Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

⁴ You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law;  you have fallen from grace.

⁵ For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness.

⁶ For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.”  Galatians 5:1-6.

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We can’t have one foot standing on grace with the other foot standing on the Law, thereby depending on the Law to hold us up if grace does not hold us up.  We can’t buy a little “fire insurance” from the Law.  “And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law.  You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law;  you have fallen from grace.”  Verses 3 and 4.  

When we wholly, or even just partly, seek to be justified by the Law, we are not under grace, but we are under the Law.  “For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse;  for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM.”  Galatians 3:10. 

In a riveting chapter, Hebrews Chapter 10 compares the Law with Christ.  Click here: Hebrews 10 NASB – One Sacrifice of Christ Is Sufficient – Bible Gateway

Hebrews Chapter 10 first describes the inability of the Law to make us perfect.  “For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near.”  Hebrews 10:1.

Hebrews Chapter 10 then describes the perfect sacrifice of Christ.  “For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.  And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us;  for after saying,

“THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM
AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD:
I WILL PUT MY LAWS UPON THEIR HEART,
AND ON THEIR MIND I WILL WRITE THEM,”

He then says,

“AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS
I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE.”

Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.”  Hebrews 10:14-18. 

For those who continue to trust the Law, there is  “… a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES.  Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.  How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?  For we know Him who said, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.” And again, “THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.”  It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”  Hebrews 10:27-31. 

In conclusion, we are almost at the end of the Book of Galatians.  Throughout the Book of Galatians, Paul has been pounding the table on the contrast between the Law and grace (through faith in Christ).  Now, in today’s Scripture near the end of the Book of Galatians, he gives this sharp warning.  “You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law;  you have fallen from grace.”  Verse 4.  We see a similar sharp warning in Hebrews Chapter 10.  But, we are not among those who even partially rely on the Law.  “For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness.  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.”  Verses 5 and 6.