Tokonaki Novema 20, 2021
Te tau pehē koā, Tau nofo‘aki fai angahala, koe‘uhi ke hulu atu ‘a e kelesi?
Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?
Loma 6 (Romans 6)
(v. 1-2) PEA fēfē ai? Te tau pehē koā, Tau nofo‘aki fai angahala, koe‘uhi ke hulu atu ‘a e kelesi? Molekemama‘o! Ko kitaua na‘a ta mate ki he angahala, ‘e fēfē ‘eta kei mo‘ui‘aki ia?
(v. 1-2) What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?
*Commentary: David Guzik Study Guide on Romans*
Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Paul introduced the idea that where sin abounded, grace abounded much more (Romans 5:20). He now wonders if someone might take this truth to imply that it doesn’t matter if a Christian lives a life of sin, because God will always overcome greater sin with greater grace.
After all, if God loves sinners, then why worry about sin? If God gives grace to sinners, then why not sin more and receive more grace? Some people think that their job is to sin and God’s job is to forgive, so they will do their job and God will do His job!
In the early part of the 20th century the Russian monk Gregory Rasputin taught and lived the idea of salvation through repeated experiences of sin and repentance. He believed that because those who sin the most require the most forgiveness, therefore a sinner who continues to sin without restraint enjoys more of God’s grace (when he repents for the moment) than the ordinary sinner. Therefore, Rasputin lived in notorious sin and taught that this was the way to salvation. This is an extreme example of the idea behind Paul’s question “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?“
But in a less extreme way, the question still confronts us. Is the plan of grace “safe”? Won’t people abuse grace? If God’s salvation and approval are given on the basis of faith instead of works, won’t we just say “I believe” and then live any way we please?
From a purely natural or secular viewpoint, grace is dangerous. This is why many people don’t really teach or believe in grace and instead emphasize living by law. They believe that if you tell people that God saves and accepts them apart from what they deserve, then they will have no motive to be obedient. In their opinion, you simply can’t keep people on the straight and narrow without a threat from God hanging over their head. If they believe their position in Jesus is settled because of what Jesus did, then the motivation of holy living is gone.
Shall we continue in sin: The verb tense of the phrase continue in sin (the present active tense) makes it clear that Paul describes the practice of habitual sin. In this first part of Romans 6, Paul writes about someone who remains in a lifestyle of sin, thinking that it is acceptable so that grace may abound.
Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?
Certainly not! For Paul, the idea that anyone might continue in sin that grace may abound is unthinkable. Certainly not is a strong phrase. It might also be translated, “Perish the thought!” Or, “Away with the notion!”
How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Paul establishes an important principle. When we are born again, when we have believed on Jesus for our salvation, our relationship with sin is permanently changed. We have died to sin. Therefore, if we have died to sin, then we should not live any longer in it. It simply isn’t fitting to live any longer in something you have died to.
We who died to sin: At this point, Paul has much to explain about what exactly he means by died to sin, but the general point is clear – Christians have died to sin, and they should no longer live in it. Before, we were dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1); now we are dead to sin.
No comments:
Post a Comment