Unlimited: Shall We Go on Sinning?
Oct 4, 2022 852
What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! (Romans 6:1–2a).
If we are under grace that reigns in our lives through the righteousness of God, so that we have eternal life, does it matter whether we continue sinning? That is the valid question that Paul is asking. If God loves to forgive people, and he keeps on forgiving us, then what does it matter if we sin or not? Paul’s answer is emphatic: we are “[b]y no means” to “go on sinning”!
In the original Greek language, the phrase “go on sinning” is in the present active tense, which indicates that Paul is referring to the practice of habitual sin. The person that Paul is talking about is the person who remains in a habitual lifestyle of intentional sin, and who thinks that it is OK, because God is gracious.
Does it matter whether we continue sinning?
Paul doesn’t mean a person who is saved won’t sin. Not at all! He means that they won’t sin “so that grace may increase”: in other words, to abuse the grace of God.
A person who is under grace will delight in allowing the Saviour to work out his will in their lives. The work of the Spirit of God is to convict us of sin, righteousness and judgment (John 16:8). He will always lead us away from sin and into a closer walk with God.
Spiritual Application
Have you ever been tempted to feel like it wouldn’t matter much if you kept on committing a particular sin? How did that situation end up? What would help you next time?
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