Amazing Grace

  BY Argie Simonis

The letter to the Romans is Paul's masterpiece on the subject of God's Grace. If we really understand what it means to be under the Grace of God and not under the Law, we are freed from many bonds (guilt, self-blame, frustration, low self-esteem, unforgiveness and much more).

"For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace.

What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

Know you not, that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey; whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness?" Rom. 6:14-16

If you have never asked yourself the same question Paul asks here:

"So what? Will we sin, because we are not under law, but under grace?", 

then you have not understood the true meaning of God's Grace.

Sin can not dominate us when we are under grace. Grace frees us from sin, while the Law strengthens sin:

"The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law." 1Cor. 15:56

If sin prevails over us, it is because we are under the Law. What we read in Romans 6:14 clearly shows that a true believer is not under the Law.

It is equally important to realize that Grace does not give us a liscence to sin, but frees us from sin and teaches us how to live godly lives:

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,

Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;" Titus 2:11-12

After we have been born again, our spirit becomes one with the Spirit of God, we become new creatures:

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2Cor 5:17

The reason that the believer still continues to sin is the residues of our old selves (wrong way of thinking, bad habits, wrong feelings) that have remained in our unrenewed mind. That is why Paul writes:

"And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Rom. 12:2

Understanding our freedom from the Old Testament Law is a prerequisite for breaking the dominion of sin in our lives. The reason this happens is because the Law reinforced sin by creating guilt that brings condemnation and death:

"Now we know that what things soever the law said, it said to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." Rom. 3:19-20

The Law also brought the wrath of God against our sins

"Because the law works wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression." Rom. 4:15

But when we accept Christ's redemptive work for our sins, we no longer need to fear the wrath of God, because all His wrath has been put on Jesus. The wages of sin, which is death, has already been paid by our Lord on the Cross of Golgotha.

The Law was given for a very specific purpose:

"Why the law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster." Gal. 3:24-25

Knowing this, then, we are freed from the dominion of sin, even though as Christians we may continue to sin because we are still in the process of renewing our minds:

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1John. 1:8-9

But the great benefit we enjoy because of this gift of our Lord, His amazing Grace, is that we are no longer condemned and we do not feel separated from God because of our sins, but we are free to run to God for help instead of walking away from Him out of fear:

"Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16

I will close the message with some food for thought:

"What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid."

This is the third time that Paul has asked this question (Romans 3:8; 6:1, and this verse). If no one ever comes up with this question, that is, if man can finally simply continue to live in sin, then we have not preached the Gospel as Paul did.

Amen!