When preaching salvation by grace alone,it is prone to danger as it will be mistook by privilege to do whatever one wishes. Paul was so aware of this act in Rom 3:8 where he said some were slanderously reporting that himself with his followers were saying "Why not do evil that good may come?". That is why he is always prepared whenever he is talking about grace so as not to allow others misinterpret it to something else. In Romans 5:20,the Bible says, "Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." Here in this verse,Apostle Paul was so prepared because he knows the worst would be made of it by some people. He also knew that people will use a detrimental tactics like, "Well,if sins will bring more grace,then let's sin". Paul is also aware that the people's thinking about Rom 5:20 is not only reasonable to some minds,it was also natural because sin has its own "pleasures".
Hebrews 11:25,
"Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God,than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season"
People have also twisted sinning into religious duty and see it as an avenue for God to give His grace and love and then glorify Himself. In 1Corinthians chapter 5,Paul insisted that some people should be disengaged from the church at Corinth because of formication, but people saw it wrong in what they did. According to Rasputin,he said salvation came through repeated experiences with sin and repentance. He also argued that those who sin more need more forgiveness, so then, it is the believer's duty to sin.
How does people who live under grace still live under the influence of sin? Romans 6:3-14 answers the question. First,by understanding the nature of our identification with Christ (Rom 6:2-10). Secondly,we should accept our identification with Christ (Rom 6:11). Thirdly,by surrendering ourselves to Christ who has identified us (Rom 6:12-13)
To help us with this identification with Christ, we need to be baptized. A believer's baptism represents wondrous realities. When we are baptized, it is the shadow of what happened to us when we met Christ. Let us examine Romans 6:3-5,
"Know ye not,that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death:that like Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death,we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection."
The emphasis laid on this verse is that baptism is a profound identity with Christ and also we are united with Him. Galatians 3:27 also confirms our unity with Christ.
We should accept our position in Christ after being baptized rather than been conscious of the participation in Adam's sin. It is a fact we are identified with Him.
After being baptized, the old self in us gives way. This old self is the kind of person we were before conversion took place. The old self is crucified and buried with Christ, "the body of sin". You must also consider yourself dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus (Rom 6:11)
After we have been identified with Christ through baptism,we need to consider ourselves of the position with Christ and have these two things;
- We are dead to sin
- We are alive to God in Christ Jesus
Consider yourself the fact that you also participated in the event of the cross,that you died and then was resurrected with Christ. So we need to understand this in 1 John 1:9 that, "if we confess our sins,he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all". When you confess your sin,you are free already. Keep on counting yourself as dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus
2 Corinthians 5:17,
"Therefore if any man be in Christ,he is a new creature:old things are passed away;behold all things have become new"
Flee from sin and be free totally from the bondage of Satan and the influence of pleasures of the world. Also when you sin no more and confess them,you are identified with Christ and given a sure identification which is Salvation