God's Grace Is Not A License to Sin
When I thought I could lose my salvation and status with Jesus, it caused me to sin more, not less. When I thought Jesus was mad at me and never pleased with me, it caused me to rebel against God, not love Him. It’s been over eight years since I discovered the truth about God’s grace and His new covenant way of grace. This discovery is the reason I’ve devoted my entire life to sharing the gospel with the world.
I discovered a relationship with Jesus, not religion. I fell in love with Him. God’s love will never lead us to sin more. Never. Just like with my wife, whose unconditional love for me doesn’t make me want to take advantage of it and run off and cheat on her. Instead, her love makes me want to love her more! God’s love compels us to love, not sin (2 Corinthians 5:14).
Paul knew that after He said, “Where sin increased, grace abounded” (Romans 5:20 ESV),it would scare some people. That’s why, in Romans 6, he explained why grace doesn’t lead us to sin, but from sin. In that chapter, Paul said the believer is “united with [Christ]” (6:5 ESV), “set free from sin” (6:7 ESV ), “dead to sin and alive to God” (6:11 ESV ), “instruments for righteousness” (6:12 ESV ), and “obedient from the heart” (6:17 ESV ). This shatters the idea that “too much grace” is a “license to sin.”
Our motivation to avoid sin is rooted in the new identity God has given us. Sure, we cannot out-sin God’s grace (Romans 5:20), but by God’s grace, we no longer want to! We don’t want to sin since we are now slaves of righteousness (Romans 6:18). Yes, we all stumble in many ways ( James 3:2), but as children of God, we now want what God wants. The apostle Paul gives us plenty of reasons to avoid sin and not abuse grace, but he never motivates us by threatening our salvation or telling us we need more forgiveness, or claiming that God will leave us. We avoid sin because it doesn’t fulfill us and our heart longs to walk in newness of life.
Understanding God’s grace empowers us to sin no more. It teaches us to say no to sin by giving us the freedom to discover that we really want what God wants. We are new creations! The old you was crucified (Romans 6:5; Galatians 2:20). You’re a new person, a partaker of the divine nature, and you have the power of Christ living in you and through you to do what pleases God (2 Corinthians 5:17; 2 Peter 1:3; Philippians 2:13).
I discovered a relationship with Jesus, not religion. I fell in love with Him. God’s love will never lead us to sin more. Never. Just like with my wife, whose unconditional love for me doesn’t make me want to take advantage of it and run off and cheat on her. Instead, her love makes me want to love her more! God’s love compels us to love, not sin (2 Corinthians 5:14).
Paul knew that after He said, “Where sin increased, grace abounded” (Romans 5:20 ESV),it would scare some people. That’s why, in Romans 6, he explained why grace doesn’t lead us to sin, but from sin. In that chapter, Paul said the believer is “united with [Christ]” (6:5 ESV), “set free from sin” (6:7 ESV ), “dead to sin and alive to God” (6:11 ESV ), “instruments for righteousness” (6:12 ESV ), and “obedient from the heart” (6:17 ESV ). This shatters the idea that “too much grace” is a “license to sin.”
Our motivation to avoid sin is rooted in the new identity God has given us. Sure, we cannot out-sin God’s grace (Romans 5:20), but by God’s grace, we no longer want to! We don’t want to sin since we are now slaves of righteousness (Romans 6:18). Yes, we all stumble in many ways ( James 3:2), but as children of God, we now want what God wants. The apostle Paul gives us plenty of reasons to avoid sin and not abuse grace, but he never motivates us by threatening our salvation or telling us we need more forgiveness, or claiming that God will leave us. We avoid sin because it doesn’t fulfill us and our heart longs to walk in newness of life.
Understanding God’s grace empowers us to sin no more. It teaches us to say no to sin by giving us the freedom to discover that we really want what God wants. We are new creations! The old you was crucified (Romans 6:5; Galatians 2:20). You’re a new person, a partaker of the divine nature, and you have the power of Christ living in you and through you to do what pleases God (2 Corinthians 5:17; 2 Peter 1:3; Philippians 2:13).
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You're Not LukewarmAs Righteous As JesusThe Resurrection Worked, TooDraw Near to God?You Cannot Lose Your SalvationGod's Grace Is Not A License to SinForgiven of All SinsIf a Christian commits suicide, are they saved?Saints Not SinnersDo we have to give (tithe) 10% of our money?What about 1 John 1:9? Do we need to confess our sins daily?Does Science Point to God?What About the Violence in the Old Testament?Can believers lose fellowship with God?Do Believers need to ask God to forgive them each day? What about the Lord\'s Prayer?Is there historical evidence for Christ and His resurrection?What Does It Mean to "Fear God"?Does God cause suffering?What is God's Will for My Life?Is Jesus the Only Way to Heaven?What Does the Bible say about Depression? Is it wrong for a Christian to be depressed?Does the Holy Spirit Convict Believers of Sin?What is God's Discipline?You Are Not Under the LawWill Believers be Judged for their sin?
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What did Jesus mean when He said, “I never knew you. Depart from me”?Does Hebrews 6:4-6 mean we can lose our salvation?Did God Kill Ananias and Sapphira?Will we have to give an account for our sins?The Unforgivable SinWhat does it mean to Grieve and Quench the Spirit?What Does it Mean to take Communion in an Unworthy Manner?
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