Under Grace

Under Grace

“So that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. 5:21.

People’s consciences hinder them from sinning—from letting sin reign. But if a person resists or goes against his conscience, it will grow dull and die. “And you . . . who were dead in trespasses and sins.” Eph. 2:1. Death is a consequence of sin, and once sin has led a person into death, it has dominion over him. It rules through death, and then when a person dies physically, death has caught its prey for all eternity. “Even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life . . . .”

Therefore, the reign of sin results in death; but where grace reigns, the result is righteousness. Only after death had entered in was sin able to reign completely, and only after righteousness is being practiced does grace truly reign. Religious people speak much about being under grace, but you are ruled by whoever you are subject to. All those who are ruled by grace become righteous. They all gain victory over sin. If they do not, then grace does not reign in their lives. They are not under grace.

“For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” Rom. 6:14. When we are under law, we have only our own strength, and then we shouldn’t be amazed that sin has dominion over us. But if we are under grace, we are under God’s power, and then it is meaningless for sin to have dominion over us. We are exhorted to come to the throne of grace to receive help in time of need. Heb. 4:16. The work of grace with us is to teach us to live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age. Tit. 2:11-12. Therefore we cannot be under grace or let it have dominion over our life without it leading to righteousness, or to living an overcoming life.

Many people have received grace, but in vain. “We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.” 2 Cor. 6:1; 1 Cor. 15:10.

We have received grace in vain if it cannot teach us to partake of the life of Christ. Then we are so far removed from being under grace that we reject it. Jude writes that some people had crept in unnoticed and had turned the grace of God into licentiousness. This has evolved into the following understanding: Those who sin are under grace, but if you have victory over sin you have come out of grace and have no more use for it. The spirit of Antichrist has succeeded in deceiving all nations. Rev. 18:3.

Thanks be to God that we have His Word so that the upright can find true redemption in Christ. Therefore let no one deceive you! The person who is under grace is taught by grace to live an overcoming and righteous life. Those who strive and toil to overcome but do not succeed are under law. Those who have given up gaining the victory, yet claim to be under grace and under the blood have been deceived by the spirit of Antichrist.