Abusing the Grace of God

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Jun 23, 2015
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Should God's grace be abuse by Christians to sin continuously without changing the behavior? It seems to me that people believe that he or she can sin as a Christian then say I am save by grace and continue to sin. I have committed a sin against the commandment of God, the Holy Spirit convicted me then repented and I did not repeat that sin. Grace does not give a Christian a pass to go card continuing sinning in God's presence because that is abusing the grace of God. Grace is not a license to sin freely as a Christian!


[h=1]Romans 6Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)[/h][h=3]The New Life in Christ[/h]6 What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply? 2 Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father,so we too may walk in a new way[a] of life. 5 For if we have been joined with Him in the likeness of His death, we will certainly also be[b] in the likeness of His resurrection. 6 For we know that our old self[c] was crucified with Him in order that sin’s dominion over the body[d] may be abolished, so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, 7 since a person who has died is freed[e] from sin’s claims.[f] 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him,9 because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die again. Death no longer rules over Him. 10 For in light of the fact that He died, He died to sin once for all; but in light of the fact that He lives, He lives to God.11 So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.[g]
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey[h] its desires. 13 And do not offer any parts[i] of it to sin as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God, and all the parts[j] of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness.14 For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under law but under grace.


[h=3]From Slaves of Sin to Slaves of God[/h]
15 What then? Should we sin because we are not under law but under grace?Absolutely not! 16 Don’t you know that if you offer yourselves to someone[k] as obedient slaves, you are slaves of that one you obey—either of sin leading to death or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But thank God that, although you used to be slaves of sin, you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching you were transferred[l] to, 18 and having been liberated from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness. 19 I am using a human analogy[m] because of the weakness of your flesh.[n] For just as you offered the parts[o] of yourselves as slaves to moral impurity, and to greater and greater lawlessness, so now offer them as slaves to righteousness, which results in sanctification.20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free from allegiance to righteousness.[p] 21 So what fruit was produced[q] then from the things you are now ashamed of? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now, since you have been liberated from sin and have become enslaved to God, you have your fruit, which results in sanctification[r]—and the end is eternal life! 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
 
S

Sirk

Guest
#2
The disciples sinned with Jesus right next to them. He could "hear" their hearts. Did he kick him out of His group?
 
S

shotgunner

Guest
#3
Your translation is slightly off

What Paul is actually saying in 6:2 is "Perish the thought" of verse one that we could continue in sin. Paul isn't admonishing us not to continue in sin. He is telling us that it's not even a question that needs to be asked.

Paul had people ask this question of him because he preached grace so strong. People would ask, should we continue in sin. It's the same question you are asking now. It's the same question all law keepers ask of all grace preachers. The answer is verse 2 and it is translated," May such a thing never occur. How is it possible for such as we who have died once for all from sin (have been separated once for all from the sinful nature), any longer to live in it (in it's grip).

Paul Just got through explaining in verse 21 of chapter 5 that sin had reigned as king in our life but now grace reigns as king in our lives. Paul is saying that because sin no longer is in the kingship position, the question that should we continue in sin is not to be asked. It is now impossible to sustain the same relationship with sin that we had when sin reigned as king, because sin no longer reigns!
 
Jun 23, 2015
247
5
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#4
The Danger of Abusing the Grace of God — Charisma Magazine


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[h=1]The Danger of Abusing the Grace of God[/h]





Identity theft has risen to epidemic proportions in recent years. The Federal Trade Commission estimates as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen every year. Resolving identity theft may take months, and even years in some cases, to restore your credibility and good name.
While I have not personally experienced the trauma of having someone impersonate me, we are nevertheless all vulnerable daily to this despicable cyber thievery. Identity theft is usually confined to individuals or corporations. I recently watched a news program of an American couple in China who visited a large Apple store replete with iPhones, iPads, Mac computers and the famous Apple logo. Returning to the States, they discovered that Apple did not have a store in that particular city in China. The whole thing was nothing less than identity fraud on a major scale.
Allow me to make my point. I’m deeply troubled by what I’ll term as spiritual identity theft. I’ve become increasingly aware over the past year that there is a growing trend to steal God’s identity. I’m referring particularly to the god of grace that is masquerading as the real God of grace. Somehow this false and perverted spirit has managed to captivate the hearts of thousands, instructing them that regardless of their actions, grace forever turns a blind eye to their sinful, willful ways and even smiles upon them.
Abusing the Grace of God
Now just for the record, I’m a firm believer in the grace of God. I believe as A.W. Tozer wrote, "You can never put a plus sign beside the cross." No amount of activity on our part can ever merit a single "brownie point" with God. We are saved by grace and by grace alone. Having said that, we need to understand and be aware of God’s intention regarding grace.

