Posted on 10/18/2021 7:29:35 AM PDT by metmom
“What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be! Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?” (Romans 6:15-16).
Freedom from sin does not mean freedom to sin.
From Paul’s day until now, the gospel of grace has been accused of providing license to sin. If salvation is the gift of God’s grace, legalists argue, wholly apart from human works, what will motivate people to lead holy lives? In the face of such opposition, Paul never gave an inch on the vital issue of salvation by grace—and neither can we. The Bible teaches a salvation that is entirely by God’s free grace through faith and in which human works play no part.
But there is a second way in which the doctrine of salvation by grace may be perverted. Fulfilling the legalists’ fears, some believe that since God’s grace covers all their sins, they can live as they choose. In today’s passage Paul addresses that error.
The very thought of a Christian living in persistent, habitual sin horrified Paul. To the hypothetical question “Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace?” Paul responded emphatically, “May it never be!” As in verse 2, the apostle used the strongest form of negation in the Greek language. In our English vernacular, Paul was saying “Ridiculous! Impossible! No way!” He went on to point out the self-evident truth that no one can serve two masters. Everyone is either a servant of sin or a servant of God; there is no third option. And the one to whom people habitually yield their obedience is their real master, no matter what they may claim.
Don’t be deceived by those who claim that since Christians are forgiven, they can therefore sin at will. Such people know nothing of God’s grace, which, far from giving us license to sin, “instruct[s] us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age” (Titus 2:12).
Suggestions for Prayer
Praise God for His grace, which is always greater than your sin (Rom. 5:20).
For Further Study
Read Joshua 24:14-27; Matthew 4:8-11; and 1 Thessalonians 1:8-9. Spend some time in prayer, asking God to help you renew your commitment to serve Him.
Studying God’s Word ping
I once spoke with Christian minister who insisted he was going to Heaven no matter what sins he committed because he was Born Again. He also told me that all sins are equal, from telling a white lie to committing murder.
I posited a hypothetical set in Nazi Germany where there were innocent Jews in the basement when the SS came knocking. I asked if if would have been acceptable to lie to the Nazis in order to protect the Jews. He said it was not, because all lies were sins, and a lie was as bad as murder.
In the interest of Christian charity I assume that his theological views are in a distinct minority.
I understand where he’s coming from technically.
James 2:10-11 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
But, IMO, he is not correct. God hates all sin and all sin gets the same penalty but I don’t think even God counts all sin the same. Not all sin in the OT had the same penalty.
As far as lying to protect people, I guess he forgets about the Hebrew midwives in Egypt and Rahab the harlot in Jericho. They did indeed lie, but there is no condemnation in Scripture of them for doing so.
Nevertheless, I would not want to tempt God.
Your example of hiding the Jews was actually played out in Corrie tenBoom’s life.
They were hiding Jews under their floor by a trap door in the kitchen under their kitchen table.
When the Nazis broke in and demanded to know where the Jews were, her sister, who refused to lie, said “Under the table.” The leader pulled the tablecloth off the table and found nothing and was furious. But she didn’t lie.
I suspect that God could give people an out like that when they trust Him.
Rahab was is honored in Hebrews 11 for her faith, which included not letting the authorities know where the Israelite spies were.
God actually blessed the Hebrew midwives with families of their own for what they did.
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