Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?

Some religious people falsely accused Apostle Paul of teaching that it is okay to sin because of grace (Romans 3:7-8;) same thing many religious people in the church falsely aaccuse grace children of doing today!

Remember Romans 6:1 "...Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?" Paul used this rhetorical question to explain how sin will not have dominion over those who are under Grace. But today, religious people are twisting this verse to mean that we are to keep the law (where sin has dominion one) in order to remain saved. Paul taught no such thing. This is what Paul preached: Romans 5:20- "Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more,"

See the NLT version: "The law came along to multiply the trespass. But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more"

This verse tells us that the law was designed to make sin increase; the more one tries to keep the law to get right with God, the more sin will increase in the life of that one. "But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more,"

Like Paul's accusers, many in the church misunderstand or are against preaching the truth of Romans 5:20 because they interpret "But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more," as a verse that will give believers (but not themselves) the excuse to go on sinning sprees, since grace is there to accommodate their ever increasing sin. The norm in many churches is to try to "balance" grace by introducing the letter that kills to the gospel. Neither cold nor hot!

"Grace abounded much more" is interpreted as a license to sin, even to the point of misinterpreting Paul's rhetorical question "Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?" as meaning that Paul preached that believers must also keep the law in order to remain saved. Not so! See how grace is multiplied even more where sin is multiplied: Remember Matthew 1:21-

"And she will have a Son, and you are to name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

Again, "But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more," This verse does not mean that we are continually forgiven so that we can continue to sin. "Grace abounded much more" is Christ saving us from our sins so that we do not continue in sin! This is why He came!

Jesus Christ, Grace personified, came to save us from our sins. The more the sins (where sin abounded) the "super more" the power of God in saving from those sins (grace abounded much more.) He saves us from sin by His super-abounding grace SO THAT we do not continue in sin. In Paul's words in Romans 6:1- "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?"

Christ died our death that we might be saved from sin. When one is saved from sin thus, how can he continue to live any longer in it? Where grace abounded much more, we do not continue in sin because of the abundance of grace - Jesus' saving us from our sins - in our lives. It is receiving this abundance of grace that gives us victory over sin. See Romans 5:17-

"For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and His gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one Man, Jesus Christ."

See the NKJV "For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)"

Where "grace abounded much more," we get to reign over sin. So next time you hear those who are still trying to twist the gospel to their own advantage tell you "Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound," as a reason for you to go back to keeping the law in order to be righteous, point them to the abundance of the grace and the gift of righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ that cause us to live in triumph over sin.