Gal.5:4 (no effect?)

From a message by a Curious Questioner--
>CQ> Subject: Salvation

>>CQ2> of Christ. If we reject this and try to attain salvation by our own works, then that grace is made cheap. I think that is what Gal. 5:4 is saying.

>CQ> To take this position is to ignore the context. Paul had written this to the church members; the ones already saved.

Being a worldly church member doesn't mean you are saved.

"If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?" (1Cor.14:23)

Throughout Paul's epistles you can find many verses aimed at people in churches that do not "obey the truth". The word of faith is written unto those who need faith, "O thou of little faith..."!

>CQ> His concern is that they were falling into the danger of going back to the Law, and not remaining in Christ.

Going back to the Law does NOT remove any man from Christ, but there is no power in the law itself to do anything except work death in you. The power of the gospel is by the grace of God in Christ.

"Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace." (Gal.5:4)

It is not a case of losing eternal salvation, but of the salvation in Christ having NO EFFECT in your daily walk because you follow fleshly things, instead of walking in the power of the Spirit.

When the Lord SAVED me from drowning, that became a past completed work that he can NOT change. The Lord saved me from eternal damnation when ALL my sins were put on him on the cross, and he said:

"It is finished."

Now, whether that past accomplished salvation has any EFFECT at this present point in time depends upon whether I follow the leading of the Spirit and obey the word of truth:

"Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Rom.6:11)

"For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." (Rom.6:14)

"For he that is dead is freed from sin." (Rom.6:7) So simple!

"I die daily." - "I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."

Let no man deceive himself. Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. Awake to righteousness and sin not. Grace be to them that receive the love of the truth. Amen. --Richard