Falling Into Grace

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Christ has liberated us into freedom. Therefore stand firm and don't submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Galatians 5:1

Sometime ago I came across a book called 'Falling into grace'. I bought it, mainly because the title leaped out at me; it was a welcome antithesis to the common 'falling from grace', and I was intrigued.

I wonder what those phrases, falling into and falling from, conjure up for you? I guess the common reaction is that when someone has fallen from grace, they have usually committed a misdemeanour. They've sinned in some way and have lost the respect they once commanded. We assume it will take them some time to recover trust and dignity.

Paul has a different idea of falling from grace when he writes to the Galatians:

You who are trying to be justified by the law are alienated from Christ; you have fallen from grace!
Galatians 5:4

Here, he is cautioning those who insist on keeping various laws in order to be saved, pointing out that they are in fact falling from grace because they are placing their trust in their own works and efforts, instead of receiving the free grace that comes through Jesus Christ.

So next time you hear that someone has fallen from grace, just remember that it's the perfect time for them to fall into it.