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

In his book, "What’s So Amazing About Grace," Christian author Philip Yancey writes about a friend who invited him out for a cup of coffee one night. This friend was contemplating leaving his wife after 15 years of marriage because he’s found someone younger and prettier, someone he said made him feel alive. As a Christian, Yancey’s friend knew his decision would devastate his wife and permanently damage his three kids. He also knew his relationship with God would never be the same again living in disobedience. Even so, the force pulling him toward this other woman was like a powerful magnet. So finally, he asked Philip Yancey, "Do you think God can forgive me for what I’m about to do?’

Every other religion of the world insists that we must contribute something to our salvation. We must try harder. We must be better. We must live morally and so forth. All the various religions of the world offer a self-help way to merit restoration with God, whether it’s the eightfold path of Buddhism, the karma and reincarnation cycle of Hinduism, the laws and ordinances of the Mormon church, or the four pillars of Islam. Only the Christian faith dares to suggest that God offers a relationship based on pure grace.

In the first couple of chapters, Paul presented the condition of condemnation. We are all guilty of sin and there is no excuse when we stand before God. We are condemned. In the next two chapters Paul presented the doctrine of justification by faith in Jesus Christ. It is another foundation block to understand that it is not by works of righteousness on our part, only by faith in the works of Jesus Christ.

Grace means what we can’t earn or merit - acceptance with God - no matter how hard we might try. Grace means that God offers restoration with our Creator based on a free, undeserved gift, that there’s nothing we can do to earn it, buy it, perform for it, or merit it. Grace means no amount of trying will make God love us more and no amount of sinning will make God love us less. So, what happens when grace faces conscious and deliberate sin?

In this chapter, we will be looking at the doctrine of sanctification. It is the way Christians are called to live. Many, like Yancey’s friend, conclude since our actions have nothing to do with salvation, it makes absolutely no difference between how we live and what choices we make to sin.

Why try to be good if you already know in advance you will be forgiven?

The apostle Paul uses the figure of baptism to help explain this concept of sanctification. Baptism not only identifies us with Jesus Christ but has implications for how to live our lives.

Prayer:   Lord, keep me pure and holy before You.   Thank you for forgiving me when I sin and teaching me to walk in Your ways.    I know that even when sin abounds, grace abounds even more.   Even though I know that I am always cleansed of my sin, I pray that You will strengthen me to not sin.   

Dale