Where We Go from Here
by Jay Guin
Over the next few days, beginning on Monday, I’m going to post a series of articles dealing with Romans 14 and Galatians, all leading up to Gal 5:4: falling from grace by seeking justification other than by faith.
At that point, we will have stated, and set forth the case for, all three of the ways that Christians can fall from grace that Todd and I contend for.
After that, Lord willing, I intend to post some material on how that theology plays out in terms of church discipline. The passages on disfellowshipping a member of the church are so important, and so often misunderstood, that I can’t leave the topic without putting those teachings into the blog. After all, much of the division within the Churches of Christ has arisen over one church disfellowshipping another church down the road. We’ve even had churches and preachers disfellowship a preacher from another congregation — even in another state! — by publishing a full-page ad in a newspaper.
At that point, the conversation on apostasy will be over. Todd and I are considering whether to take on another topic with another conversationalist. But if so, it will be after we take some time off.
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GraceConversation.org 
August 15, 2009 at 11:27 AM
Per your post: “Over the next few days, beginning on Monday, I’m going to post a series of articles dealing with Romans 14 and Galatians, all leading up to Gal 5:4: falling from grace by seeking justification other than by faith.”
I am guessing that you are not planning on making the point that “falling from grace” is terminology used to describe falling from the understanding that salvation is by grace to an understanding that salvation is by doing rather than a term to describe one who was once saved and has fallen from (lost) his/her salvation.
It is clear that all the principals here, as well as the great majority of the commenters, agree that people of true saving faith can forsake that faith and become apostate and lose the (eternal) life they had received. Indeed, you have indicated that you do not wish to see comments that dispute this point. So I wonder what is the point of demonstrating that to be the case from scripture?
It would make sense if you were also going to deal with all the scriptural support for the perspective that one comes to true faith as our sovereign God draws and regenerates him. However, that would be time consuming and distract from your position on apostasy as well as delay your planned discussion of church discipline.
Perhaps it would be more direct to continue to assume your preferred position. Wouldn’t a serious discussion of the doctrine of “falling from grace” require one to strive to understand, explain and gently refute and correct the other perspective?
As I don’t want to detract from your blog no response is anticipate.
August 16, 2009 at 9:11 AM
Wow! You have no idea how relevant this was to me today. I couldn’t bear to look at that newspaper article for long. I’ve been feeling pretty sorry for myself because of being rejected by a group of people I used to worship with. What I went through and the feelings of injustice really don’t compare to what those people did to that man. The parable also helped bring me down to earth as it’s easy to compensate for negative feelings by telling myself I’m more “righteous” than those jerks who rejected me. Thanks for a timely article!
August 16, 2009 at 1:15 PM
Ellen, I can fully understand your sentiments. Please be careful when referring to “your” righteousnsss. It it solely by the blood of Jesus Christ and his righteousness that we are saved. Consider our state real state” “But we are all like an unclean thing,And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf,And our iniquities, like the wind,Have taken us away.” – Isaiah 64:6
August 16, 2009 at 1:29 PM
Jay, Does it not follow that if one can “fall from grace then on can “keeping from falling….? And brother, that constradict “of yourselves, lest any man boast.” If faith is a gift then how/why would anyone give up such a live wonderful eternal gift? If, while were were truly “dead in our trespasses and…Christ made us alive.” How then do we think we can “make ourselves dead again.” I would STRONGLY URGE you to study “original sin.” Until you come to terms with man’s utter inabllity and desire to seek Christ you will never know why the Gospel is “Good News.”
August 16, 2009 at 9:41 PM
I had seen the newspaper article. Except for being so horribly sad, it would be funny.
Those who are responsible for this newspaper page, and those who agree with it are also among those who think they are the only ones going to heaven.
I doubt that even one person who is not a Christian (not including unsaved church members who are imposters) would be inclined to visit any church of Christ after seeing that printed page.
The sect of the Pharacees are alive and well.
Royce