Bible tells us that, after we enter the door of justification, we need sanctification and transformation into the image of Christ.

Salvation is not just a ticket that guarantees that you're going to heaven when you die. Salvation occurs over our entire lifetime as we "work out our salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." But the entire teaching of the New Testament makes it clear that His will cannot be done in our lives, unless WE are willing - over the period of our entire lives. Jesus told us to pray that His will would be done in our lives. If we don't want His will, then we are free to NOT pray for that.

Yes, we do have a part to play in our salvation - NOT our justification - only Christ did that, yet even there we HAD TO BE WILLING TO BE JUSTIFIED. God did not justify us apart from our free will. But now that we are "in the door" we are given MANY instructions and commandments. We are commanded to ABIDE IN JESUS, the VINE, to bear much fruit. We are commanded to KEEP the faith. We are commanded to CONTINUE IN THE FAITH. We are to OBEY HIS COMMANDMENTS. We are commanded to DO GOOD DEEDS OR GOOD WORKS. There are grave warnings if we choose to disobey His commands.

Did you know that Biblical salvation INCLUDES GOOD WORKS OR GOOD DEEDS? James and Paul both said that if your faith is not producing good works, then your faith is dead - it's of NO VALUE. We didn't enter into the door of salvation by good works, but now that we're in Christ, we are to be zealous to practice good deeds. Titus 2:14

Can a saved person become unsaved? Well, can a married person become unmarried?

Paul said: " ... for I betrothed you to one husband, so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin. But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ."

We are called the Bride of Christ. He is our husband. A bride must remain faithful to her husband until she dies, to stay married. Christ, our husband, will NEVER be unfaithful to us. So the question is: Will we remain faithful to Him until we die? If not, we're no longer married to Him.

How many sins do we have to commit to nullify our marriage or our salvation? He is gracious and willing to forgive - 1 John 1:9. But if we get to the point where we totally reject our Husband, Jesus, then our marriage/salvation is over. "If we deny Him, He also will deny us." (2 Timothy 2:12) Peter said that we are to live "in fear" of God:

1 Peter 1:17 If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one's work, CONDUCT YOURSELVES IN FEAR during the time of your stay on earth.

Just as we must be vigilant to keep our spouse and our marriage until death, so we must be vigilant to keep our Lord Jesus and our salvation until death.

 

[Doug Brents]

Christ has kept all conditions, so that the heirs come into possession of the inheritance. Christ is the rightful heir and believers were co heirs Rom 8:17

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Indeed, IF we are children of God. Yet, how do we become children of God?
John 1:9-13 says, "This was the true Light that, coming into the world, enlightens every person. 10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through Him, and yet the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own people did not accept Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of a man, but of God."
Notice that it is to those who receive Jesus that He gives the right to become children of God. Even though Jesus made everyone, not everyone is God's child. Yet, what is the condition and what is the result? It does not say that His children will believe in Him, but that those who believe in Him will become His children. These that believe will be born of God.

So IF we become children of God, then we will be joint heirs with Christ, and we become children of God because we believe (not just mental assent, but the exhibition of faith).

Now, the debate that rages around the world is whether we believe because He chose us to believe, or if He chose us because we believe. Both wordings are in Scripture, but from our perspective it is a moot point:
If we do not demonstrate our belief through obedience to Christ, then we are lost and will spend eternity in Hell.
If we do demonstrate our belief through obedience to Christ, then we will be saved and spend eternity in Heaven.
It then is the responsibility of all who believe to preach the Word as if it makes a difference to the listener if he responds or not. Because if he responds then he will be saved.

 

[Handaan]

I believe you may fall from grace and into error, but you will never fall from salvation. That is for certain. How do I know? For one thing, the same man who warned one group against falling from grace assured another group of the unalterability of their salvation. Paul tells it like it is.

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37–39

I don’t think Paul left anything out. If you have put your faith in Christ as your Savior, NOTHING can separate you from the love of Christ. And you can’t get more secure than that!

 

[dwight92070]

I believe you may fall from grace and into error, but you will never fall from salvation. That is for certain. How do I know? For one thing, the same man who warned one group against falling from grace assured another group of the unalterability of their salvation. Paul tells it like it is.

