Daily Reading: Romans 6
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? ... For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! (Romans 6.1-2, 14-15)
Devotional Thought: Paul is incredulous: What? Sin every day in word, thought, and deed? You’re joking, right?
Paul couldn’t countenance the idea of a saint of God living as a sinner. He knew that our works would not justify us – only the blood of Jesus does that – but he also knew that the outward works of our lives would demonstrate the inward change in our hearts.
The Bible does not call the followers of Jesus sinners. It calls us saints. We know that man doesn’t always live up to the ideal, but that is the ideal!
In the Bible we find a tension between God’s ideal and man’s attainment. In the Old Testament we find offerings and sacrifices for sins of error, but none for willful sins. It seems that God was assuming that his people would willingly obey his Law. What about the words of Solomon: "For there is no one who does not sin…" (2 Chronicles 6.36)? What does that mean? Contrast that to the words of John: "I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin" (1 John 2.1). John, however, goes on to say, "If anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." Jesus himself taught us to pray: “Forgive us our debts,” implying that we would need forgiveness for sins.
So which is it? Are we saints or sinners? Well, the Bible says we are called to be saints (Romans 1.7).
It seems to me that our goal should be sinlessness. We should not make provision for a sinning religion. That would be presumption. However, when we fall into sin, we should repent, forsake our sin, ask for forgiveness, and go on walking with Jesus, knowing he is our advocate!
Prayer: Lord, help me not to fall into the trap of believing that I am to continue in sin so that grace may abound. It sounds so humble (and pious!) when I say, "I'm just a sinner saved by grace." Help me to be truly humble and say, "Thank you, God, for saving me from the dominion of sin and making me into a saint. Amen."
Psalm of the Day: 24.1-6
1 The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,
2 for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.
3 Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.
5 He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah
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