What does Romans 6:15 mean by "under grace" instead of "under law"? Text of Romans 6:15 “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!” Immediate Context: Romans 6 and the Argument of Sanctification Romans 6 opens with Paul’s rebuttal to the slanderous charge that the gospel encourages sin (6:1–2). Verses 1–14 ground every believer’s identity in union with Christ’s death and resurrection, showing that sin’s reign is broken (6:6–7). Verse 14 concludes, “For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” Verse 15 resumes the same objection in sharper form: does grace imply moral laxity? Paul again thunders, “Certainly not!” (mē genoito), the strongest Greek denial. Paul’s Rhetorical Question and Emphatic Denial Paul anticipates a distortion: if the believer is freed from Torah’s penalty and ceremonial demands, does that open the door to willful sin? His “Certainly not!” declares the thought morally absurd and theologically impossible, because grace unites the believer to Christ, breaking sin’s mastery. Theological Framework: Law, Grace, and the New Covenant 1. Law’s purpose: to expose sin and lead sinners to Christ (Romans 3:20; Galatians 3:24). 2. Grace’s provision: Christ fulfills the law on our behalf (Matthew 5:17; Romans 8:3–4) and inaugurates the New Covenant promised in Jeremiah 31:31–34. 3. Covenantal transfer: believers are “released from the law” to “serve in the new way of the Spirit” (Romans 7:6). Thus “under grace” does not abolish morality; it internalizes it. Freedom from Sin’s Dominion: Union with Christ’s Death and Resurrection Verses 3–11 insist that believers died to sin with Christ and now live to God. Grace changes position (justified) and condition (renewed nature). Sin remains present but no longer reigns (6:12). Hence deliberately persisting in sin contradicts the very essence of grace. Grace as Empowerment, Not License Titus 2:11–12 : “For the grace of God has appeared…training us to renounce ungodliness.” Grace is a teacher producing holiness. Galatians 5:13 warns not to “use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh,” but to serve through love. Grace empowers obedience by: • Indwelling Spirit (Romans 8:9–14). • New heart and desires (Ezekiel 36:26–27). • Assured forgiveness that fosters gratitude-driven obedience (Luke 7:47). Implications for Christian Ethics Being “under grace” establishes: 1. Motivation: love and gratitude, not fear of condemnation (1 John 4:18–19). 2. Standard: the “law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2), encompassing moral norms now written on the heart. 3. Power: divine enablement, making holiness attainable though never perfected this side of glorification (Philippians 2:12–13). Harmony with the Rest of Scripture • John 1:17: “For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” • Hebrews 10:1–18 shows Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice superseding repeated offerings. • Psalm 119 upholds God’s statutes as good, anticipating the heart transformation fulfilled under grace. Scripture therefore harmonizes law’s goodness with grace’s supremacy. Historical and Jewish Background First-century Judaism revered Torah as covenant badge. Paul, a former Pharisee, clarifies that Torah without Messiah leaves one condemned (Romans 10:1–4). Archaeological finds such as the 1st-century “Heliodorus inscription” and Qumran’s Dead Sea Scrolls confirm meticulous law-keeping culture, heightening the radical nature of Paul’s grace proclamation. Early Church Witness Ignatius (c. AD 110) wrote to the Magnesians, “It is absurd to profess Christ Jesus and to Judaize,” echoing Romans 6:15’s insistence that grace, not law-keeping, governs Christian living. Polycarp similarly urges believers to “walk in the commandment of the Lord,” revealing grace’s ethical demands. Systematic Theology: Soteriology and Sanctification Justification: instantly places the believer “in Christ,” removing condemnation (Romans 8:1). Sanctification: progressive outworking of that position, made possible only because the believer is “under grace.” Grace supplies: • Positional truth (Colossians 3:1–4). • Practical means (Spirit, Word, fellowship). • Prospective hope (glorification, 1 John 3:2–3). Pastoral Application 1. Assurance: When tempted, recall that sin’s authority is legally severed; rely on the Spirit. 2. Accountability: Grace invites community exhortation (Hebrews 10:24–25). 3. Worship: Gratitude for grace fuels obedience (Romans 12:1–2). Common Misconceptions Addressed • Antinomianism: misreads freedom as lawlessness; Paul rejects this (6:15). • Legalism: seeks sanctification by rule-keeping; under grace, the believer obeys by spiritual life, not external compulsion (Galatians 3:3). • Perfectionism: ignores ongoing struggle; while sin’s reign is broken, its presence persists until glorification (1 John 1:8). Conclusion: Living Under Grace “Under grace” signals a new realm where God’s favor justifies, regenerates, and empowers. Far from excusing sin, it dethrones it. Therefore Romans 6:15 teaches that believers, no longer condemned by the Mosaic code, are liberated to embody righteousness through the living Christ. |
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