Grace is Not a License to Sin

I didn't live a life of sin and then get saved. No, I was saved at 13 then shortly after, spent the next 25 YEARS doing all the things I thought I missed out on. 1 Corinthians 10:21 reminded me I was drinking from the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons at the same time. I was under law, strong; which meant I was basing my salvation and righteousness on MY behavior. The first question I asked, when the Lord began teaching me about his gospel of grace, was the same question most people ask and you've likely asked yourself, "So, does this mean I can do what I want and get away with it, is it a license to sin?"...

As a Believer, Didn't I Need to Repent?

Actually, yes; but not because I was unrighteous. Remember, righteousness isn't based on what you do, it's based on what Jesus Christ did. I didn't just commit a sin, which is what Jesus already forgave me of. The reason I needed to repent, was because I completely turned away from the Lord to live the way I wanted to live.

I like how Joseph Prince says we don't need a license to sin, we do it just fine on our own, without a license. When you understand God's grace, your focus is turned to God’s love and mercy. There’s no room, time or desire to concentrate on sin because you're too busy sitting at his feet and letting him wash you with his word, letting the Holy Spirit establish it in your heart! Being focused on Jesus causes an unconscious transformation; you can't be focused on Jesus AND sin at the same time. There is a clip from Fireproof where Caleb puts an end to his struggling with online pornography. This displays a perfect example of how you naturally won't focus on sin when you're focused on Jesus. As humans, we will sin, but it's who we are in Christ that we must remember and go boldly to the throne of grace in those times. 

For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. From Slaves of Sin to Slaves of God. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! (It's no coincidence that God knew people would ask the very same question I did, regarding his gospel of grace)

Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. 

Resources

Why Did You Stop Believing?

What is True Repentance?

1 John 1 is Not for Believers