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Can A Child of God Fall from Grace? Tim Smelser Grace may be defined as, “one’s favor, food standing; to have favorable regard for.” The expression “fall from grace” then would have reference to no longer being in one’s favor or no longer being in good standing. Some men teach that where our relationship with God is concerned, it is impossible to fall from His grace so as to be eternally lost. Others teach that one can fall from God’s good favor, and when this happens, recognition and repentance is required. What does the Bible say? In Galatians 5:2-4 Paul specifically rebuked the Christians he was addressing for trying to bind circumcision on the Gentiles as a necessary step to salvation. He spoke of their condition writing, “You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you are fallen away from grace.” In Acts 8, a sorcerer from the city of Samaria named Simon was baptized by Phillip but then sinned in his attempt to purchase from Peter and John the ability to impart spiritual gifts. He was told by Peter, “Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray the Lord, if perhaps the thought of they heart shall be forgiven thee” (8:22). In 2 Peter 2:20-22, Peter warned Christians not to turn back into the world of sin from which they had been saved. “For if after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the last state is become worse than the first.” The Bible clearly teaches that we can conduct ourselves in such a manner, violating God’s law, so that we are no longer in a right relationship with Him. He still loves us and desires for us to repent and come back to Him, but while we remain in that estranged condition His grace does not annul our disobedience. Let us take heed that we do not fall away and turn back into sin. |
