What practical steps can you take to avoid abusing grace as warned in Romans 6:1? The Warning in Romans 6:1 “What then shall we say? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may increase?” (Romans 6:1) Why Grace Is Never a License to Sin • Romans 6:2 answers immediately: “Certainly not!” • Jude 4 warns of some who “turn the grace of our God into sensuality.” • Titus 2:11-12 shows grace “trains us to reject ungodliness.” • Genuine grace always leads to holiness, never to indifference. Practical Steps to Guard Against Grace Abuse • Rehearse Your New Identity – You “died to sin” and now “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:2-4). – Speak that truth to your own heart each morning. • Stay Saturated in the Word – Hide Scripture in your heart to ward off sin (Psalm 119:11). – Read Romans 6–8 regularly to keep the gospel’s logic fresh. • Practice Quick, Honest Repentance – Confess sin as soon as the Spirit convicts (1 John 1:9). – Repentance is not re-earning favor; it’s returning to fellowship. • Cultivate a Spirit-Led Prayer Life – Ask daily for the Spirit’s power to “put to death the deeds of the body” (Romans 8:13). – Pray Psalm 139:23-24, inviting God to expose hidden sin. • Build Transparent Accountability – “Confess your sins to one another” (James 5:16). – Meet regularly with a trusted believer who will ask hard questions. • Engage Actively in Local Church Fellowship – Hebrews 10:24-25 links gathering together with stirring up holiness. – Serve, worship, and sit under sound teaching every week. • Guard Your Inputs – Flee whatever stirs temptation (2 Timothy 2:22). – Replace compromising entertainment with what is “pure… commendable” (Philippians 4:8). • Keep the Cross and Resurrection Central – Meditate on 2 Corinthians 5:14-15: Christ’s love controls us, moving us to live for Him. – Remember you were “bought at a price” (1 Corinthians 6:20). • Focus on Eternal Reward – Set your hope fully on the grace to be brought at Christ’s return (1 Peter 1:13). – Viewing life through eternity’s lens makes sin’s fleeting pleasures lose their pull. Living Out Newness of Life • Offer your body as an instrument of righteousness (Romans 6:13). • Serve others through love (Galatians 5:13). • Walk daily by the Spirit so you will not gratify the flesh (Galatians 5:16). Key Verses to Memorize and Apply • Romans 6:11 – “Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” • Titus 2:12 – Grace “instructs us to live sensible, righteous, and godly lives.” • 1 Peter 2:16 – “Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil.” • Hebrews 12:14 – “Pursue holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” |
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