THE DOCTRINE OF "FALLING
FROM GRACE"A Bible presentation of the
proposition that "falling from
grace" is not only an indirect
denial of the whole Christian
faith, but also a basic false
doctrine of salvation by works.by Forrest L. Keener (CB)
It must seem strange at first to hear such a notion called
a doctrine. We, who know of the freeness and complete-
ness of God's grace, realize that it is more of a denial than
it is a statement of doctrine. However, when we consider
the fountainhead of religious opinion from which it springs,
we can immediately see that it is not only the denial of
one faith, but the statement of another. That faith is, of
course, that a man's salvation at some point or points,
depends not upon God's grace but upon man's conduct.
Let us take a moment to deal with the errors of this
doctrine and its propagators.IT SUGGESTS SALVATION Now, Paul says, "Therefore by the deeds of the law
THROUGH THE LAW
there shall no flesh be justified in his sight; for by the law
is the knowledge of sin" (Rom. 3:20). Almost everyone
who teaches ‘falling from grace’ will deny that he believes
anything contrary to this verse of Scripture. However, if
you question him as to how a man goes about ‘falling from
grace,’ he will lead you to some violation of the Law of
God every time. He, in fact, could not soberly do other-
wise, for the Scripture most clearly defines sin for us.
"...sin is the transgression of the law." (1 John 3:4) Please,
do not misunderstand me. I highly respect the perfect
righteousness of God's Law and am fully aware that Christ
warns us against teaching anyone to disregard it. (Matt.
5:19) I am certainly not suggesting any such thing. I am
simply saying that our obedience to God's Law should be
motivated by love and never performed as a bargain to
bring us into, or keep us within, the favor of God. It
should be the out-flowing of a new inward nature. (Rom.
7:22)
OUR STANDING WITH GOD Our standing with God is totally dependent upon the
merits of Christ's death on Mt. Calvary, and is in no sense
dependent upon our approach to the Law, Mt. Sinai. Hear
Paul's statement of this truth: "For what the law could not
do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his
own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, con-
demned sin in the flesh." (Rom. 8:14) This verse holds
enough truth about free grace to hold the average Arminian
at bay for fifteen years, if only he felt obliged to under-
stand it before he rode his Satan-built horse on down the
road of all directions.
First, the Scripture states that there is, therefore,
(because of the inward man created of God who delights in
the Law of God - Rom. 7:22) now no condemnation. The
context shows us that Paul means no condemnation, past,
present or future.
Secondly, verses one and two state that this freedom
from condemnation is by being in Christ Jesus, (Rom. 8:1)
and that such do not walk after the flesh, (endeavoring to
please God by fleshly obedience to the Law) but that they
walk after the Spirit. This cannot mean, as some so
automatically assume, that they keep the Law as best they
can in obedience to the Spirit, for verse two most emphati-
cally states that the Spirit of life has made us free from the
Law of sin and death. Now, being free from the Law
certainly cannot mean to be obliged to walk according to it
or to perish.
Thirdly, this passage states that the Law could not
make us free from condemnation for it was weak through
the flesh (depending upon the flesh for obedience and,
therefore, being totally disobeyed, it must render condem-
nation, not life). The ‘falling from grace’ teacher, howev-
er, insists that man remains saved by some combination of
standards, precepts or principles, which he in the human
body (flesh) obeys. Paul, in Galatians 3:3, asks these
mistaken teachers a very pertinent question. "Are you so
foolish? having begun in the spirit, are you now made
perfect by the flesh?" Whatever else ‘falling from grace’
teachers believe, they invariably believe that a man's
salvation starts (in some measure) by the Spirit and is
completed or preserved, (in some measure) by the flesh. It
is indeed foolish, yea profane, to think that the flesh could
start, perpetuate or finish such a supernatural transaction as
life out of death.WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE We must conclude that ‘falling from grace’ is both
doctrine and doubt. The Arminian doubts and denies either
that God can or that He wills to save and keep man totally
and absolutely by His own power. They believe that God
dispenses similar, if not equal grace, to all men and that
final glorification in Heaven depends, in its last analysis,
upon what a man does with this grace.
If there is one millionth of one ounce of truth in such
a notion as this, Paul and also the Holy Spirit, would be
not only authors but also masters of confusion to have
written such verses as Ephesians 2:8-9. "For by grace are
ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the
gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Paul
would have been constrained by inspiration to have said,
‘By grace are you saved through your faith and through
certain works ordained of God, and you shall one day be
His glorified workmanship in Christ Jesus if you walk in
them.’ As confused and profane as this imaginary interpre-
tation sounds, it is, in essence, exactly the interpretation
that all who teach ‘falling from grace’ must and do put
upon this Scripture if, indeed, they recognize it at all.SALVATION IS OF THE LORD The fact is that salvation is of the Lord. (Jonah 2:9)
Jonah did not say mostly, or partly, or initially. Let us
finalize the whole of the matter with the words of our Lord
Jesus Christ. In John 6:37-39, the Lord states that to do the
Father's will He must lose nothing which the Father has
given Him, but should raise it up at the last day. Accord-
ing to these verses anyone given to Jesus Christ for
salvation must in no wise be cast out, but must be raised
up at the last day or Jesus has not fulfilled the Father's
will. How is this done? By Jesus giving spiritual strength
to the flesh as we cling to Him? No! According to John
17:2, it is because God has given Jesus Christ power over
all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as God
the Father has given Him.CONSIDER JOHN 5:24 "He that heareth my word and believeth on him that
sent me hath [now] everlasting [un-endable] life and shall
not [in the future] come into condemnation, but is passed
[a complete transaction] from death unto life." It is no
problem at all to accept this without reservation if we
realize that both the hearing and believing of John 5:24 are
brought about within the framework of regeneration by the
grace of God.
I am glad I am not holding on to God, for weak
creature that I am, I would surely turn loose. Quite to the
contrary, God is holding on to me. (Psalm 37:23-24) I can,
therefore, know that my final glorification in Heaven is
spoken of in the Scripture as a transaction already complet-
ed by God (Rom. 8:30), and that nothing can befall me
which will not be for my good, God's glory and within
God's eternal purpose. (Rom. 8:28) Hallelujah!
What God required of me on Mt. Sinai, in the Law,
He gave to me as a free gift on Mt. Calvary, in Christ.
The teachers and believers of ‘falling from grace’ still trust
the righteousness of the Law which says, "...the man which
doeth those things shall live..." (Rom. 10:5) My heart
rejoices in the righteousness which is by faith, not acts or
works. "For Christ is the end [the fulfilling of all its
requirements] of the Law for righteousness to everyone that
believeth." (Rom. 10:4) In other words, He is all the
righteousness the Law requires of me because I believe in
Him as my all in all before God.
Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have
already come; ’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home. Amen!
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