(Galatians 5:4). We may be asked, What about falling from grace? This is a much misunderstood passage of Scripture, not because it is difficult of understanding if carefully considered, but because those who believe in the possibility of a true child of God perishing forever, twist this Scripture in the vain attempt to prove their theory. Many think that falling from grace means a good Christian falling into sinful ways. For instance that prize fighter, who got soundly converted to God, and who went on well and happily for a long time, one day got intoxicated, and in his drunken frenzy knocked a man down, and found himself within the four walls of a prison cell, ruefully lamenting that he had " fallen from grace." " Fallen from grace " really describes a believer, who failing in his apprehension of the grace of God as set forth in the Gospel, falls from that grace by descending to law-keeping in a mistaken effort to perfect himself in the flesh (Gal. 3:3). Thank God, however, he does not fall out of the grasp of God's grace.
"Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith." (Gal. 5:4, 5).
This sets forth the condition of true believers, who have been saved, and have received the gift of God's Holy Spirit, but who, listening to Judaizing teachers, were in danger of putting themselves under law in order to perfect their salvation. This was in effect the complete undermining of the gospel of the grace of God, which had been the means of their salvation. The Apostle Paul denounced in no unmeasured terms this snare of the devil, for Christianity and Judaism, law and grace, could no more mix than oil and water.
Listen to the solemn anathema, "Though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, LET HIM BE ACCURSED." (Gal. 1:8). And this anathema is twice repeated, showing how very serious the situation was, and how great was their danger in listening to these Judaizing teachers.
What About Enduring To The End?
Those, who fasten on Scriptures they think will support their teaching, that a true Christian can fall away and perish after all, generally do so in a haphazard way without the least attention to the context of the passage. The way this Scripture is twisted to suit this theory is a glaring example of this. We read, "He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." (Matt. 24:13).
Examine this Scripture, and you will see it does not describe the case of an individual believer, enduring to the end of his earthly pilgrimage, and thereby making sure of his salvation. It is here not a question of eternal salvation.
The careful reader will note that the Lord is giving instruction to godly Jews in view of a day still future, viz., the time of the great tribulation, such as will not have been since the beginning of the world (Matt. 24:21). The setting of the passage is placed in Palestine. The time, the Great Tribulation, which will not break forth till after the Church of God is raptured to the Father's house on high. (1 Cor. 15:52). The tribulation will be so severe and its onset so sudden, that one on the housetop may not enter his home to snatch a few necessities for his flight. One in the field must not return back to take his clothes. Flight, instant flight, would be their only chance of escape. This tribulation will be so severe that the love of many will wax cold. For this time of such terrible strain, the Lord exhorts them to endure to the end, and holds out the promise of salvation from their earthly perils. He tells them deliverance will come. The Lord will interfere at this juncture. He will come from Heaven followed by His celestial armies. Out of His mouth will proceed a sharp sword, whereby to smite the nations. This will take place at the great battle of Armageddon, as prophesied in Rev. 19:11-21, and mentioned by name in Rev. 16:16.