Mark Tabata’s Weekday Devotionals
Tuesday August 25 2026
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Galatians 5:4-You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
When the Apostle Paul wrote the Epistle to the Galatians, he addressed the believers in that area.
Galatians 1:1-5-Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), 2 and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: 3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Notice to whom Paul addresses his Epistle: to the “churches of Galatia.”
The Apostle wishes them continuing “grace” and “peace,” focusing on how God’s Son had given Himself for our sins, in the hope and desire that He might “deliver us from this present evil age.” These are clear indicators that the churches of Galatia are composed of those had been saved from their sins, as other passages in the Epistle clearly demonstrate (cf. Galatians 3:3, 7, 26-29; 4:6; 5:16-17; 6:1-6, 16).
When the Apostle writes these words, there were some in the churches of Galatia who had been influenced by Judaizers (those who were attempting to bind the Law of Moses on Christians) and Gnostics (those who attempted to combine Christianity with paganism). Sadly, some were exchanging the New Testament for the Old, not realizing that they were by doing so rebuilding what God had gone to such lengths to tear down would be sin (Galatians 2:17-20). There were also those who were being tempted to renounce Christ and return to serving the “elemental spirits of the universe” (Galatians 4:3). It leads Paul to make the declaration that he does in Galatians 5:4.
From this text, we can learn several important lessons.
First, the subjects of this passage are the same as those addressed throughout the entire Epistle: Christians!
Some believe that Paul changes subjects in this passage because he speaks of how they have “fallen from grace” For many in the religious world, this presents a problem, since some hold to the idea that once a person is saved from sin they can never do anything to forfeit that salvation. So it is argued that the subjects of this verse must have somehow changed from Christians to “fake” Christians.
Despite this, it is clear that the subjects of the passage are saved Christians. Not only does the “you” of the passage refer continually to saved individuals throughout the Epistle, but consider also that Paul says they have “fallen” from grace and have become “severed” from Christ.
How could a person fall from a state of grace if they had never been in a state of grace?
How could a person be estranged (or “severed”) from Christ if they were not first joined to Christ?
Clearly, Paul is addressing Christians.
Second, what Paul says here is a profound warning for every child of God: it is possible to fall from grace and to become severed from Christ. To be “estranged” or “severed” from Christ meant to be removed from Him. In fact, the word was sometimes used synonymously with “divorced” (cf. Romans 7:2). Again, the phrase “fallen from grace” has reference to the “grace” that the Galatians had been called into through the Gospel (Galatians 1:6-9), showing us that those in this fallen state they were abandoning the hope of the Good News of Jesus Himself.
It is possible for a Christian to live in such a way that his salvation in Christ may become forfeit. A life of willful sin without repentance leads to this state.
Finally, there is hope for the child of God who departs from Christ! If he will come back to the Lord, he can be ‘restored’ to Him.
Galatians 6:1-Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
There is hope for all who will turn from sin and return to Christ Jesus.
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your grace that enables us to be restored. Open our eyes to the security that we have access to in You. Amen.