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Understanding the phrase “fall away”
Among other words and phrases, fall away is also used to express apostasy only in the New Testament of the Bible. If something falls away, literally, it breaks off from the source and falls on the ground. The term “fall away” is used in the Bible to describe a believer’s departure from the faith they once held. The Bible gives us an imagery of fall away or falling away or falleth away in 1 Peter 1:24 where it is written, “For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:”
Fall away creates an imagery that suggests that a part, usually small, breaks off from the whole and falls on the ground; just like how a flower, which was initially part of a plant, breaks off and falls on the ground. To fall away from something, you have to, first, be part of it.
This phrase is ideal to describe apostasy in Christianity due to the relationship between Jesus and his followers. Of all the religions in the world, Christianity is the only religion in which their God identifies His followers as part of Him – all Christians are members of Jesus’ body. Now Paul wrote to the church in Corinth saying, “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular (1 Corinthians 12:27).”
Every believer is part of the body of Christ. The body of Christ is a big body that consists of Jesus Himself and all His followers. When a Christian leaves the body of Christ, it is like a flower falling from the tree to its death. That is why the phrase fall away is appropriate to describe a situation where a Christian, who is a member of the body, quits Christianity. The consequences of falling away from faith are severe, including a loss of salvation and separation from God. Instances where fall away or falling away is used to denote apostasy are as follows:
Bible verses about falling away from God.
They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. (Luke 8:13)
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. (Hebrews 6:4-6)
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; (2 Thessalonians 2:3)
Examples and consequences of falling away
Examples of “falling away” can be found throughout the Bible, including the story of King Saul, who started as a faithful servant of God but eventually turned away from Him and sought the help of a medium to contact the deceased prophet, Samuel. Another example is the parable of the sower, where Jesus describes the seed that falls on rocky ground as representing those who receive the word with joy but fall away when faced with persecution or difficulties. These examples illustrate the serious consequences of falling away from faith and the importance of remaining steadfast in one’s beliefs.
Conclusion
Christians are a family. Every Christian is an important member of the body of Christ. As the Bible compares the body of Christ to the human body system and stresses the importance of all the parts of the body, so is the situation with the body of Christ. One Christian may be the hand; another, the head; another, the neck; another, the eye, etc. Each of these parts of the body is very important and plays a vital role in the body. If a Christian falls away, it is like a part of the body has been cut off, falling on the ground and it is lost to the body.