Today, we want to look at “GRACE, NOT A LICENSE TO SIN.” Every Born-Again Believer has been called to liberty. But we should not use this liberty in Christ as an excuse to sin.
“Stand fast therefore, in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage……..13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another” (Gal. 5:1, 13).
Because of this liberty we have in Christ, so many people in the church today say they can do whatever they want because grace has taken care of the consequences of sin past, present and future.
Yes, we have liberty in Christ but this liberty is not for you to do as you want but to do as you ought.
2 Corinthians 3:17 says, “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
How can you believe that a holy God will let you into His holy Heaven when your garment of righteousness is stained with sin?
“And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life” (Rev. 21:27).
No! God did not save us so that we can continue to sin. God saved us so that we can serve Him and not sin.
Romans 6:1-2 says, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”
The grace of God does not excuse sin. Rather, it empowers righteousness. It enables us to say no to sin. The grace of God teaches us to: 1) deny ungodliness, 2) deny worldly lusts, 3) live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world (Tit. 2:11-14).
Yes, you can do whatsoever you want. But the question is “should you?” For instance, you can jump into the pit toilet. But should you? You can commit immorality. But should you? Think of it, just because you can, does not mean that you should do it.
That which you want to do, does it line up with God’s Word? Of course, I can rob a bank, but I won’t do that because it is not in line with God’s Word. Again, I do not want to suffer the consequences of robbing a bank - I don’t want to go to jail.
The book of Romans talks much about this topic:
1. Do not serve sin. Romans 6:6 says, “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.”
2. Be dead to sin. Romans 6:11 says, “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
3. Do not let sin reign in your mortal body. Romans 6:12 says, “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.”
4. Yield your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God” (Rom. 6:13).
Romans 8:6-8 says, “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”
If you are in the flesh, you cannot please God. What does it mean to be in the flesh? This means to live according to the desires of the flesh (Gal. 5:18-19).
5. Be holy. Romans 12:1-2 says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
You should never abuse the work of grace by sinning.
Because God loved us so much (Jn. 3:16) that He gave us His grace to save us through faith in the finished work of Christ, we also ought to be so touched to serve Him and not sin.
You insult the Holy Spirit when you say, “I am glad I am saved, and now I have the liberty to go and sin as I want.”
“…and hath done despite (insult, despise) unto the Spirit of grace?” (Heb. 10:29).
The New Creature cannot sin. 1 John 3:8-10 says, “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”
6. Grieve not the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30). You grieve the Holy Spirit when you contradict the Word of God.
As a Christian, if you happen to sin you will lose your peace. If you enjoy sinning, then you are not saved yet.
Ephesians 4:26 says, “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath.”
1 John 2:1-2 says, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”
Ephesians 5:1-4 says, “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour. 3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.”
7. Depart from Iniquity. 2 Timothy 2:19 says, “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
What are we supposed to do as Christians? We are not supposed to look at God’s grace as an excuse to go and sin. We are supposed to look at His grace as a reason to depart from iniquity.
2 Timothy 2:20-23 says, “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. 22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
What is Grace? Grace is God giving you what you don’t ever deserve – salvation.
When you get saved, you get things you don’t deserve:
1. You get forgiveness (Eph. 1:7),
2. You get eternal life (1 Jn. 5:13),
3. You become a child of God (Jn. 1:12),
4. You get God’s imputed righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21),
5. You get a home in heaven (Jn. 14:2-3),
6. You get divine health and divine healing on the earth (1 Pet. 2:24),
What is Grace? Grace is also defined as God not giving you what you really deserve.
What do you and I deserve? We deserve hell for all eternity because we were sinners before we came to Christ.
But instead of hell God gave us Heaven.
Salvation is not by works. It is by grace as we put our faith in the finished work of Christ.
When you get saved, it requires that you now do good works. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are His workmanship (masterpiece), created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
We become Christians through God’s unmerited favor, not as a result of any effort, ability, intelligent choice, or act of service on our part.
However, out of gratitude for this free gift, we will seek to help and serve others with kindness, love, and gentleness, and not merely to please ourselves.
While no action or work we do can help us obtain salvation, God’s intention is that our salvation will result in acts of service.
We are not saved merely for our own benefit but to serve Christ and build up the church. Ephesians 4:11-13 says, “And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ”
So, when you are saved, you are expected to do good works. We are saved to serve, and not to sin.
Grace is not a liberty to sin, but an opportunity to serve Jesus Christ.
In conclusion, do not use the grace of God as an occasion to sin, but as an opportunity to serve God.
Watch out for the next edition of Good News from the Pulpit!
Your friend, I. I. Madubunyi (Senior Pastor, HOG) 12.03. 2023
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