God never intended grace to be a license for sin but rather the means whereby we overcome sin. "For by grace you have been saved" (Eph. 2:8) Saved from what? "You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins" (Matt. 1:21). Unless we understand God’s intention, we will end up abusing the grace of God, and fall prey to the deceptive and damnable god of grace.
Last year 45 million Americans participated in the government food stamp program, a 70 percent increase since 2007. The government’s intention behind this program is to assist needy individuals to feed themselves and their children. The great tragedy is that multiplied millions of dollars worth of food stamps are used for cigarettes, alcohol and even drugs. This abuse of the program causes all of us to express some degree of anger toward those individuals who knowingly stoop to such a crime.
Imagine then the deep sorrow on the part of God, Who so lavishly poured out His grace upon us only to have His people turn it into the very opposite of its intended use. Rather than being a means of liberty from sin, it becomes instead a license to sin.
I’m becoming increasingly conscious of the fact that the god of grace has an almost identical sibling called unconditional love. God’s love is universal, impartial and incorruptible, but is it unconditional? This god of unconditional love never corrects, rebukes or challenges you regarding your actions, but simply loves you regardless of how you act or live.
Is God's Love Really Unconditional?
Now the last time I picked up my Bible I saw it was divided into the Old Testament and the New Testament or the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. We could easily modify this to the Old Contracts and the New Contracts. Many of you reading this have signed some type of contract or agreement; perhaps to lease a house, apartment or car, etc. Every contract has a list of terms or conditions to be upheld by both parties.

So how do you reconcile the word unconditional with the word contract? But you say, “Wait a minute, I know that in the Old Covenant God required that His people met certain conditions and that if broken, they would suffer the consequences. However when we look at the New Covenant God doesn’t require anything from us because everything is one great big grace package." Correct? Yes, and no. Yes, we are saved purely by the grace of God; but if we stop there we end up in universalism or ultimate reconciliation—meaning everyone is or will eventually be saved.
Oh, so there are conditions then? Listen to Peter’s response on the Day of Pentecost to the people after listening to his message and crying out, "What shall we do [to be saved]?" (Acts 2:37, brackets added). Peter did not shout back, "Nothing at all," but rather, "Repent, and ... be baptized" (v. 38).
Jesus said, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent" (John 6:29). Once we are saved there are also conditions: "'The Lord knows those who are His,' and, 'Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity" (2 Tim. 2:19). Perhaps I could sum it all up in one word: Obedience.
God’s love cannot be separated from His justice and righteousness. Paul reminds us of the goodness and severity of God. This “new god” has no severity or consequences for our actions. The new father, unlike the true Father, never corrects or disciplines us but rather winks in approval of our rebellious and defiant ways.
This topic is almost inexhaustible, but hopefully, I’ve said enough to provoke you to think more along these lines. Just as it takes two wings for a bird to fly we need to have a healthy balanced view of these two great and glorious aspects of God’s nature. For those pastors, teachers and spiritual leaders reading this, I urge you to restore God’s identity back as the true God of love and grace.
David Ravenhill has a rich history in ministry, including working with David Wilkerson's first Teen Challenge Center in New York City, Youth With a Mission and pastoring one of the largest churches in New Zealand. He is now a full-time itinerant minister and author of five books, including Blood Bought.
 
