Sin and Grace

Romans 6:1

• What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?

Many of us who claim to be Christians live this life as if there is no God. We live according to what we think is right rather than what God says is right.

Many of us still live in sin, envy, hatred, unforgiveness, lust, adultery, fornication, idolatry, love of money, greed, dishonouring parents, stealing what is copyrighted, lying and neglect.

We think and naively believe that God will, of course, forgive me for all the evil that I continue to do and practice.

Paul asks us this question in Romans, "what shall we say after God has forgiven us of all our sins listed above as examples? Shall we continue to sin as grace will abound as God forgives us our evil thoughts, words, deeds and motives for the rest of our lives?"

Paul says in the next verse, "By no means we should live in sin for the rest of our lives! How can we who died to sin still live in these horrible sins that resulted in crucifixion of the Son of God?"

Paul's answer is clear. No, we cannot live in sin because we have died to sin. When Jesus died on the cross for our sins, we died on the same cross in Jesus. When He rose from the dead, we rose with Him.

Romans 8:10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

Our bodies are dead because of sin if Christ is in us.

We must not be deceived. God says in 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10 "Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God."

And Revelation 22:15, "Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood."

And Galatians 5:19-21 "Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."

And Ephesians 5:5, "For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God."

And 1 Timothy 1:9-11, "understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted."

Hebrews 12:14-17, "Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears."

Let us examine ourselves. Philippians 2:12-13, "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure."