²⁰ For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. ²¹ Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death.

Freedom from what seem to be repressive rules of religion—that is the prevailing group-think of secularism. Belief in God and adherence to the Bible are criticized as curtailing the full enjoyment and gusto of life, a straightjacket on living. Belief in a creator-being to whom all are accountable is the ultimate kill-joy of the universe. The secularist who treats belief in God as irrelevant to the normal pursuits of life is free to follow his passions, appetites and urges—free to explore and discover his true self in his own way. Instead of struggling with temptations, he is free to enjoy sin. He is free from the biblical concept of righteousness and its restriction.

All of this is true to some degree, we do not disagree. In fact, some Christians who are secure in their salvation and have come to believe that since we are no longer “under Law” but “under grace” feel there is therefore no incentive to live righteously. Indeed, critics of the gospel made (and continue to make) that case—that what then is the point of avoiding sin? Why not go out and enjoy sin, since there is no longer any consequence in terms of eternal judgment?

On the surface, the criticism does arise from a correct understanding of the content of the gospel. Paul has indeed been making the case that since “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23), God has provided another way that overrides the sin problem with grace. Our sins brought judgment, but grace brings justification—we are therefore secure through the grace of our Lord. So what is the incentive now for Christians to not sin?

Yes, there is a freedom from living righteously if a person chooses to reject God’s grace. But where does that leave a person? Free for what? The assumption is that when the issue of eternal judgment is removed from the equation, then sin is there to be enjoyed without consequences. However, there still remains a consequence for living contrary to righteousness. For the true Christian, one who has found grace from God, his perspective has changed. The reason he has accepted God’s grace is precisely because he came to the place in his life where he was ashamed of his sin. Any benefit in sinning had only temporary, superficial enjoyment. It was sin that led to spiritual death. Why in the world would it be considered a good, beneficial thing for a Christian to go back to his pre-grace sinning ways? That makes absolutely no sense at all.

Lord, help me view sin now the way I did when You first brought conviction and grace into my life.