CUT OFF FROM CHRIST

CUT OFF FROM CHRIST?

Gal. 5:4 For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace.  NLT

       Reread this verse.  Do you see what I see?  Paul makes a very bold statement.  If we are trying to make ourselves right with God by keeping the law, we are not connected to Christ.  If we are relying on what we can do to be right with Christ, we are not His.  Our salvation depends solely on the work of Christ in us.  HE saves us and keeps us.  There is nothing we can do to make it to heaven on our own.  Our good deeds are the result of our being saved, not the cause of it. 

      Paul goes on to suggest that when we begin to think that it’s about our efforts, we have fallen away from grace.  Now, you can’t fall away from something you never had.  So, we as believers must be very careful about this.  We rob Christ of His glory when we assume credit for what He has done.  How far away from grace can we fall before we no longer are in grace?  I will let others debate that issue.

       If we properly understand that the work of God in us is accomplished through Christ alone, we will never have to worry about our standing with God.  Any relationship with God we have depends on Christ alone.  He alone is the giver and keeper of our salvation. 

      Examine your soul faithfully that you might not rob Christ of His glory in you. You will not fall from His grace if you see yourself as you really are in Christ and put your confidence and trust in Him for your salvation and righteousness.