| The UNUSED License of the Redeemed |
by David A. DePra |
| And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as |
| some affirm that we say), "Let us do evil, that good may |
| come?" Whose damnation is just. (Rom. 3:8) |
| Doing evil "that good might come" is, of course, nothing more |
| than a excuse for sin. It is, in fact, license. But let's ask: Why |
| would anyone accuse Paul of teaching that sin is OK -- because |
| sin amplifies the righteousness of God? |
| Let's probe into this: If Paul were teaching strict adherance to |
| the law of God, how could anyone interpret that as license? They |
| couldn't. If Paul were telling us that the OT law is binding, and that |
| we must keep it if we are to be a Christian, then his words could |
| never be construed to mean that sin is acceptable. But if he |
| taught that we were freed from keeping the law, well then that's |
| another story. If He taught that we are both saved and accepted |
| by God totally by His grace -- regardless of works -- THEN he |
| might be accused of teaching license by those who did not |
| understand him. |
| Do you see this? Only a gospel of grace -- one which |
| teaches that God forgives us and save us regardless of works -- |
| can be misinterpreted as license. Only if Paul taught a gospel |
| which accented faith rather than works could his words be twisted. |
| The accusation against Paul shows us as much about what he |
| taught as does his teaching itself. No one teaching law-keeping |
| is ever accused of license. But teach the gospel of grace and you |
| will be accused of license. |
| Paul was not the only one who was ever accused of teaching |
| license. Jesus was likewise accused of this error. The Pharisees |
| said that He taught that they did not have to keep the law of |
| Moses. But if you read the Sermon on the Mount, you find that |
| Jesus made the law MORE binding, not less. He took what the |
| Jews were keeping outwardly and made it binding on the inward. |
| Of course, Jesus did this to fulfill the law's main purpose: To |
| expose us all as helpless sinners. No one can keep the law. God |
| gave it to show us we need to be saved by His grace alone. |
| Ok. But does the fact that we stand before God by grace alone |
| mean we can freely sin? This IS the issue. The answer is simple: |
| Anyone who truly receives the grace of God -- I mean, REALLY |
| receives it -- is not going to WANT to freely sin. The "wanting to |
| sin" which was in them through Adam has already been dealt with. |
| Thus, any so-called "license" which grace provides will never be |
| used by one who is saved by the grace of God in Jesus Christ. |