A License to Sin
There are those that believe the biblical teaching of salvation by grace apart from any religious or moral law gives the Christian a license to sin. Paul addressed this thought in Romans 6:15 by saying: What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Even though the believer will never experience the wrath of God in hell, there are still consequences for disobedience.
Salvation is more than just forgiveness. The Bible says that the believer becomes an adopted child of God. We read in Galatians 4:4 and 5: But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
As a redeemed child of God, the Lord's purpose and plan for our lives is to grow us into healthy, mature Christians. Therefore sin in the Christians life will bring about Gods correction in the form of chastisement, or punishment. The writer of Hebrews said in chapter 12 verses 6: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. The corrective hand of God gives evidence to the fact of a believer's sonship. Hebrews 12:8 says: But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
Even though punishment may seem to us as a negative, the end result is spiritual growth. Hebrews 12:11 says: Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
Chastening is not the only effect of sin in the Christians life. The Bible speaks of a day when all believers will be judged by our Lord. This judgment is not to determine our eternal destination, but rather a judgment of our Christian life. This judgment is found in 2 Corinthians 5:10: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Here Jesus Christ will reward those who have forsaken their own lives in exchange for the Lord's will. I believe these rewards are directly related to what position one will have during the millennial, or thousand year reign of Christ. We find this spoken of in 2 Timothy 2:12: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we suffer and abstain from worldliness we can reign with Christ in the millennial, or if we deny his will in this life he will deny us a position during those thousand years.
Unchecked sin can harm weaker Christians. Paul in 1 Corinthians 8:9 said: But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. Young believers can be fragile in their faith and need to be surrounded by strong Christians. It is our responsibility to help our brother to overcome sin. Galatians 6:1 and 2 says: Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Sin will also discredit the gospel message before the lost. Paul rebuked the Jews for boasting of God's law in front of the Gentiles while living lives to the contrary. Sinning against the very law they professed to be keeping. Romans 2:23 and 24 says: Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you... Christians are under constant scrutiny. Our lost coworkers and neighbors notice how we act and talk. When we profess to be saved and live a conflicting lifestyle, unbelievers will mock and ridicule our Lord.
Paul in Romans 12:1 and 2 said: 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. 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. It is reasonable to guard ourselves from becoming entangled in sin so we can please the Lord and be a witness to others around us. When thing enter our lives that are displeasing to the Lord we must be willing to repent. Turn from our sin and ask the Lord to restore us. 1 John 1:9 says: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
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More Than You Can Bearby ElderAnthonyBerry34 views
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