That Grace May Abound

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” Romans 6:1-2

Down through the ages, there has been a continuing controversy regarding the work of grace in the life of an individual and what the implications of various interpretations of scripture might mean in a practical sense to our daily lives. Are we saved by grace or by works? Are good works necessary to salvation, or are they the result of an inward transformation? Where do we draw the line between the power of God and human effort? Much effort has been invested in drawing clear lines of distinction between the various theological viewpoints, and yet a great deal of confusion remains in the minds of many. There seems to have been a major shift in recent years towards an emphasis on the grace of God. To some, the grace of God has become the excuse for the modern Christian to live any way that He pleases. Sin doesn’t seem like a big deal to many who claim to be saved because they are relying on the grace of God. Paul addresses this idea in the passage above. He makes it clear that God does not want us to continue to live in sin just because we know that He will forgive us. While it is true that good works do not save us and that God’s grace allows Him to forgive us when we accept Christ as Saviour, it is also true that God does not want us to continue with a sinful lifestyle. When we sin, God wants us to confess and forsake our sin, rather than take advantage of His grace.