October 12, 2008

Paul asks - and answers - the question of whether the gospel of salvation by grace through faith leads to lawlessness. But his answer isn't to threaten us with the law once again and require our obedience. Instead, he points to who we are—we are now in Christ, united to Christ. Christ's death becomes our own death to sin, so that we have been freed by this death from slavery to sin. And Christ's resurrection becomes our own life, so that we now live under the rule of grace and mercy. The gospel does not lead to lawlessness because the gospel frees us from the very power of sin!