For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.
— Romans 6:10 —
Sergey K. | Russia
The problem of so-called cheap grace arises in any Christian culture, anywhere around the world. At its core, this doctrine says much about grace and less (or nothing) about practical holiness and sanctification. At a practical level, cheap grace shows itself through dissipation and disregard for living a God-centered life, even though there may be much Christian talk. How should preachers and people in the pews respond to this? The solution is complex, but one answer is found in Paul’s response to this problem in Romans 6. Have you been united to Christ through faith and possess eternal life in Him? Here we discover that the problem of cheap grace is partly the problem of not understanding what it means to be united to Christ. In Romans 5, Paul argues that the only way we can be completely set free from death and obtain eternal life is being united to Christ through faith. If this is where forgiveness and grace are found, the natural question arises: “Doesn’t this encourage Christians to disregard striving for godliness?” (Rom. 6:1, 15). “Absolutely not” is Paul’s answer. You obtain life only in Christ’s death and life (Rom. 6:3–5). And He died to sin once for all. And He lives to God. Such is true of those united to Him. Have you been united to Christ through faith and possess eternal life in Him? Live out this transfer from death to life through a God-centered life which demonstrates that your union with Christ is a reality. Then reckon yourself dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus (Rom. 6:11).
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