3. Without balance it keeps people enslaved to sin. When grace is permissive and assumes that God will let certain sins slide, it keeps believers enslaved to sin!
Instead of teaching them the truth that Jesus died to free them from sin, we bind them with chains of deception!
Grace—true grace—breaks these chains with the truth that we have been given the power to live free from sin!
That is what Romans 6-8 is all about.
Paul gave us the key to unlock the chains of sin and walk in the freedom of Jesus’ resurrection power!
Yes, he admitted to his own struggle with sin, but he didn’t leave it there! He didn’t leave us hopeless!
He reminded us that while we live here on earth in an earthly body that is at odds with a spirit that is born again and set free. By the grace of God, we now have the power to choose to walk in freedom!
That is the message of grace!
Not easy-believism.
Not permissiveness.
Rather, grace is the power and authority to reject sin and live in the freedom Jesus purchased on the cross!
Grace is so much more than undeserved favor; it is more than just forgiveness of sin. This definition without the rest of the truth about grace is like eating the appetizer and leaving out the main dish!
Grace is also the ability to stand in the power and authority given to us by the blood of Jesus Christ against the power of sin. And when we do sin, inadvertently and unintentionally, we know that we already have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ. So we don’t have to live under the condemnation of that sin, but have free and full forgiveness right now.
Rosilind Jukic, a Pacific Northwest native, is a missionary living in Croatia and married to her Bosnian hero. Together they live with their two active boys where she enjoys fruity candles, good coffee and a hot cup of herbal tea on a blustery fall evening. Her passion for writing led her to author her best-selling book The Missional Handbook. At A Little R & R she encourages women to find contentment in what God created them to be. You can also find her at Missional Call where she shares her passion for local and global missions. She can also be found at on a regular basis. You can follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google +.
