What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Presuming Upon Grace
When we realise how nothing can effect our salvation, we might be tempted just to cruise. A middle school student asked last week how God could forgive us so easily. I responded by telling the junior highers that they deserved crucifixion. Then I described in detail the death that Jesus died. The life which we have been given was never cheap. If we understand how dearly our lives were purchased, we would not consider treating it lightly.
Prayer
I do not think of your grace as often as I should. Increase my gratitude by helping me think of it more often.
Questions
- What has led to Paul cautioning those who would presume upon grace?
- What is a right response to the fact that Jesus has died for us?
- Why doesn’t the argument just stop at Jesus’ death?
- How do people today treat God’s grace with contempt?
- What is an appropriate life to live in light of the death and resurrection of Jesus?
Plymothian 
We need to constantly be reminded of the price that was paid for us. We do not deserve this gift, and yet we live like we did. I need to do a better job at reminding myself daily of the grace I have received, not to make myself feel better about my actions, but to serve as a reminder about the gift I have been given.
What has led to Paul cautioning those who would presume upon grace?
People are using grace to justify their sinful actions and desires. The people have misused grace.
What is a right response to the fact that Jesus has died for us?
That we put off sin and walk in a new way of life that honors Him.
Why doesn’t the argument just stop at Jesus’ death?
Because if Jesus had not rose from the dead then our faith would be in vain, we would be the most foolish people ever, and there would be no hope for new life and eternal life.
How do people today treat God’s grace with contempt?
They use it as a safety net for sin. I know for my own self it is easy to think that if I fall short its all good, I’m covered by grace. It is so tempting to have a passive mindset when it comes to sin and to think that if it happens, it happens. I believe that Christ calls me to live a proactive life against sin, where I am consistently making the effort to work along the Holy Spirit as He sanctifies me. I need to do my part when it comes to grace as well.
What is an appropriate life to live in light of the death and resurrection of Jesus?
A life lived that bears fruit as evidence of justification by grace through faith.
I think it is our natural human tendency to try and take advantage of God’s grace. However, biblical teaching is contrary to this idea. One passage that sticks out to me concerning this topic is Hebrews 10: 26 – 29. “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?” People say that the God of the Old Testament and the New Testament are not the same, but honestly I think the warning here is more severe than most things found in the Old Testament, and is an excellent reminder not to take advantage of the Lord’s grace.
1. What has led to Paul cautioning those who would presume upon grace? He recognizes the seriousness of presuming upon grace and the trouble that it can cause in the life of a Christian and how easy it can to excuse our own sin in the face of grace
2. What is a right response to the fact that Jesus has died for us? Repentance, acceptance, obedience, gratitude
3. Why doesn’t the argument just stop at Jesus’ death? Because if Christ had not risen from the grave we are without hope, without our own “newness of life”
4. How do people today treat God’s grace with contempt? People laugh at the idea of Christ and do not respond positively to His offer of salvation
5. What is an appropriate life to live in light of the death and resurrection of Jesus? A life dependent on Christ, one informed by the life, death, and resurrection of life and following after Christ
A lot of times I am a lot like that junior higher, falling into not appreciating God’s grace like I should. I don’t know if I could ever be grateful enough-the hugeness of what God does for me is incomprehensible. But I pray that I will think of His grace more often, and live in a manner that shows my gratefulness, knowing that my actions could never deem me worthy.
Often I think I should be forgiven easily, because I think I’m not a big sinner. But when I stop and look at my life, I see my sin everywhere. Father, help me to remember I need Your grace desperately. I cannot save myself. Help me, too, to remember that I have been baptized into death and raised for new life. Help me walk in newness of life. Amen.
This is very convicting because even until now, I am tempted to sin and take God’s grace and forgiveness for granted. Prayer: Lord, you know how I need you every moment. I see my sin so clearly everywhere in my life. Lord, thank you for saving me. Thank you for giving me difficult times to depend on you more, and lastly, thank you for the mission/vision you have given me to accomplish on this side of earth. Lord, all things are possible THROUGH you. May I give thanks to you at all times.
People have a bent to be sinful and to justify their sinfulness. Paul spoke into this by saying that Jesus did not die so that we might sin more, but so that sin might be done away with! But He did not just die so that we would be dead to sin, but He lives so that we have a positive way of living now. The positive outweighs the negative! It is glorious new life that we can live in Him if we die to sin and choose to honor God. His grace enables us to live for Him, not just to exist.
The misconception that I see in evangelicalism today is that people feel they deserve the grace that Jesus has to offer. They are entitled and they want it now! If there is no grace for them, they’ll just pack up and leave. Sadly I get caught in this whirlwind of entitlement mentality. It’s a humbling thing to realize that we deserve not one speck of grace, not one!!! But…..we have been given the greatest grace, and that is Jesus. That alone should shudder our bones.. And that is what keeps me on the straight and narrow. Thank you God!
The mindset that Paul is describing here is a dangerous one. As believers we must guard against apathy and laziness when it comes to our sin and receiving the forgiveness and grace of God that was so painfully purchased for us.
“The life which we have been given was never cheap.” How often do I forget this in the busyness of day to day life? Lord may I never forget the cost at which my life came. Christ gave everything for me. May I not become complacent or lazy.
How often do we take the Christian life “lightly.” I know I have a tendency to do that and take advantage of the fact that God forgives us no matter what. It bothers me that my sins are willful denials of His goodness and grace. It’s not like I’m oblivious to the fact of whether or not some things I do are sins. I willingly deny Him at times. This reveals a lot about my heart and I pray that the Lord would grow me in that area.
I often wrestle with this question of God’s grace. Actually, when I first became a Christian, I considered the gift of grace in a more serious and heavy way than I do now. When I was a new Christian (I still technically am one), every time I would sin, I felt a heavy amount of guilt about it. The longer I have known Christ, the more I seem to feel “secure of my salvation” in a negative way. I know that Christ died a gruesome death in my place, and I need to think about that everyday.
1. People who do so abuse grace.
2. Recognition of sin, repentance, an accepting of Christ and His grace, and obedience filled with thankfulness.
3. If it stops at death then we cannot have life as Jesus does and enter into fellowship with Him.
4. I think people think of themselves as too good to need Christ which is heartbreaking.
5. An appropriate life to live would be a life which is given entirely to Christ to use for His glory and even that falls short of what He deserves but that’s all we have.