ROMANS 6:1- SHALL WE CONTINUE IN SIN THAT GRACE MAY ABOUND?

The phrase "shall we continue in sin that Grace may abound?" is one that is known by almost every believer, most especially by those who loathe the Grace of God and cannot wait to cast aspersion at those who preach and teach Grace in His holy form and those who live therein. Quite a number of teachers and preachers have assayed to explain this rhetorical question and what the Apostle Paul meant by it. Nonetheless, I believe it is one that needs a closer look again. It is unprofitable to attempt to understand scriptures with sin consciousness at the back of one's mind. Any attempt to explain the scripture with the fear of sin or licentiousness at the back of our minds will never lead us to the truth. I should also add that if we teach and receive Grace with the aim of combating sin, and not with the original intent of Grace which is God's love, then we have missed the point of Grace.
Let me say that the major reason for which God has given us Grace is because He loves us. God did not send Jesus (Grace) so that we can get our acts together and get our acts right. John 3:16 is clear enough.
John 3:16
[16]For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
God did not even put our acts into perspective right here. He is completely about saving us, not about modifying our behaviours. Jesus Christ Himself is the speaker in John chapter 3. He made no mention of our acts even in the verses that preceded and followed verse 16.
John 3:14-21
[14]And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
[15]That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
[16]For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
[17]For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
[18]He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
[19]And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
[20]For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
[21]But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
This is Jesus Christ Himself espousing Grace to us. He made no mention of sin or our failings. It is all about Him saving us from start to finish.
Eternal life consists in knowing God as gracious and loving and abiding in relationship/fellowship with Him.
John 17:3
[3]And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Eternal life is not about modification of behaviours. It is all about becoming one with God. When we seek to know God as revealed in His Grace, even the Lord Jesus Christ, with getting rid of sin as our motive, we fall short in our knowledge of Him.
The consciousness/mindset of sin is a very powerful one that we find it so hard to let go of. Am I saying it does not matter what we do or do not do? Never! I am just saying that let us align to the purpose of the gospel. Let us stick to the intention of Abba for giving us the gospel of Grace. That intention is that it loves us. The gospel is God's perspective of us, not our perspective of Him or of ourselves.
The aim/intention behind the whole old covenant of the law is the knowledge and consciousness of sin.
Romans 3:20
[20]Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
The law multiplies sin even though the law says not to sin. It could not have been that Grace should serve the same purpose as the law. I have not met a man alive or dead who does not know what sin is without having a Bible or going to church. It is common knowledge. The knowledge of God's love for us in Christ Jesus? Now that is not so common and that is the purpose and intention of Grace. The law says, "you shall not sin", Grace cries, " the Father loves you and He is your righteousness."
If eradicating sin is what we yet see as the primary purpose and aim of Grace, then we are still far short of the knowledge of the Holy One. Consider this, the Father could have sent Jesus Christ to save us without a mention of His love for us, just as a father could have sent someone to do something for his son without expressing love in doing it. I mean, it could all have been done out of a mere sense of duty the way we often help strangers sometimes. Jesus is the Saviour, granted. His name also means "God is salvation." One might then say, well He was just doing His duty. That kind of thinking misses the point. He owes us nothing, not a single duty. Watch out for the completion in a later post.

Yadid:
■ Let me say that the major reason for which God has given us Grace is because He loves us. God did not send Jesus (Grace) so that we can get our acts together and get our acts right. John 3:16 is clear enough. This is Jesus Christ Himself espousing Grace to us. He made no mention of sin or our failings. It is all about Him saving us from start to finish. Eternal life consists in knowing God as gracious and loving and abiding in relationship/fellowship with Him.

John 17:3
[3]And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Eternal life is not about modification of behaviours. It is all about becoming one with God. When we seek to know God as revealed in His Grace, even the Lord Jesus Christ, with getting rid of sin as our motive, we fall short in our knowledge of Him.
■ The consciousness/mindset of sin is a very powerful one that we find it so hard to let go of. Am I saying it does not matter what we do or do not do? Never! I am just saying that let us align to the purpose of the gospel. Let us stick to the intention of Abba for giving us the gospel of Grace. That intention is that it loves us. The gospel is God's perspective of us, not our perspective of Him or of ourselves.
■ The aim/intention behind the whole old covenant of the law is the knowledge and consciousness of sin.