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37–39

I don’t think Paul left anything out. If you have put your faith in Christ as your Savior, NOTHING can separate you from the love of Christ. And you can’t get more secure than that!

So if you put your faith in Christ, you no longer have the free will to later reject Him??

 

[Handaan]

So if you put your faith in Christ, you no longer have the free will to later reject Him??

Who in their right mind would do that? I guess if you were really being deceived by Satan you could try to reject him. But I think he would restore you to sanity. He's not going to let Satan steal one of his kids.

 

[Doug Brents]

I believe you may fall from grace and into error, but you will never fall from salvation. That is for certain. How do I know? For one thing, the same man who warned one group against falling from grace assured another group of the unalterability of their salvation. Paul tells it like it is.

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37–39

I don’t think Paul left anything out. If you have put your faith in Christ as your Savior, NOTHING can separate you from the love of Christ. And you can’t get more secure than that!

Did God not love us even when we were still sinners (Rom 5:8)? The love of God is not synonymous with salvation.

And is salvation not grace? If you fall from grace, you are by definition fallen from salvation.

 

[Azriel]

How do you like your salvation? Secure, Not Shaken.

https://berean-apologetics.community.forum/threads/two-minutes-in-the-bible-through-psalms.230/post-9766

 

[dwight92070]

Who in their right mind would do that? I guess if you were really being deceived by Satan you could try to reject him. But I think he would restore you to sanity. He's not going to let Satan steal one of his kids.

In a real sense, EVERY UNBELIEVER is not in their right mind. How much more so for one who knew Jesus and then turned away from Him? MANY have done that!

"But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons ..."
1 Timothy 4:1

"For if, AFTER THEY HAVE ESCAPED FROM the defilements of the world, by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, THAN HAVING KNOWN IT, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them. It HAS HAPPENED TO THEM according to the true proverb, 'A dog returns to its own vomit,' and, 'A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire." 2 Peter 2:20-22

So once again the Bible removes all speculation as to whether you can lose your salvation or not. RIGHT HERE IN PETER, HE TELLS US THAT IT CAN AND DOES HAPPEN.

So when anybody says it can't happen, they are MISTAKEN - plain and simple. We MUST go by what the Bible says, not by people who contradict the Bible.

NOBODY is taking pleasure in the fact that people can lose their salvation. On the contrary, we, like Peter and Paul, try to warn people: "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall." 1 Corinthians 10:12

If anyone thinks that they cannot lose their salvation, they are in a very dangerous place spiritually.

 

[Azriel]

Did God not love us even when we were still sinners (Rom 5:8)? The love of God is not synonymous with salvation.

And is salvation not grace? If you fall from grace, you are by definition fallen from salvation.

Falling from Grace is a warning passage from Paul In Galatians 5:6 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.

It means you are cut off from Christ if you put yourself back under the law. But it doesn't mean you have to stay there, or even go there. That's why it's called a warning passage.

For many people “falling from grace” is synonymous with losing salvation. This perception is unfortunate and misleading. Equally unfortunate is that the majority of people I talk to about “falling from grace” have no idea where the phrase came from or to what it originally referred. In most cases they aren’t even sure where they first heard it. “Doesn’t the Bible say you can fall from grace?” Is what I usually hear.

To compound the problem, these three words have become a common expression for losing favor with someone. All of this together has resulted in a great deal of confusion over this phrase, which appears only once in the New Testament and was never intended to be lifted from the text as a theological maxim. To understand this highly misunderstood expression, one must study out its one and only context.

The book of Galatians finds Paul defending himself and the gospel of Christ from a group of “teachers” who arrived in Galatia sometime after he left. The group, commonly referred to as the Judaizers, proclaimed a gospel different from Paul’s. Yet it was similar to the apostle’s teaching in enough ways to confuse the Christians in Galatia.

The group believed and taught that salvation was found through having faith in Christ along with keeping portions of the law. Their distorted gospel centered on the importance of circumcision. Paul’s letter indicates that the Judaizers were successful in persuading some gentile believers to be circumcised to ensure their salvation.

