Doesn’t an Overemphasis of Grace Lead To a License to Sin?
Doesn’t an overemphasis of grace lead to a license to sin?
Answer:
No, it does not. In Galatians 2:17 Paul says, “If, while we seek to be justified in Christ, it becomes evident that we ourselves are sinners, does that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not!” In this verse the Apostle Paul shows us that it is not a fair conclusion to link the license to sin lifestyle to the freeing message of the Gospel of grace. To put it in another way, the proper effect of the Gospel of Jesus (i.e. justification by grace through faith alone) does not grant a license to sin nor lead us to lawlessness. The Gospel is not and cannot be held responsible for the license to sin mentality. For if this mentality of lawlessness would come about by the preaching and teaching of the Gospel, then that would make Jesus Christ a promoter, supporter and distributor of sin and rebellion! In other words, Paul is declaring in this passage, “God Forbid this rationalization!” Furthermore, we can also know by Galatians 2:17 that if lawlessness and a license to sin exist, that these perverted freedoms can be traced back to something else other than the Gospel of Jesus Christ, namely our sinful nature that takes advantage and twists the Gospel of Grace.
Comments
"We are to consider ourselves dead to sin."
The old man or woman justs hate that, so we need to hear it over and over and over...all throughout our lives.
For the believer, "all things are lawful." "But not all things are profitable."
Something like that.
Thanks, Matt!