Sin Under Grace? Never! (Romans 6:14-15)

Today’s scripture: Romans 6:14-15

When a person sincerely accepts the gift of grace—salvation through the death, burial, and resurrection—she is changed. She is a “new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17). She is different. She becomes more and more like Christ.

Or at least she should.

Those who follow Christ have been given an incredible gift—that grace we’ve been talking about for the last few weeks. And it is an incredible gift.

So why would someone continue in sin? I have to wonder …

I know we are not to judge others, but I have to wonder if someone who continues to live in habitual sin really knows God. Does she really understand grace?

Grace should make her want to serve God, to strive to be more like Christ, to manifest the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Grace should never be thought of a license to sin.

Never.

Sons and Daughters of God! (Galatians 3:25-27)

Today’s scripture: Galatians 3:25-27

I love, love, LOVE these verses!!!

The Law provided guidelines by which God’s people needed to live to obtain atonement from sins. His people needed a tutor. We don’t need a tutor any longer.

We are sons and daughters of the Father through our faith in Christ. We can enter directly into the Father’s presence because of Jesus’ intercession for us!!

And not only are we sons and daughters of our heavenly Father, but we are also “clothed” with Christ. We take on His godly attributes when we are baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

We can take off the influences of the flesh and put on the fruit of the Spirit

That’s what faith in Jesus Christ, our Messiah, does for us. And even though we don’t need tutoring by the Law, our faith in Christ gives us the desire to serve the Father and follow His commandments.

It delights Him when we choose to follow Him and His commands—not out of compulsion, but with willing hearts. 

Custody Under the Law (Galatians 3:22-24)

Today’s scripture: Galatians 3:22-24

Everyone sins. Everyone. Try as you might not to, you still sin. A burst of anger at another driver. A lustful thought. A momentary envy.

Everyone sins.

And before “faith came,” that is, faith in Jesus Christ, mankind was “kept in custody under the law.” Think of that word, custody. Being under the “immediate charge and control” (Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary). If a person wanted to be righteous, he had to give himself entirely to the Law.

In addition, the Law was the “tutor,” by which people learned what to do—and what not to do—to find atonement. In other words, the Law told mankind how to behave in order to find favor with Creator God.

Can you imagine? Having to watch every single thing you said and did. Every thought. Wondering if you missed something. Did something. Thought something. Anything that might make you lose God’s favor.

What a sad, difficult way to live. And without a once-for-all sacrifice, that’s how we would live.

But stay tuned, tomorrow, we’ll see yet again that there’s another way!

The Seed of Promise (Galatians 3:19)

Today’s scripture: Galatians 3:19

If God the Father always had a plan for our salvation through the death and resurrection of His Son, why the Law?

Because we humans are fleshly and sinful. And without a system of law, we’d run amok. Think of our world without laws. Without traffic law or civil law or criminal law. Frightening? Indeed.

So the Father instigated a system of Law so we’d know how to behave. We learn we shouldn’t take things that don’t belong to us. We shouldn’t hurt others. We should tell the truth.

Love God. Love others.

But the Law doesn’t save us.

Salvation comes only through the “promise” of the “seed.” Jesus, the one “seed” from Abraham. The promised Messiah. The once-for-all sacrifice. The fulfillment of the Law.

Our Mediator.

Broke the Law Lately? (Galatians 3:10)

Today’s scripture: Galatians 3:10

Can you imagine if we didn’t live under God’s grace? If, in order to be forgiven and therefore righteous in God’s eyes, we had to follow the Law—completely?

It would be impossible. None of us would make it. Have you read Leviticus lately? It truly would be impossible for anyone to “abide by all things written in the book of the law.” And if we can’t do so? We are cursed.

What if you had to somehow make up for any broken law? You burst out in anger at your children. Some unwholesome word pops out (see Ephesians 4:29). You tell a “white lie” to your spouse. You neglect some ritualistic cleansing.

You break the Law.

Maybe just one tiny part of the Law. Maybe something seemingly insignificant. According to the Bible, breaking of one law is breaking them all.

And it really is impossible for anyone to keep every single law.

It would seem we’re doomed … ah, but wait until tomorrow! We’ll see the hope we who follow Christ have! 

Grace Upon Grace (John 1:16-18)

Today's scripture: John 1:16-18

Grace upon grace. I love these words. Grace, as we know, means unmerited favor. We receive salvation, not because of anything we've done, but because of what God has done for us. Jesus' coming to earth to pay the penalty for our sins allows us to be reconciled to our Father.

Even more, before Jesus' incarnation, God's people followed His law. They received atonement for their sins through annual sacrifice of a perfect, flawless lamb. After Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection, however, He Himself became truth, and we who follow Him are no longer under the law (Romans10:4; Galatians 5:8; Philippians 3:9).

While we still should adhere to some Old Testament commandments (no other gods, honoring parents, not stealing or lying) and New Testament exhortations (living the fruit of the Spirit), our main focus should be on loving and serving God—heart, soul, mind, and strength—and loving and serving others.

And as we remember what God has done for us, simply because He loves us, we should surrender ourselves to Him daily, seeking His will. Because if we don't, if we continue to live as we choose, then we're saying, as Paul wrote, "Christ died needlessly" (Galatians 2:21). So then, "What should we say? Should we keep on sinning, so that God’s wonderful kindness will show up even better? No, we should not! If we are dead to sin, how can we go on sinning?" (Romans6:1-2, CEV).

God has given the most amazing gift of grace to each of us who has chosen to follow Him. Grace upon grace. The question is, are we living to honor that gift?

Living For Christ (1 Cor. 10:23-30)

All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify. Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor. Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions for conscience’ sake; FOR THE EARTH IS THE LORD’S, AND ALL IT CONTAINS. If one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience’ sake. But if anyone says to you, “This is meat sacrificed to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience’ sake; I mean not your own conscience, but the other man’s; for why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience? If I partake with thankfulness, why am I slandered concerning that for which I give thanks?
(1 Corinthians 10:23-30, NASB)

God established the law to help His created beings know how to live. As Paul wrote to the church in Rome: “I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COVET’” (7:7, NASB).

But those of us who have accepted the gift of grace and salvation through the sacrificial death and resurrection of our Savior are no longer under the law (see Galatians 3:13; 4:5). Instead of focusing on a list of “do’s” or “do not’s,” we should instead focus on living as Christ did. We should strive to love our God—heart, soul, mind, and strength—and love our neighbors (see Mark 12:30-31).

Think of it: If each of us really focused on living the “fruit” of the Spirit, how different would this world be? If only we were people of “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23a, NKJV). Why? “Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (5:23b-25).

However, even if we're not under the law, just because we can do something, doesn’t mean we should do something. We’re not all gifted the same way, and each of us is called to serve God in the way He’s called.

Certainly, we need to live righteously, but more importantly, we need to seek God’s will in all things. striving to glorify our Lord.