I know it's hard to believe but there are still Judaizers around today preaching a different gospel.

 

[Azriel]

In a real sense, EVERY UNBELIEVER is not in their right mind. How much more so for one who knew Jesus and then turned away from Him? MANY have done that!

"But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons ..."
1 Timothy 4:1

"For if, AFTER THEY HAVE ESCAPED FROM the defilements of the world, by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, THAN HAVING KNOWN IT, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them. It HAS HAPPENED TO THEM according to the true proverb, 'A dog returns to its own vomit,' and, 'A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire." 2 Peter 2:20-22

So once again the Bible removes all speculation as to whether you can lose your salvation or not. RIGHT HERE IN PETER, HE TELLS US THAT IT CAN AND DOES HAPPEN.

So when anybody says it can't happen, they are MISTAKEN - plain and simple. We MUST go by what the Bible says, not by people who contradict the Bible.

NOBODY is taking pleasure in the fact that people can lose their salvation. On the contrary, we, like Peter and Paul, try to warn people: "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall." 1 Corinthians 10:12

If anyone thinks that they cannot lose their salvation, they are in a very dangerous place spiritually.

No they're just saved and they know it. Some people just don't know how saved they are.

 

[Aeliana]

No they're just saved and they know it. Some people just don't know how saved they are.

First, there is scriptural evidence that all true Christians Are eternally secure. In John 6:38–40, Jesus says: “I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

Here Jesus says that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. He says that he will raise that person up at the last day, giving that person eternal life with him. Moreover, Jesus says it is God’s will that he “lose nothing” of all God has given him. It's called salvation, that's what I'm talking about.

Jesus makes a similar promise in John 10:27–29: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”

In John 10:28 specifically, Jesus says two things about his followers. First, he says, “no one will snatch them out of my hand.” Second, he says, “they will never perish.” These phrases, taken together, drive home the wonderful promise that those to whom Jesus gives eternal life will never lose that life.

These are just two of the promises given by Jesus regarding eternal security. From these two passages, it seems clear that Jesus understood that those who received eternal life from him would keep that eternal life for all eternity.

 

[Doug Brents]

Falling from Grace is a warning passage from Paul In Galatians 5:6 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.

It means you are cut off from Christ if you put yourself back under the law. But it doesn't mean you have to stay there, or even go there. That's why it's called a warning passage.

Gal 5:6 is just one of the many passages (I will list more below) that speak of losing our salvation. This one tells that if we seek to put ourselves back under the Old Covenant and subject to the Law of Moses then we are cut off from Christ and lose the salvation that we had when we were in Christ.

I agree that we do not have to stay there, but if we do (as some argue that we are on this site) then we are cut off from God's grace and have lost our salvation.

For many people “falling from grace” is synonymous with losing salvation. This perception is unfortunate and misleading. Equally unfortunate is that the majority of people I talk to about “falling from grace” have no idea where the phrase came from or to what it originally referred. In most cases they aren’t even sure where they first heard it. “Doesn’t the Bible say you can fall from grace?” Is what I usually hear.

I agree that people should not use terminology that they do not understand, and they should study the Word to know what it says. I have never been good at remembering book, chapter, and verse, but I do remember what Scripture says, so I can quickly look up the reference for the subject I am discussing. But you are correct that many people do not study the Word for themselves.

To compound the problem, these three words have become a common expression for losing favor with someone. All of this together has resulted in a great deal of confusion over this phrase, which appears only once in the New Testament and was never intended to be lifted from the text as a theological maxim. To understand this highly misunderstood expression, one must study out its one and only context.

The book of Galatians finds Paul defending himself and the gospel of Christ from a group of “teachers” who arrived in Galatia sometime after he left. The group, commonly referred to as the Judaizers, proclaimed a gospel different from Paul’s. Yet it was similar to the apostle’s teaching in enough ways to confuse the Christians in Galatia.

The group believed and taught that salvation was found through having faith in Christ along with keeping portions of the law. Their distorted gospel centered on the importance of circumcision. Paul’s letter indicates that the Judaizers were successful in persuading some gentile believers to be circumcised to ensure their salvation.

