One could deduce from this that we Gentiles should make no effort to obey the numerous exhortations to righteous living that are found in the New Testament but should simply "believe." But as we said, Paul was arguing with the teachers of the Law of Moses. Paul was saying we cannot reject the atonement made by the blood of the Lord Jesus and go about seeking to establish our own righteousness.
Paul would never employ "grace" as a means of tempering his stern warnings to believers who continue to walk in the appetites and lusts of the flesh. Rather, Paul was urging his listeners to choose God's way to righteousness through Christ rather than to attempt to keep the numerous commandments of the Law of Moses or to develop some plan of their own for acquiring righteousness.
Righteousness is defined as "that which pleases God." If we would obtain righteousness in God's sight, we must enter the plan of salvation God has ordained. God's plan of salvation includes forgiveness through the atoning blood of the Lord Jesus and also moral transformation until we are in the image of His Son.
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be changed into the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:29)
It is inappropriate to attempt to balance a stress on transformation by reminding us of God's grace, because the purpose of grace is to effect moral transformation.
For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. (Romans 6:14)
The writing of Paul in the two verses that precede the verse above defines what Paul means by sin not having dominion over us.
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. (Romans 6:12,13)
In the Book of Romans, Paul announces that we have died to the authority of the Law of Moses and are free from its regulations. Our sins have been forgiven. We do not have to worry any longer about the animal sacrifices, circumcision, or the feast days. This does not mean we are free to sin, for then sin would retain dominion over us. It is true rather that through the Presence of God in Christ we are able to turn away from slavery to sin and become the slave of righteousness.
The wages of sin is death. If we believers (for Paul is writing to the saints in Rome) choose through Christ to serve the laws of righteousness, we will receive the gift of eternal life. The gift of life does not come as something handed to us on our acceptance of Christ. The gift of life is the gift of an opportunity to attain life by turning away from slavery to sin, choosing instead to be the slave of righteousness.
But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. (Romans 6:22)
Slavery to Christ results in holiness of personality and behavior. Holiness of personality and behavior results in eternal life. The believer who continues in the lusts of the flesh will be paid with eternal death.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure faith. (Romans 12:3)
"Grace," as used in the verse above, means the gift of apostleship given to Paul on the road to Damascus. It has little to do with covering or excusing unrighteous behavior.
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; (Romans 12:6)
"Gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us" reveals that Divine grace includes the endowment of God's Spirit given to us by the Holy Spirit in order to build the Body of Christ and to bear testimony of Christ to the world. Grace, as used here, clearly is not referring to an alternative to righteous behavior.
Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. (II Corinthians 8:7)
Grace as employed above refers to the willingness of the Christian to share his material resources, not to God overlooking his sins.
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (II Corinthians 12:9)
"My grace is sufficient for thee" refers to the virtue, wisdom, and power of Christ as He enables Paul to fulfill his apostleship. Grace, in this usage, is not referring to a covering of sin.
Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. (Galatians 5:4)
Again we see that Paul did not contrast grace with righteous behavior but with the Law of Moses. The Book of Galatians is an argument against obtaining salvation by keeping the Law of Moses, not against endeavoring to walk in moral purity, peace, sobriety, and dedication to the Lord
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7).
The grace of God includes the forgiveness of the sins of the individual who serves the Lord Jesus faithfully.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8,9)
The above two verses are often used to show there is nothing we need to do except believe in Jesus. But the following verse reveals that we are saved in order that we may behave righteously.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)
From the above we see that the very purpose of grace is to produce good works in the believer. Therefore it is inappropriate to attempt to "balance" an emphasis on righteous living with constant references to God's mercy and grace.
To be continued.
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