How does a believer get cut off from Christ?

"Sinning" comes to mind as the answer to this question. But God's word tells us differently in Galatians 5:4-

"For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God's grace."

This was not written to unbelievers. It was written to the Christians in Galatia who were deceived into believing that they had to obey the law of Moses in order to be godly after they got saved or else they were not saved. This is the same false doctrine that is being peddled by false teachers in many places of worship today. It is not uncommon to hear in church: obey the law, pay your tithe, sow seed, fast and do good works SO THAT you can enjoy God's blessings.

Also thought to quickly address fasting before entering God's presence so that one can be "pure" or "in the Spirit" or better positioned to receive before asking for what we desire. This after Christ made us presentable to God inside and outside according to Hebrews 10. Believers, we enter boldly into the Holiest (God's presence) by the blood of Jesus and not by our puny efforts at purifying ourselves with fasts and doing good deeds! See Hebrews 10:

19 "Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water."

An evil conscience is one that is constantly toiling under the guilt of sins that Christ died to take away. Its owner feels that he has to fast and do other lawful acts in order to purify and better position himself to receive before entering God's presence.

See the MSG: 19-21 "So, friends, we can now—without hesitation—walk right up to God, into “the Holy Place.” Jesus has cleared the way by the blood of His sacrifice, acting as our priest before God. The “curtain” into God’s presence is His body. 22-25 So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps His word."

Believer, we are accepted in the Beloved - Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:6) and not our ability to "detoxify" ourselves before entering God's presence to worship or to receive, as if our fasting is what gives us access to God. If we need a detox, the Holy Spirit leads us, but it is never so that we can be "pure" in order to enter the Holiest or to make us better-positioned to receive from God. Christ took care of that for all who believe. By grace, let no one misrepresent our heavenly Father who gives us ALL things FREELY with Christ to you. See Romans 8:32-

"He who did not spare His own Son but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?"

No wonder many are yet to experience the blessings of Abraham. Many are trying to earn it by obeying the law, through the performance of good deeds and by fasting. Believers, let's not be found here. Good works are EVIDENCES of our salvation in Christ, not CONDITIONS. There is no blessing of Abraham for any who believe that their performance of works or obeying the law is how to enjoy the blessings of Abraham. See this is Romans 4-

"For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, 15 because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression."

Believer, trying to obey the law and doing its works in order to get the blessing voids faith. The law is not of faith. Trying to obey the law in order to get right with God or to receive from Him is being faithless. Believer let's not be found here. Law and Grace cannot mix. The religious Pharisees held on to the Law and could not receive from Jesus. But notorious sinners and tax collectors drew near to Him and received from Him.

Your sins are your qualification for salvation in Christ. Trying to obey the law or doing anything to get right with God is how to get cut off from Christ. Sins can NEVER cut the believer who has Christ as his righteousness off from Christ. Matthew 1:21 says of Him:

She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

How can our Saviour who came to save us from our sins use those very sins that He came to save us from as an excuse for not saving us and even punish us for the sins that He came to save us from? This is akin to an oncologist dad refusing to treat his own beloved child who has cancer and even punishing his child for exhibiting symptoms of cancer.

Those ones that think that some sins are beneath them and that they are "better than that" have no need for our Saviour. Believer, when you sin, know that God is no longer holding your sins against you and all because of the finished work of Christ in making the sinner who believes righteous in His sight. When we sin grace super-abounds, not so that we should continue to wallow in sins as many who are yet to see the Light say but so that we should live in triumph over sin. See Romans 5:17-

"For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and His gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one Man, Jesus Christ."

Believe Right and you will Live Right.