How does Romans 6:15 address the concept of sinning freely under grace? Verse Text “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!” — Romans 6:15 Immediate Literary Context Paul’s question in 6:15 echoes his earlier rhetorical query in 6:1. In 6:1–14 he argues that believers, united with Christ in His death and resurrection, have died to sin’s mastery. Verses 16–23 will extend that thought, contrasting slavery to sin with slavery to righteousness. Thus 6:15 is the pivot: the gospel of grace cannot be twisted into permission for continued rebellion. Theological Foundation: Union With Christ Romans 6:2–11 declares that believers have been “crucified with Him” so that “we should no longer be slaves to sin” (6:6). Grace accomplishes an ontological change: the old self dies, the new self lives unto God. Consequently, continuing in habitual sin would contradict the believer’s very identity. Grace as Empowerment, Not License Grace (Titus 2:11-14) “teaches us to deny ungodliness.” Far from condoning sin, it furnishes both the motive (gratitude, new heart, Jeremiah 31:33) and the power (indwelling Spirit, Romans 8:13) for obedience. To claim otherwise is to mistake justification (legal standing) for sanctification (ongoing transformation). Cross-References That Reinforce the Principle • Galatians 5:13 — “do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh.” • 1 Peter 2:16 — “live as free men, yet do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil.” • Jude 4 — warns against those who “turn the grace of our God into a license for immorality.” • 1 John 3:9 — “no one born of God practices sin.” Historical and Early Church Witness Ignatius of Antioch (Letter to the Magnesians 8) rebuked any who “bear the Name yet live in the manner of disbelievers.” Irenaeus (Against Heresies 4.13.3) insisted that true knowledge of grace results in “doing what is pleasing to God.” Early testimony confirms that Romans 6:15 was never interpreted as permission to sin but as a safeguard against antinomian error. Practical and Pastoral Implications 1. Assurance without presumption: salvation is secure (Romans 8:30), yet genuine faith evidences itself in holiness (Hebrews 12:14). 2. Discipleship focus: teaching emphasizes who the believer is in Christ, not mere rule-keeping. 3. Church discipline: persistent willful sin contradicts Romans 6:15 and warrants loving correction (Matthew 18:15-17). Doctrine of Sanctification Clarified • Positional: the believer is “under grace” (status). • Progressive: God works in the believer “to will and to act” (Philippians 2:13). Romans 6:15 guards the harmony of both truths: liberty from the law’s condemnation produces, not nullifies, moral transformation. Objections Answered Objection — “Grace alone breeds moral laxity.” Reply — Romans 6:15, backed by the resurrection power (6:4), demonstrates that grace unites believers to a living Christ whose holy nature cannot coexist with habitual sin. Objection — “Insisting on holiness re-imposes law.” Reply — Holiness is fruit, not root. It flows from the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), not from self-generated works. Conclusion Romans 6:15 decisively rules out the notion that divine grace authorizes sinful living. Instead, grace liberates from sin’s tyranny, reorients the heart toward righteousness, and fulfills the very purpose of redemption: “that we might live for the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:12). |
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