I know it's hard to believe but there are still Judaizers around today preaching a different gospel.

You are correct in your evaluation of who, what, and why Paul was addressing the congregation in Galatia. And if this were the only Scripture that speaks of losing salvation, then I could agree with you that we could not lose our salvation.

However, there are many other passages that point to losing the salvation that is in Christ.
Heb 6:4-6 - Clearly those "who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit" are saved. And the point Paul makes is that if someone falls away they cannot be restored to repentance.
2 Pet 2:20 - Again, "after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" is clearly indicative of those who have been saved. Yet if they are entangled and overcome again in sin, then they are worse off than if they had never been saved in the first place.
2 Tim 2:11-12 - Paul tells Timothy, "The statement is trustworthy: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He will also deny us." If we endure then we will reign. If we (the Church) deny Him, then He will deny us.
James 5:19-20 - "My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you strays from the truth and someone turns him back, let him know that the one who has turned a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins." Anyone among you (the saved in the Church) who strays from the truth will be lost if he is not turned back to the Way by someone willing to speak truth into his life and bring him back. That person saves a soul (would have been lost).
Rom 11:22 - "See then the kindness and severity of God: to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; for otherwise you too will be cut off." Once someone has been grafted in (saved), he must continue in belief and obedience to God or he can and will be cut off from salvation again.

These are just a few, and there are many others, but these clearly show that salvation can be lost if we do not continue in Christ.

 

[dwight92070]

Falling from Grace is a warning passage from Paul In Galatians 5:6 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.

It means you are cut off from Christ if you put yourself back under the law. But it doesn't mean you have to stay there, or even go there. That's why it's called a warning passage.

For many people “falling from grace” is synonymous with losing salvation. This perception is unfortunate and misleading. Equally unfortunate is that the majority of people I talk to about “falling from grace” have no idea where the phrase came from or to what it originally referred. In most cases they aren’t even sure where they first heard it. “Doesn’t the Bible say you can fall from grace?” Is what I usually hear.

To compound the problem, these three words have become a common expression for losing favor with someone. All of this together has resulted in a great deal of confusion over this phrase, which appears only once in the New Testament and was never intended to be lifted from the text as a theological maxim. To understand this highly misunderstood expression, one must study out its one and only context.

The book of Galatians finds Paul defending himself and the gospel of Christ from a group of “teachers” who arrived in Galatia sometime after he left. The group, commonly referred to as the Judaizers, proclaimed a gospel different from Paul’s. Yet it was similar to the apostle’s teaching in enough ways to confuse the Christians in Galatia.

The group believed and taught that salvation was found through having faith in Christ along with keeping portions of the law. Their distorted gospel centered on the importance of circumcision. Paul’s letter indicates that the Judaizers were successful in persuading some gentile believers to be circumcised to ensure their salvation.

I know it's hard to believe but there are still Judaizers around today preaching a different gospel.

"Fallen from grace" DOES MEAN LOSING THEIR SALVATION. You can't fall away from something that you don't possess to begin with. In fact, the TRUE MEANING of Galatians 5:4 (Azriel said verse 6, but it's actually verse 4) is IN THE VERSE ITSELF.

"You have been SEVERED FROM CHRIST, YOU WHO ARE SEEKING TO BE JUSTIFIED BY LAW; YOU HAVE FALLEN FROM GRACE." Fallen from grace means you have been cut off from Christ, you have lost your salvation, if you are trusting Christ PLUS CIRCUMCISION to be saved. I agree with Azriel that these Judaizers were preaching that, UNLESS YOU ARE CIRCUMCISED, IN ADDITION TO YOUR FAITH IN JESUS, YOU CANNOT BE SAVED.

Paul had to "nip this in the bud" IMMEDIATELY, lest they FOREVER TWIST THE TRUTH OF SALVATION THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST ALONE. In fact, Paul turned the tables on the Judaizers, TELLING THEM THAT THEY CANNOT KEEP THEIR SALVATION IN CHRIST, IF THEY BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE TO ADD CIRCUMCISION TO THEIR BELIEF, in order to be saved.