Catholics and Protestant Arminians use Galatians 5:4 to teach that a Christain can lose his salvation. This verse does not refer to a Christian 'falling into sin' and losing his salvation, nor does it refer to a Christian apostatizing. It is not referring to a Christian at all! To understand the meaning of this verse we must look at it in its context.
In verse one, Paul told the churches in Galatia to “standfast in the liberty” of the gospel. We are free from the condemnation of the Old Testament (OT) Law and a works based salvation as taught by the Judaizers. We are justified by faith in Jesus Christ. (Emphasis on the period) Do not give an inch of territory to someone who would tell you otherwise. Stand your ground!
Since Paul draws a distinction between the second person plural pronouns “you” and “ye” in verses 2-4 and the first person plural pronoun “we” in verses 1 and 5, we conclude that Paul was not addressing saved people in verses 2-4. He was addressing lost sinners who were trying to work their way to heaven. With this in mind let's look at verse 4.
The corrupt new versions of the Bible seem to support the idea that you can lose your salvation by changing “Christ is become no effect unto you” to “you are severed from Christ.” This unfortunate translation began with the Revision Committee of 1881; however, according to the Analytical Greek Lexicon, the primary meaning of katergethete is “to render useless or unproductive, or to render powerless.” All trustworthy translations of the Bible prior to 1881 read like our KJV. Now, what does this mean? If you make an attempt to justify yourself before God by your circumcision and by keeping the OT law, then you forfeit any help from Jesus Christ. Christ will not take up your case. You do not belong to Christ and “Christ is become of no effect unto you.” You are lost, condemned by the very law in which you sought for refuge and are headed for judgment. At the judgment bar, Christ will not be your Advocate. You “are fallen from grace.” Grace and law do not mix. Faith and works for salvation do not mix.
Paul’s heart is to “restore” anyone who is “overtaken in a fault” like this (Gal.6:1). They are not "severed from Christ." Someone in a condition thus described has never been a part of Christ's body! They have come close but they are not saved yet. What else could Paul mean when he wrote the following words?
Galatians 4:19-21 KJV
My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, [20] I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you. [21] Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
Jesus preached against this heavy yoke of bondage placed on the necks of Jewish people by the Scribes and Pharisees (Matt. 11:28-30). The law becomes a cumbersome weight around your neck when you try to enforce it as a means of salvation. You are then hitched to a burden that no one can bear (Gal. 3:10; Jam. 2:10). The purpose of the law is condemnation, not justification (Gal. 3:19-25). The truth of the gospel is that we are saved by faith without the works of the law (Gal. 2:16, 21). Anything else is a lie! The churches of Galatia were in danger of forfeiting the gospel of the grace of God for “another gospel” (Gal. 1:6).
Find the audio version by searching SermonAudio for "Can A Christian Fall From Grace" by John Westover.