Is Grace A License To Sin?

IS GRACE A LICENSE TO SIN SINCE WE ARE NO LONGER UNDER THE LAW BUT UNDER GRACE?

GRACE HAS FREED US FROM BEING SLAVES TO SIN AND NOW HAS MADE US SLAVES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

(looking at individual acts of sin)

(Images in chaps 6-7: baptism, offering, slavery, marriage)

1. Sin Should No Longer Be An Option for the Believer Because We are Now Slaves of God's Righteousness (:15-18)

a. The bottom line answer -- unrighteous living is forbidden (:15)

b. A principle for reflection -- Whom you obey indicates to whom you are a slave (to whom you belong) (:16)

"my sheep hear my voice and they follow Me" John 8:34

c. The thankful reality of believers: we are now slaves of righteousness (:17-18) -- note passives in vs.18

obedience is the accent (emphasis) of our life

2. Slaves of Sin Yield No Fruit Except Shame and Death, But Slaves of God's righteousness Bear Fruit, Leading Us to Holiness and Life Eternal (:19-23)

a. Purpose of using the illustration of slavery: our basic human nature is weak and needs concrete human illustrations to better grasp the truths of God (:19a)

b. An exhortation: we are to use our bodies in a new way (:19b)

c. Explanation of the inconsistency of continuing to choose to act ungodly: when we were under the dominion of sin it was understandable (but still not right) that we chose to live in sin;

but now things are different (:20)

(Illustr.: a disturbance at a jail is no big deal since we expect criminals might act that way)

d. Learning from the past: reflect on our past choices of sin before we trusted Christ -- How did they benefit us? (:21)

1) They have no benefit

2) They bring only shame (Illustr.: overhead projector for displaying our past life of sin)

3) They lead to death (separation from what is good, worthwhile)

e. Reflecting upon the present (:22)

1) we have been set free from sin's dominion

2) we have now become enslaved to God and His righteousness

3) as slaves of God's righteousness there is much benefit:

a) we will bear fruit (if no changed life, then no union with Christ)

b) we are maturing in personal holiness

c) at the end of our journey in holiness is life eternal (:23)

1) eternal not just in duration but in quality of life

it is supreme

2) this eternal life is not a result of righteous

obedience, but a free gift

3) God's free gift of eternal life is granted to those who are in Christ