Falling Away

For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
– Galatians 2:18

Saint Paul is writing to the people of Galatia with concerns about how they are viewing the Law. The Law mostly consisted of the 10 Commandments and other laws found in Deuteronomy. It was common for the Jews of that time to rely on the Law for redemption. Even though it’s impossible for any human to uphold the Law, it was still the measuring stick that the Pharisees used. Paul is telling his audience that if someone believes in the grace and mercy of Christ but then fall back to the Law, they are in fact transgressors. And as the Hebrew writer states in 6:4-6 those people are re-crucifying Christ for their own benefit.

It’s not to say that once someone comes to Jesus they will never sin again. We are all human, fallen from grace, vessels with sinful hearts. This is a fallen world with sin all around us. This particular scripture is telling us that once someone turns away from sin, but then returns to that sin willfully, has stumbled in their faith. Going back to the same sinful nature we were saved from we are taking advantage of what Jesus did for us. A true believer should make a conscience effort to please God. Jesus even prays to His Father that the Apostles (minus Judas) are not of this world any more than He is of this world. As believers, we are born again, but not of a physical birth. It’s a birth not of this world, rather a spiritual world. In this world there are endless ways we could be enticed to obey the flesh. We have a weapon, many weapons, to combat such desires.

Like a knight, we have armor that helps battle the attacks of the devil. Paul points out that we have five pieces of armor and a weapon. When we sense the temptation to obey the evil one, go to the Armory of God and prepare thyself. So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace. In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield to quench the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:13-17). As believers, we have all we need to do battle. Yet, even with all this equipment we occasionally fall victim to our old habits. We are all bound to have a lapse every now and then; that doesn’t mean we’re guilty of killing Christ again.

God knows our hearts, our deepest darkest secrets. There’s nothing that can be hidden from the eyes of God. When we go to Him in prayer and confess our sins, He is gracious to wash them away. Using Jesus’ sacrifice as a reason to sin is not the behavior of a true believer. A believer strives to avoid sinning and is aware that this is bound to happen. When that person does commit sin, they confess it with a contrite heart as David wrote in Psalms 51:19. The point is, that one should not go back to the lifestyle of their old self. Recognize that sin is in this world, just don’t willfully invite those sins into your heart.