2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?
2 Certainly not!
This assertion “certainly not” repudiates the idea—with a resounding “ghastly thought!”—that people should sin more to experience more of God’s grace. Grace never defers to licentiousness. Some people use grace to cloak their sin.
Grace is so dynamic that it breaks the domination of sin. We cannot be cordial with the sin capacity. Grace not only deals with forgiveness of sin, but it breaks sin’s domination over the believer.
Paul repeated this point in 6:15. This second question proposes the idea of an occasional act of sin, since grace makes it intolerable to live a life of habitual sin. The answer to that question is found in 6:16-23. The idea is that the Christian changed owners at salvation. It is not his propensity to sin without regard for his new standing and status.
PRINCIPLE:
There is no justification without resulting sanctification.
APPLICATION:
God does not declare people righteous without giving “newness of life.” Although justification has nothing to do with sanctification, sanctification is the inevitable outcome of justification. Sanctification starts with justification.
