Repentance, The Response To Grace

A worshiper at a Navy chapel commented, “My favourite part of the worship service is the ‘assurance of pardon’, then I know I’m good to go for the next week”. A weekly re­minder of God’s grace inspires him to continue living for Christ!

As Paul warns though, it is important that we do not take God’s grace for granted, as if grace gives us a license to go on sinning. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a World War II martyr, agreed. He taught against “cheap grace” or “preach­ing forgiveness without requiring repentance”, because God’s grace for us was so costly. God’s Son, Jesus Christ, gave up his life to save us from sin.

Paul asks, “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?”. Of course not! That would disrespect God’s grace and cheapen Jesus’ sacrifice. I’m reminded that when I was a boy, the worst scolding I could receive was “We didn’t raise you that way”, my folks didn’t sacrifice so that I could misbehave.

Today, when we fall short, we must confess our sins and profess our faith in the Saviour’s sacrifice for us. Remember, baptism unites us with Jesus’ death and resurrection, setting us free from sin. “Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him”. This isn’t calling us to cheap grace, but to the richest life possible in Jesus today!

Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? (Romans 6:1).

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, forgive us for times when we have taken your grace for granted. Holy Spirit, keep us from sin so that we may walk the way of life with Christ. In his name, Amen.