I was thinking about how Christians say we are under grace, not Law. We say this because we recognize that our salvation comes as a gift of God. It is not something we earn. Some try to use this as license to behave without restriction. Paul faced that in the early church. Some people were saying that if they sinned more and they were saved by grace it would multiply the amount of grace and that would be good. So they encouraged people to sin. You realize when you read this that crazy sophists have been around for a long time.
Paul responded to these people.
(Romans 6:1-2 KJV) What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?Grace did not destroy the Law. Remember the words of Jesus.
(Matthew 5:17 KJV) Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.Grace did not make righteous living unnecessary. There has always a conflict in Christian circles about the place of righteous living which is a way of saying the Law is important. All would agree it is a good thing in general but some seem to think it is optional. What is the place of law when you live under grace? Do you need to follow the rules?
To be continued...
homo unius libri
You have to obey the rules, even under grace.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I think the Bible agrees. But there are some who say you don't. Paul had to deal with them. They are still around.
DeleteGrace and peace.