Paul has been very careful to make sure that his famous grace statement at the end of chapter 5 ("But where sin increased, grace abounded all the more," v. 20b) would not be misunderstood as promoting sin. Someone would undoubtedly reason, “Well, if we really are under grace and free from the penalty of sin, what difference will a little sin make?” Perhaps you have heard people say this. Perhaps you have thought this. There was once a fallen pastor who used the same argument: “I know it is wrong, but I am a child of God—he will forgive me. I am under grace.” Such thinking is not only wrong but sinful! Interpreting the freedom we have in Christ in an unqualified sense empowers sin to pull believers back under its authority. And if this kind of twisted logic becomes a permanent part of our thinking, it likely reveals that we are actually not saved. F.F. Bruce says, “To make being 'under grace' an excuse for sinning is a sign that one is not really 'under grace' at all.” In this week’s passage, Paul meets this kind of thinking head-on with another rhetorical question, “What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!” To make his reasoning stick, he appropriates the powerful, attention-getting metaphor of slavery. He equates our actions with slavery. We’re either a slave to sin or a slave to righteousness. This week we learn of the freedom and joy of what it means to no longer be slaves to sin, but slaves to righteousness.

Worship Setlist

• Rooftops

• You've Already Won

• Grace Flows Down

• O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing

• Living Hope