Fallen from grace does not mean losing salvation; it means turning from Christ's finished work to trust human effort for salvation.
Les Feldick teaches that when a person adds circumcision, church membership, baptism, or any fleshly work to the gospel of grace, Christ profits them nothing. That reliance on human effort cancels the work of the cross and puts a person outside the grace basis of salvation.
Galatians 5:4 — Paul explicitly says those who are justified by the law are 'fallen from grace' — the exact phrase in question.
Galatians 5:2 — Paul warns that trusting circumcision for salvation makes Christ profit a person nothing.
The Bible speaks of being 'fallen from grace' in Galatians 5:4: 'Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.' In the same passage, Paul writes, 'Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage' (Galatians 5:1). He then warns, 'Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing' (Galatians 5:2). Scripture also teaches the universal need for grace: 'For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God' (Romans 3:23). Righteousness is not earned by works: 'But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness' (Romans 4:5).
Les Feldick reads Galatians 5 as a warning to believers to 'stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.' He identifies that yoke as legalism, the law, and Judaism. Paul was admonishing the Galatian believers not to fall victim to the legalizers who were making inroads into the churches. Les stresses that Paul's phrase 'if ye be circumcised' is about salvation — depending on something done in the flesh. When he first saw that 'Christ shall profit you nothing,' he said it shook him to think how many sincere church members depend on something they have done rather than rely totally on the finished work of the cross. He applies the warning broadly: circumcision, church membership, baptism, or any fleshly act, when made part of salvation, cancels the work of the cross. Les also emphasizes the positive side: the gospel is 'faith plus nothing' for salvation. Believers are set free from the legalism of the Judaic system, and the gospel is simply believing that Christ died and rose again, plus nothing, after which believers are created unto good works.
Les Feldick does not describe fallen from grace as losing a salvation a person already possessed. Instead, it describes someone who tries to be justified by the law or by any fleshly work. Such a person depends on something they have done rather than resting on the finished work of the cross. Les says that when even one thing is added to the gospel of grace, Christ profits that person nothing and the work of the cross is canceled.
Les applies Paul's warning about circumcision to any performance of the flesh that a person adds to salvation. He specifically names church membership, baptism, and cleaning up one's life as things people trust in. He says these become part of salvation and thereby cancel the work of the cross. The Galatian issue was circumcision because Jewish legalizers were bringing it into the Gentile churches, but Les says the principle applies to anything man can do to merit salvation.
Les also stresses the positive: 'Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.' Believers are not free to do as they please, but they are free from legalism. Salvation is simply believing that Christ died for me and rose from the dead, plus nothing. After salvation, believers are created unto good works.
Christ Profits Nothing When Circumcision Is Trusted
If a person depends on something done in the flesh, like circumcision, for salvation, Les says Christ profits them nothing. Any one thing added to the cross cancels the cross.
Flesh-Works That Cancel the Cross
Les warns that anyone doing something to fulfill or complete salvation is lost as lost can be and that Christ profits them nothing. Church membership, baptism, or any fleshly act done as part of salvation cancels the work of the cross.
Adding Anything to Faith Plus Nothing
Adding anything to the gospel of grace cancels the work of the cross. Les says millions who add something to faith will miss heaven's glory, and salvation belongs to the one who works not but believes on God who justifies the ungodly.
Substitute Any Flesh Work for Circumcision
Les says Paul's warning about circumcision can be read as anything man can do to merit salvation. When such a thing is added, Christ profits you nothing and the work of the cross is canceled.
Run From Legalism
Les tells believers to run from anyone who says you must do something to become a child of God. If circumcision is trusted for salvation, Christ profits nothing.
Why Even "Good People" Can't Escape God's Judgment — Romans 2
It cuts off that which is superfluous in the flesh. So what is superfluous in the Spirit? The old Adam. And so at salvation, our old Adam is cut off, and it becomes a heart circumcision. And it�s that of the heart in the Spirit, and not in the letter, keeping the Law, whose praise is not of men, but of God. Now let�s move in quickly in these closing minutes to chapter 3.
Plus Nothing for Salvation
Les defines the gospel of grace as simply believing Christ died and rose, plus nothing, and clarifies that believers are created unto good works after salvation.
What "Baptized Unto Moses" Really Means — 1 Corinthians 10 Explained
This is what we have to latch on to, just like the Israelites in Egypt rested on the blood of that lamb on the door, this is what we have to rest on even as Gentiles in this Age of Grace. Starting at verse 23 of Romans 3, for all, every human being has sinned and come short of the glory of God. So every human being in his natural state is separated from God because he's fallen short.
Galatians 5:4: Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
This is the exact verse containing the phrase 'fallen from grace'; Paul says it happens to those who seek justification by the law.
Galatians 5:2: Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
Paul warns that making circumcision part of salvation makes Christ's work of no profit to that person.
Galatians 5:1: Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Paul calls believers to remain in Christ's liberty and avoid being trapped by legalism.
Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
This shows why no human work can be added to meet God's standard.
Romans 4:5: But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Paul defines the gospel of grace as not working but believing in God who justifies the ungodly.
As Les Feldick sees it, no. It describes someone who turns from total reliance on the cross and tries to be justified by the law, circumcision, or other human effort. Such a person makes Christ of no effect and falls from grace as the basis of salvation.
Les says baptism, church membership, and any fleshly work done as part of salvation cancel the work of the cross. Salvation is faith plus nothing; these things may follow but cannot add to what Christ finished.
Les identifies the yoke of bondage as legalism, the law, and Judaism. Paul tells believers to stand fast in the liberty Christ has made us free and not be entangled with that yoke.
Watch the Teaching: Christ in You — What Galatians 5 and Romans 8:10 Really Mean