Ever since Eve was deceived and Adam sinned man has gone his own way. First, God wiped out all mankind except Noah and his family because “every intention of the thoughts of his heart were continually evil” (Gen. 6:5). God gave us a second chance because he found Noah, a preacher of righteousness (2 Pet. 2:5). When the Israelites were in the wilderness during the time of the Exodus, their rebellion and sin against God reached such an extreme level that God was compelled to reveal their wicked hearts to them and lay down the consequences of their actions. He was fed up…again.
God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. (Rom. 5:20 NLT)
The law came in so sin could increase. Then we could all see how sinful we really were. It showed sin for what it really was and showed us who we really were deep down inside. Now there was a standard of conduct to measure ourselves against. We were weighed in the balance and found wanting (i.e. Dan. 5:27). But this also showed us that God’s grace is always able to cover our sins, no matter how sinful we are.
God did that, then He brought an end to the law. Once we realized that we are sinners in need of grace, He then gave us the Grace Giver. “The Law came through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17).
What is Paul saying? “Where sin abounded, grace abounded all the more.” In other words, no matter how wicked we were all behaving, the sacrifice of Christ is able to cover it all. There is no depth of sin, level of depravity, or darkened past that His grace cannot reach. His solution was Grace. Period.
And all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Rom. 3:24)
The answer is to come under God’s grace. If we do, then our sin is no longer counted against us because His grace covers all sin.
For sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. (Rom. 5:13)
Where there is no law sin is not counted against us! For Christ is the end of the Law, in order to bring righteousness to everyone who believes. (Rom. 10:4)
And how do we come under grace? Through faith in the Grace Giver!
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. (Eph, 2:8-9)
Our works have nothing to do with it. Grace is not of ourselves, it is the gift of God. Just believe and receive the gift!
If you are under grace you are not under the law.
Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under thefreedom of God’s grace. (Rom. 6:14 NLT)
The wage you owe for your sin was already paid for. The wages of sin is death and Jesus died for your sins.
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 6:23)
So, does that mean that since we are no longer under the law but under grace that we can sin all we want and it doesn’t matter? That all depends. Do you want to be a slave to what destroys you or a servant of the Grace Giver which brings an abundant and fruitful life?
What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? (Rom. 6:15-16)
Grace is God’s solution. God’s Righteousness At Christ’s Expense