Romans 3:20 [20]Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
The law multiplies sin even though the law says not to sin. It could not have been that Grace should serve the same purpose as the law.

I have not met a man alive or dead who does not know what sin is without having a Bible or going to church. It is common knowledge. The knowledge of God's love for us in Christ Jesus? Now that is not so common and that is the purpose and intention of Grace. The law says, "you shall not sin", Grace cries, " the Father loves you and He is your righteousness."
■ If eradicating sin is what we yet see as the primary purpose and aim of Grace, then we are still far short of the knowledge of the Holy One. Consider this, the Father could have sent Jesus Christ to save us without a mention of His love for us, just as a father could have sent someone to do something for his son without expressing love in doing it. I mean, it could all have been done out of a mere sense of duty the way we often help strangers sometimes. Jesus is the Saviour, granted. His name also means "God is salvation." One might then say, well He was just doing His duty. That kind of thinking misses the point. He owes us nothing, not a single duty. Watch out for the completion in a later post.

1. A closer look at the passage you quoted from, you will find that Jesus Christ's offer of Eternal life(grace) does not provide a guarantee of what you refer to as a loving/abiding relationship/fellowship with God either. Consequently, that there invalidates pretty much all of the claims you made there regarding what purpose eternal life(grace) we receive is meant to serve.

2. What happens when His intention for giving the Gospel differs entirely from your understanding of His reason for giving us the Gospel? According to God, His intention for giving us the Gospel was in order for us to have a path by which to return back to Him — a path of redemption that affords us the opportunity to pay off our sin debt, attain holiness and righteousness even after He had cursed and scattered us to the ends of the world. What you describe, however, is something utterly different from what Scripture says of the Gospel.

3. Here's a simple question for you. What is sin in relationship to God's agreement/Gospel, Jesus Christ? You seem unaware that the New Covenant, Jesus Christ, — the Gospel and Constitutional Law in the Kingdom of God — is equally a Law that defines for us what constitutes sin in the Kingdom of God. Given this, what makes you think that your current ideas regarding sin are valid as far as the constitution of the Kingdom of God?

4. Jesus Christ said, "Seek first the Kingdom of God(Holiness aka sinlessness) and God's righteousness, and then all these things shall be added onto you". He also commanded, "Be ye Holy even as your Father in Heaven is Holy." Surely, eradication of sin aka holiness is a goal in the Kingdom of God that needs to be met since the one who owns the kingdom commands it. Do you oppose the Will of Jesus Christ, the King, and ruler in the Kingdom of God?

Kobojunkie:
1. A closer look at the passage you quoted from, you will find that Jesus Christ's offer of Eternal life(grace) does not provide a guarantee of what you refer to as a loving/abiding relationship/fellowship with God either. Consequently, that there invalidates pretty much all of the claims you made there regarding what purpose eternal life(grace) we receive is meant to serve.

2. What happens when His intention for giving the Gospel differs entirely from your understanding of His reason for giving us the Gospel? According to God, His intention for giving us the Gospel was in order for us to have a path by which to return back to Him — a path of redemption that affords us the opportunity to pay off our sin debt, attain holiness and righteousness even after He had cursed and scattered us to the ends of the world. What you describe, however, is something utterly different from what Scripture says of the Gospel.

3. Here's a simple question for you. What is sin in relationship to God's agreement/Gospel, Jesus Christ? You seem unaware that the New Covenant, Jesus Christ, — the Gospel and Constitutional Law in the Kingdom of God — is equally a Law that defines for us what constitutes sin in the Kingdom of God. Given this, what makes you think that your current ideas regarding sin are valid as far as the constitution of the Kingdom of God?

4. Jesus Christ said, "Seek first the Kingdom of God(Holiness aka sinlessness) and God's righteousness, and then all these things shall be added onto you". He also commanded, "Be ye Holy even as your Father in Heaven is Holy." Surely, eradication of sin aka holiness is a goal in the Kingdom of God that needs to be met since the one who owns the kingdom commands it. Do you oppose the Will of Jesus Christ, the King, and ruler in the Kingdom of God?

Lol. 😂😂