V

VioletReigns

Guest
#5
Your translation is slightly off

What Paul is actually saying in 6:2 is "Perish the thought" of verse one that we could continue in sin. Paul isn't admonishing us not to continue in sin. He is telling us that it's not even a question that needs to be asked.

Paul had people ask this question of him because he preached grace so strong. People would ask, should we continue in sin. It's the same question you are asking now. It's the same question all law keepers ask of all grace preachers. The answer is verse 2 and it is translated," May such a thing never occur. How is it possible for such as we who have died once for all from sin (have been separated once for all from the sinful nature), any longer to live in it (in it's grip).

Paul Just got through explaining in verse 21 of chapter 5 that sin had reigned as king in our life but now grace reigns as king in our lives. Paul is saying that because sin no longer is in the kingship position, the question that should we continue in sin is not to be asked. It is now impossible to sustain the same relationship with sin that we had when sin reigned as king, because sin no longer reigns!
 

Joidevivre

Senior Member
Jul 15, 2014
3,838
271
83
#6
It seems to me that we abuse God's grace more by not receiving the fullness of it.

It is strong enough to handle the times that I do not live a day without a mistake of some sort.
It will never leave me because that is the only thing that will do the work of changing me.
It will remind me when I am grieving the Holy Spirit. It will inspire me to leave the sin.

God's grace comes from a heart of compassion, not of judgment.

It is knowing the unconditional love behind this grace that has the power to cause me to respond with obedience to his will.
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,706
3,650
113
#7
The Danger of Abusing the Grace of God — Charisma Magazine


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I don't know about abusing the grace of God but you may be abusing CC rule#13...

13. No unauthorized advertising or soliciting or recruiting.
Please come to our chat rooms and forums for fellowship, not to try to advertise anything (not even in private messages to our chat room visitors) or recruit people for anything. By "anything" we mean anything -- web sites, chat rooms, forums, facebook groups, churches, groups, doctrine, etc.
 
G

Gr8grace

Guest
#8
It SEEMS that most believers don't know this?

"living in sin" for the majority of believers is living in the "good" side of the flesh. 99+% of us have it figured out that we should not steal,lie,cheat,fornicate,murder,covet and most of the overt sins.


But living in "sin" is living in our flesh. And our flesh has a 'good' (evil/self righteous) side............and this is where most believers live. I will feed the poor, I will be moral, I will quit sinning,I will fill a pew, I will be better,I will quit cussing, I will quit smoking, I will........

Very few believers go out and commit overt sins because of Grace. But many,many live in sin(their old sin nature) in the 'good' side of their flesh.
 
Jun 23, 2015
247
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#9
[h=1]Some folks continue to abuse God's grace by continuing to sin, but passing judgmental on the world. I can admit my sin or sins to those who are unbelievers as a testimony how God changed my heart and behavior. I do not care for Christians who sin in secret, abusing the Grace of God and sinning purposely. How does that look to unbelievers who are searching for truth? It is the lack of the Holy Spirit dwelling within that person who says one is a believer of the Word of God. There is a consequence for abusing God's grace and that is BLASPHEMY because that is disrespecting the reverence of God. That is my ranting for tonight! [/h][h=1]JudeHolman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)[/h][h=3]Greeting[/h]Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and a brother of James:
To those who are the called, loved[a] by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ.
2 May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.
[h=3]Jude’s Purpose in Writing[/h]3 Dear friends, although I was eager to write you about the salvation we share,I found it necessary to write and exhort you to contend for the faith that was delivered to the saints once for all. 4 For some men, who were designated for this judgment long ago, have come in by stealth; they are ungodly, turning the grace of our God into promiscuity and denying Jesus Christ, our only Master and Lord.
 
G

Gr8grace

Guest
#11
Abusing the grace of God~~" I think I can lose my salvation."

But the real abuse~~" I won't lose mine because I will never lose faith and I follow him, but I have seen Jim and Jane......and I wonder about them?"

This is TRUE abuse of the Grace of God. It attacks not theology, but the very character and nature and virtue and integrity of our Lord Jesus Christ.
 
D

dalconn

Guest
#12
One can't really abuse God's grace but rather can only deceive themselves

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