Should we to continue in sin that grace may abound?

It’s been eighteen months since we began the Acts 17:11 Bereans Bible Study at the Rock Church in Greeneville TN. We began with the question; What is Truth?

Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. John 17:17

When we first met we discussed how bible exegesis has changed over time. The last Apostle John the Revelator, discipled Polycarp at Antioch. Polycarp taught Irenaeus who wrote “Against Heresies” in the 2nd Century AD. The emphasis was on the literal interpretation of scripture. Scripture means what it says and is to be understood in its original historical, grammatical, and literary context. Hence as Acts 17:11 Bereans, we begin by asking who is the author? To whom is it addressed? What is the cultural setting? We compare English translations and dig into the deeper meaning of Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek words. We do so with the understanding that while the Bible was written for us,

it was not written to us.

In contrast, the allegorization of scripture began with Origen in the early 3rd century in Alexandria and continued under Augustin. Allegorization is very common today, especially in the charismatic stream. It is the search for a deeper, often personalized, and hidden meaning in the text that may or may not be there. Allegorization is one root of the gnostic heresy. Not all allegorization results in heresy. The problem arises when allegorization is the only approach to scripture.

“Why?” you ask.

Consider that all scripture is God-breathed. 2 Tim 3:16 Truth is by definition absolute. Any allegorical revelation we receive cannot contradict the literal interpretation of scripture and be true. Also, scripture never contradicts itself. Any apparent contradiction points to a problem with the readers’ understanding, not the scripture. For example, regular readers will be familiar with differences in the English word Judge. Judge not lest you be judged Mat 7:1 seems contrary to 1 Cor 2:15 A righteous person judges all things. When we delve into the Greek we find that Judge in Mat 7 is Krino to sentence or condemn based on opinion. Judge in 1 Cor 2 is Anakrínō to discern as in discerning good from evil. In addition to word definitions, we need to consider the context. In Mat 7 Jesus is addressing the issue of hypocrisy. In 1 Cor 5 Paul commands us to Krino in the context of church discipline.

I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people-not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”

1 Cor 5:9:13

We finished Romans 5 last week with

Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Rom 5:20-21

“Love God. Sin boldly.”

–Martin Luther–

Is a popular quote (actually a misquote) possibly from which Steve Furtick derived ‘God broke the Law for love’. This is bad theology known as Antinomianism. Antinomianism otherwise known as “Greasy Grace” is the idea that Christians don’t need to uphold God’s laws because we are saved by faith and His grace covers past, present, and future sin. I recently heard a local believer say that ethics do not apply to Christians because they prevent God from moving. In essence, we should sin more so grace may abound. That might make sense if the Bible ended with Romans 5. It does not.

In any case, Paul clarifies the conclusion of Romans 5 in Romans 6.

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Rom 6:1-4

The emphasis that is missed and or misinterpreted by contemporary Antinomianists is How can we who died to sin still live in it? One popular evangelist claims that he never sins.  Yes, he does. His statement is a lie. What Paul is saying is that if indeed We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, we can not sin and live in denial of the unbearable discomfort that conviction brings.

Before I was baptized into His death I was filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice, full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness a gossip. I was a slanderer, hater of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, an inventor of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though I’d heard God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, I not only did them but gave approval to those who practice them. Rom 1:29-32 Today even a hint of bitterness or unforgiveness in my heart is unbearable and drives me to the throne of grace  Heb 4:16 where I confess 1 John 1:9 and repent.

God’s promise is that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life, the fullness of which will be received in eternity. In the meantime, we have Holy Spirit in us as a down payment. Eph 1:13-14

While it is true that if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.  2 Cor 5:17 New creation does not mean finished creation. We are works in progress being conformed to the image of His Son. Rom 8:29 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Cor 5:21

While some argue that the becoming is completed at baptism, the argument is not coherent in the context of scripture or experience. The process of becoming will not be complete until we see Him face to face. 1 Cor 13:12 Hence Paul exhorts us 

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Phil 2:12-13

Maranatha.