Sin and Grace

An age-old question of faith

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

“What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” (Romans 6:1-2, NIV)

A distorted view

Someone once said, “God and I have a great arrangement. I like to sin, and He likes to forgive!”

The Apostle Paul knew that the early Christians in Rome followed the same line of reasoning, So, before they could even ask the question concerning the relationship between sin and grace, he addressed their confusion.

Paul shared with the Romans concerning the free gift of abounding grace found in Christ – grace that covers all sin in the life of the individual believer. I suppose it’s understandable, then, for them, and us, to push a little at the boundaries of right and wrong, for grace seems such a convenient loophole to the dilemma of sin.

“Is it okay to keep sinning?” we all ask ourselves. Paul emphatically answers, “By no means!” (Romans 6:1, NIV).

A better understanding

Paul quickly reminded the Romans, “We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” (Romans 6:2, NIV). One who has been brought back to spiritual life by grace, could, I suppose, choose to die again a spiritual death through sin. But why would anyone make that choice?

More0ver, it would be foolishly bold to try to manipulate the bounds of God’s grace. Our sin, after all, cost Jesus His very life. Sin truly is a big deal, and it always has a price – in this case, the shed blood of our Savior.

Don’t misunderstand what I am saying. We are saved purely by the grace of God offered to us through faith in Jesus. We will, at times, sin. Still, sin, in the life of the believer, should be more of an exception than a rule. Sin must never define us. Instead, we are defined by the life-giving grace of our Savior Jesus!

Prayer

Dear God, thank you for the grace you have given me through faith in the shed blood of Jesus. May I never take it for granted. Help me not to sin, but if I do, help me to fully rely on my Savior. It’s in His precious name I pray, Amen.