Living Free in Grace

Introduction

There are some gifts that are welcomed and some gifts that are not. When a person gives you a gift, the customary thing is to say ‘thank you’ whether you like the gift or not. We would travel to my grandparents in mid-December for Christmas and as we approached the house, my mom would look at my brother and me and with a very stern voice say ‘I don’t care what you get, you say thank you. Your family has thought about what to get you. If you don’t like it, then we will take care of things at home, but you say thank you and smile.’ Good training. Good reminders. When people give you something, we recognize the thought. It’s the thought that counts we say. And to some extent that is true. But what do you do with an unwanted gift?

Sometimes we regift it. Sometimes we give it to a charity. Sometimes we stick it in a drawer or closet only to be given away later. Sometimes we become upset. Sometimes we acknowledge that the gift was more about the person giving it than it was about me receiving it. Maybe the gift is about the giver not the receiver. Maybe the gift demonstrates how much the giver has thought. Maybe the gift is a sentimental object from the giver and you do not share the sentiment but the gift is the giver’s way of expressing their love. Gift giving is not always easy.

The Bible tells us that God gives only good gifts. That means that every gift from God comes as a genuine expression of his love for us. The Creator thinks about his creation and provides. Sometimes we look at God’s gifts and we wonder what we are supposed to do with it. It doesn’t seem to be a gift that makes sense to us at the time. But then we remember that his gifts reflect his character and what is best for us. The perfect giver with only good gifts. Let’s praise this giver.

Gifts

At the end of chapter 5, Paul wrote about the gift of grace that has been given to those who come to Jesus in faith. This gift comes with additional gifts of life, justification, and righteousness. These gifts allow us to not only live for God but motivate us to live for God. At the beginning of chapter 6, Paul reminds us that we have moved from the sphere of sin into the sphere of righteousness because of these gifts. These gifts changed our hearts. So in 6:1 Paul in a conversation with an unknown debater wonders if one should sin in order to receive more grace. The answer is a resounding “no.” Grace has brought a new life. Why would you want to return to the old life?

Then in 6:15, Paul’s anonymous debater returns with a similar yet distinct question. 6:1 is the question—should we sin in order to receive more grace? 6:15 is the question—should we sin because we have received grace? In other words based on 6:14, if we are under grace then does sinning matter at all. Paul’s answer moves into a realm that all of his readers, especially those in Rome, would clearly understand. He moves into the realm of slavery and obedience.

Do not think of slavery like that which was practiced in the U.S. Think more of indentured servants. While conquered individuals were enslaved to work farms and to serve in various capacities, many slaves were used to educate children and to provide managerial skills for businesses. Many slaves were free to come and go as they pleased after working their “shift.” Some slaves sold themselves to owners in order to pay off debts. When Paul writes this letter, some estimate that as much as 40% of the entire city of Rome were slaves (upwards to 300,000 people or more). Certainly some were mistreated, but most were not. Their presence allowed Rome to prosper and grow. While slavery was not a terrible position to be in, most wanted to break free when they could.

This is the image Paul uses in order to make his point about grace and sin. Because of grace we are no longer under law. This new life is one of freedom. Sin brings death (v. 16). Why would you want to enslave yourself to that which leads to death? The freedom of this new life means that we are now servants of God. So as Paul is apt to do, he contrasts the consequences of their choice. They can serve God or serve sin. If they serve sin, they receive death (v. 16) and shame (v. 21). If they serve God, they receive righteousness (v. 16) and holiness (v. 22).

Our Choice

The choice that Paul describes is our choice too. You do not need anyone to tell you what to do. There is no law that you are under any longer. A list of dos and don’ts may exist in our minds but there is no law. We are under grace. Grace is God’s gift to us. It was given to us because of who God is, not because who we are. Paul has fully and completely established the point—we are sinners. We are not good. We are not God seekers. We deserve and receive our just and deserving consequence for our sin—death. But then Jesus comes. God’s plan through Jesus changes everything. We are drawn to the cross because we know there we will find mercy.

So we are baptized. A new life. It isn’t a sinless life, but it is a free life. No law. No set of rules to keep to preserve our relationship with God. Free now to live for God. Given grace, our response is to live in that grace for God. I do not want to go back to shame. I do not want to go back to the reminders of my sin. I do not want to carry the burden of my impurity and wickedness. We all have stuff that reveals our sin. Why would we ignore grace? Because sin is fun. We are short-sighted. We get caught up in the moment. We are selfish. So many reasons for our choosing to follow sin. But do not miss the final verse.

God’s gift is eternal life. We can find that only in Jesus. I want to live. I want to live now on this earth but not in shame and regret. I want to live in freedom and holiness. I want to live without the burden of sin. I want to live without the shame of my sin. I want to live free. And I want to live with the one who has made it possible—Jesus. And that is only possible when I choose grace.

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