WHAT THEN?
“What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!”
Romans 6:15 (NKJV)
READ: Romans 6:15–23; Ephesians 4:17–24; Colossians 3:1–10
The question asked in this verse could be considered rhetorical. It could serve as an answer to the proponents of the idea that once saved is always saved, because they say whoever is justified
cannot be condemned. According to them, no one can bring a charge
against the justified one—and they substantiate their point with Romans 8:33–35.
However, the passage being quoted by them is being wrongly interpreted. Romans 8:33–35 was not saying no one
can bring a charge against a believer who is still living in sin.
Whoever is still living in habitual sin, whether a professed believer or an unbeliever, is still of the devil (1 John 3:8). Whoever is born of God—that is, whoever is reborn—does not sin or live habitually in sin, because God’s seed is in him:
“NO ONE WHO IS BORN OF GOD [deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] PRACTICES SIN, BECAUSE GOD’S SEED [His principle of life, the essence of His righteous character] REMAINS [permanently] IN HIM [who is born again—who is reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose]; AND HE [who is born again] CANNOT HABITUALLY [live a life characterized by] SIN,
BECAUSE HE IS BORN OF GOD AND LONGS TO PLEASE HIM" (1 John 3:9 amps).
In the next verse of that 1 John 3, verse 10: “IN THIS THE CHILDREN OF GOD AND THE CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL ARE MANIFEST: WHOEVER DOES NOT
PRACTICE RIGHTEOUSNESS IS NOT OF GOD, NOR IS HE WHO DOES NOT LOVE HIS BROTHER.”
We could see that the person who is quoting Romans 8:33–35 to get himself entrenched in sin and still claiming to be of God is completely wrong in the light of 1 John 3:6–10, because such a
person is considered to be of the devil by 1 John 3:8.
Thus, back to our text, Romans 6:15: a believer cannot habitually live in sin and be claiming to be under grace and not under law.
In the next verse, Romans 6:16, it says:
“DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT TO WHOM YOU PRESENT YOURSELVES SLAVES TO OBEY, YOU ARE THAT ONE’S SLAVES WHOM YOU OBEY, WHETHER OF SIN
LEADING TO DEATH, OR OF OBEDIENCE LEADING TO RIGHTEOUSNESS.”
In other words, if you yield yourself to obey sin, being motivated by your flesh, which leads to death; it means you are a slave of sin. After being reborn and set free from sin, you become a slave of righteousness (Romans 6:18). Those who have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God have their fruit in holiness, and the end, everlasting life (Romans 6:22).
• If you are truly reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:18), you will keep your body or members unto holiness (Ephesians 4:21–24).
• You will crucify and tame your flesh:
“AND THOSE WHO ARE CHRIST’S HAVE CRUCIFIED THE FLESH WITH ITS PASSIONS AND DESIRES" (Galatians 5:24 NKJV).
Take a step to do that now; stop living habitually in sin!
Reflect:
• Have you ever used the concept of ‘grace’ to excuse habitual sin? What does today’s passage say about that?
• What does it mean practically to present your members as instruments of righteousness?
Peace.
The Edification Daily Devotional for June is out.
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