Shall We Sin?

What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. - Romans 6:15

    The result of the accomplished work of God the Spirit in the regeneration of a sinner is the impartation of new life, spiritual life, the Spirit of Christ. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his (Rom 8:9). This new life is a dramatic change from the old man, which remains very much alive and well. The new man lives by new desires, and new motives. Believers may do many of the same things that are within themselves good things. He may even refrain from doing bad things. But now they come with new motives and new desires springing from a new heart. On the other hand, because we are now under grace, the true child of grace does not conclude that he has the freedom to live after the flesh. He does not have the attitude that since salvation is by the sovereign grace of God, “it is of no consequence what I do or don’t do, whether I am committed and faithful or not.”

    This attitude reveals faith in a doctrine rather than a desire and love for Christ. The child of grace desires to live his life before God and man in a way that honors and magnifies the glory of his God, because he loves Him. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous (1 Jn 5:3). We do not excuse ourselves from being committed to Christ, his Gospel and his church because we are under grace. Neither do we commit ourselves to be faithful to justify ourselves before God because we are under the law. Living by grace is simply living out our life in this world believing on Christ, looking to Christ, loving Christ, desiring to be faithful and committed to him for his great name’s sake. Without this God-given desire, all is a sham and will be revealed for what it is in our daily life, and in eternal condemnation.

    There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (Rom 8:1).