Shall we continue to sin so that grace might increase? Is this a real question? If we continue to sin will grace increase? This is what Paul asks in his letter to the Romans in chapter 6. He seems to indicate that if we continue to do wrong, God will take care of it with more grace. What?!! That sounds too good to be true! If you go back to chapter 5 of that same letter, you will read this: God gave the law that sin might increase. This is what Paul says is the reason for the law (at least one of the reasons). If youve ever wanted to step on the grass when you saw a Dont Step On the Grass sign, you know how this works. We see a rule and something inside us says, Break it! The law exposes that desire in us to do the wrong thing. Let that sink in: God gave the law that sin might increase. God gave the law to prove us sinful, not to make us holy. Hes not done yet. He then says, But where sin increased, grace increased all the more. Literally Paul writes, where sin abounded, grace hyper-abounded. In other words, you cant out-sin Gods grace. What this means is that whatever work Jesus did on that cross is enough to take care of whatever sin you might have done, are doing or will do. His grace is enough. Then Paul asks the question, shall we continue to sin so that grace might increase? It IS a real question! Gods response to sin is more grace. Paul isnt asking a legal question. Paul is asking a heart question - You can continue to sin, and if you do, God has enough grace for it, but do you really want abuse the grace of God? Is that is what is really in your heart? Or has there been a change? Has your desire to to the wrong thing been realigned? Have you let the life of Jesus take that heart that was hard and give you a heart that is soft toward God? If not, it can happen today. Recovery from doing the wrong things isnt about behavior. It is about an extreme heart makeover. Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh - Ezekiel 36:26
Posted on: Tue, 11 Mar 2014 14:05:30 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015