- Discussion:
-The problem of sin, or violations of divine law, is one that impacts the entirety of mankind. It is for that reason we have justly incurred for ourselves eternal condemnation by God. However, He has provided to us one way of deliverance from that curse through Jesus Christ. God has made known to us the greatness of His love and mercy. Our fates would be irreversible apart from His grace. Consider the following points:
*Those who do not work are declared righteous by God (Romans 4:5).
*God makes righteous the ungodly through faith (Romans 4:5).
*Christ died for the ungodly (Romans 5:6-10).
Does it follow, then, that Christians can continue to live in sin after conversion? Absolutely not. Consider this aspect of Paul's argument:
*The Law is not nullified, but upheld, by faith (Romans 3:31).
*Grace sets us free from the shackles of sin (Romans 6:1-2).
We are called to put away the deeds of the flesh. Those are consistent with our old way of living. We have been purified to serve the living God. Our new calling is a higher one from the lifestyle that we had prior to the experience of conversion.
The very reason that boasting is excluded from justification before God is that we are all sinners, not deserving of His salvation. We did not do anything to appease Him, but He did everything necessary to rescue us. God saved us, regardless of our fallen condition.
It may sound pious to deny that we are sinners saved by His grace, but it is actually arrogant. It is not the truth as to who and what we are (1 John 1:7-10). In fact, Jesus instructed His disciples to pray for the forgiveness of sin on a daily basis (Matthew 6:11-13). Psalms 130:3-4, Proverbs 20:9, and Ecclesiastes 7:20 attest to our sinfulness.
*Christ died for the ungodly (Romans 5:6-10).
Does it follow, then, that Christians can continue to live in sin after conversion? Absolutely not. Consider this aspect of Paul's argument:
*The Law is not nullified, but upheld, by faith (Romans 3:31).
*Grace sets us free from the shackles of sin (Romans 6:1-2).
We are called to put away the deeds of the flesh. Those are consistent with our old way of living. We have been purified to serve the living God. Our new calling is a higher one from the lifestyle that we had prior to the experience of conversion.
The very reason that boasting is excluded from justification before God is that we are all sinners, not deserving of His salvation. We did not do anything to appease Him, but He did everything necessary to rescue us. God saved us, regardless of our fallen condition.
It may sound pious to deny that we are sinners saved by His grace, but it is actually arrogant. It is not the truth as to who and what we are (1 John 1:7-10). In fact, Jesus instructed His disciples to pray for the forgiveness of sin on a daily basis (Matthew 6:11-13). Psalms 130:3-4, Proverbs 20:9, and Ecclesiastes 7:20 attest to our sinfulness.
Heaven is not reserved for people who are already righteous, but sinners who have been saved by the grace of God. Doing good works does not make us a Christian, but divine grace does. The kingdom of heaven is actually reserved for people who do not deserve it. Denying that we are sinners saved by the grace of God is a false gospel and amounts to calling calling Him a liar.
Our sin nature does not cease to exist at conversion. Even the greatest of saints like Abraham and King David sinned during the span of their earthly lives. It is the grace of God that transforms our hearts in this life.
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