What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? Romans 6:1 NIV
I fear that we sometimes get too comfortable with the mercy and grace of God. While it’s healthy to understand God’s love, it’s equally important to understand His authority. A balanced view of God puts us on the right road to having a close, personal relationship with Him. It keeps the enemy from beating us up with condemnation, and at the same time allows us to operate within the perimeters that ensure we continue in fellowship with the Father. This was a perspective Adam and Eve lacked, and consequently they lost the joy of walking with God daily in the garden.
“Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.” Romans 11:22 NIV
Paul admonishes us to consider both the kindness and sternness of God so that we can make wise decisions and place upon ourselves appropriate boundaries for our behavior: boundaries that keep us in right relationship with God. Solomon taught us that wisdom begins with “the fear of the Lord.” Fear in this context insinuates respect. It’s that fearful respect for God’s authority that keeps the enemy from enticing us into the very sin that will ultimately destroy us. This was Paul’s understanding when he wrote to the Christians in Rome:
Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. He will judge everyone according to what they have done. He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil. Romans 2:4-9a NLT
There comes a point in each of our lives when we need to decide if our relationship with God is important enough for us to set aside our sin and pursue righteousness. Does that mean we will never sin again? No, the Bible makes it clear that’s not realistic. God’s mercy and grace will cover us when we fall, but it does mean that we cannot continue in our sin simply because God is merciful. The writer of Hebrews presents a very balanced picture as he talks about the confidence we have before God because of Jesus and the consequence of taking advantage of God’s mercy.
“Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary. Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
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? For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews 10:17-31 NIV
So let’s circle back to our original question.
What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Romans 6:1-2 NIV