The NIV 365 Day Devotional

Abusing Grace

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?

Romans 6:1–2

Since Jesus died for my sins, can’t I sin all I want because those sins have al-ready been paid for?

Read.

Yes, the reality is that we have complete freedom to sin. Jesus is God, so he’s infinite. That means that when he died, he paid for all sins for all time. So we can sin and sin, and it will all be paid for.

But doesn’t it feel awful to suggest that? To boldly sin because Jesus paid for it with his life? Blatantly sinning is like spitting in God’s face. Paul addressed this issue in one of his letters this way: “Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” (Romans 6:1–2).

Think.

Jesus died to set us free. He died so that we would have the opportunity to choose the ways of life. He died so that we would have the opportunity to follow him and experience the good things that following him brings. Jesus’ death cleansed us from the penalty of sin, and it also gave us the opportunity to live as full and good and abundant of a life as possible.

Jesus gave his life in the ultimate act of love. Someone who sees grace as permission to sin has missed the point of grace entirely.

Live.

When you fall in love with someone and then hurt that person, it breaks your heart. You’ll do anything not to hurt them, to instead show in your actions and words how much you cherish them.

As you fall more in love with God, sin will become shocking to you. You’ll want to avoid it at all costs because you know it hurts him. And you’ll do anything to keep from hurting him.

Write a prayer asking God to help your love for him motivate you not to sin.

Taken from Read. Think. Live.