You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.

                                                                                                            Galatians 5:4

Holding onto the old covenant means that we must forfeit our rights to the new covenant. For many, the Christian life is to believe in Jesus but also to adhere to everything in the Law as well. Today’s passage should assist us in understanding that the two covenants, while both from God, are not compatible. Trying to be justified by law consequently severs us from Christ.

Not to be gross, but consider what it means for a part of our body to be severed from the rest. A severed limb (without immediate medical attention) would cease to be a part of our body. The detached limb, having no viable way to continue blood flow, would very quickly die and become useless. In the same way, our spiritual life begins to die when we replace the cross of Jesus with a focus on our own behavior. This is what Paul is describing of the one who thinks that they will be justified before God through works of the law. To take this approach to the Christian life is not only an offense to the cross of Jesus but will literally deprive the gospel of any force, influence, or power in one’s life. Effectively, we cannot partake in salvation through faith and works at the same time. We must choose.

Paul also refers to this reality, of choosing works as a means of gaining God’s approval, as falling from grace. Grace is the word charis and implies goodwill, love, kindness, and favor, all things displayed by God in His giving of Jesus for the sins of mankind. Grace, by definition, involves joy, pleasure, and delight. To approach spiritual life with the focus on one’s works is to forfeit the tremendous joy, peace, and freedom that come from God’s grace.

Paul reinforces his argument by reminding the Galatian believers that participation in circumcision (a staple of Jewish doctrine) would make Christ “of no benefit for them” (v 2). And the problem was not just circumcision, but all of the other “requirements” that would be placed on them if they gave in to the demand of circumcision. Introducing one legal requirement is a slippery slope descending into a complicated, legalistic system. In essence, Paul says that they would “be required to keep the whole Law” (v 3). When we take a legalistic approach to our Christian life, we place ourselves under the Law making in imperative to keep all of its statutes.

So what characterizes an authentic Christian life? A born again believer in Jesus lives by God’s Spirit. As we exercise our faith, we release the power of God in our lives, giving us everything we need to have an abundant, victorious life in Christ. Paul reminds us that God is looking for authentic faith working itself out in love for others (v 6). We would all do well to review what is really important to God and we can do that by studying the truth found in the Bible. Let’s embrace the grace of God through faith in Jesus and live a life of love and victory in Him!