Free To Sin?

Posted : 31 May, 2015 11:03 AM

Free to Sin?



Having God�s Grace Doesn�t Mean Sin Is Irrelevant

By Charles F. Stanley







The gospel of God�s grace�His full provision for man�s sin�is frequently perverted and attacked by nonbelievers. Most false religions deny the free gift of salvation and embrace good works instead.



Another attack on the doctrine of grace comes from within the body of Christ. Some caution that such good news can lead to a lifestyle of sin. They think grace leads people to say, �I am saved no matter what, so why does it matter how I live?�



The apostle Paul anticipates this when he asks, �What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?� (Rom. 6:1).



The answer is no. Paul responds to the question in the very next verse: �May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?� (Rom. 6:2). The implication is that it would be unthinkable for a Christian to be comfortable continuing in his transgressions. Sin does not stay dormant. It grows. It enslaves. For those in Christ, disobedience cannot destroy relationship with God, but it will surely damage their testimony and fellowship with Him.



In Romans 6:1, the prefix of the Greek word translated �increase� means super. So the verse really says, �As sin comes, grace comes in a greater way.� In other words, sin may overflow a little, but grace is like a flood�it is always more than enough, no matter how significant the transgression. Think of this way: If sin reaches the top of Mt. Sinai, grace reaches to the heavens.



But we do not have license to live in rebellion. Abundant grace spurs us on to obedience. The disobedient believer reaps what he sows and will eventually become a miserable creature.



Remember when Jesus answered Peter�s question about how often one should forgive his brother? Peter thought seven times sounded extravagant. But the Lord answered, �Seventy times seven,� which in essence meant we are to forgive countless times. By emphasizing forgiveness, Jesus was telling us not to keep score or worry about others taking advantage of a situation.



If that�s how Jesus advised Peter, how much more does He, the Son of God, exercise forgiveness toward us? Surely, we have sinned more than 490 times. And it is the sheer grace of God that He is not counting!



God�s extravagant grace comes into our lives when we receive Jesus Christ as our personal Savior. In no way should this truth encourage us to be disobedient. The Lord delivers us from the penalty of sin and its power in our lives. Romans 6 emphasizes that we don�t have to sin. We possess the wonderful liberty to do what pleases our Father!



We should never let opposition to the gospel dilute the overwhelming truth of amazing grace. Critics cannot dampen the transforming, liberating power of God�s free, unconditional, and unmerited love and mercy.



Where there is no grace, there is no gospel. On our own, we can do nothing to make ourselves more presentable to God. It is purely by grace�given by Christ through His Spirit�that the believer is accepted into God�s family for eternity.



The gospel of grace, though misunderstood, has no substitute. It is the cornerstone for all of life, illuminating the goodness of the Lord and attracting us to Him. Delight yourself today in God�s amazing gift.



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