John 5:14

After this, Jesus found him in the temple complex and said to him, “See, you are well, Do not sin anymore, so that something worse doesn’t happen to you.” John 5:14.

This devotion might ruffle a few feathers but I’m OK with that. You should be too. Sometimes our theology and beliefs need to be challenged. After all, this verse is in the Bible!

I heard a pastor say one time during a sermon that we practice “greasy Grace” and “sloppy Agape.” I couldn’t help but agree with him when I contemplated the life of believers in the church. Men and Women of God claiming to be children of God and willfully practicing sin. Christians fully aware of what the scriptures say and yet deliberately and purposefully continuing in their sin.

Dear brothers and sisters this is an abuse of the grace of God! Apostle Paul asks, “What should we say then? Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply?” and then he answers, “Absolutely not.” Romans 6:1. Paul then says in Romans 6:15, “What then? Should we sin because we are not under law but under Grace?” Paul again answers for us, “Absolutely not.”

This is a common theme in the the church. The Law versus Grace argument. It’s touted as though God only cared about sin in the Old Testament but after he came and died for us he doesn’t care if we sin because of Grace.

We serve the same God, people. It’s time to wake up. According to Hebrew 13:8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” He has not changed! He is still calling for repentance and obedience, not compromise and rebellion. Grace has been used far too long as a permission and excuse to sin.

The verse “for all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God” (Romans 3:23) is often used completely out of context when sin is addressed in the believer’s life. You can’t pull this verse as a stand-alone text to mean “my sin doesn’t matter” and “I don’t have to change because we all sin.” Apostle Paul is pointing out that everyone has sinned and so we all are in need of the redemptive work of Christ. Paul’s point is that everyone needs Jesus. This is not a permissive text to quote to ease your conscience as you continue to willfully walk in sin.

Jesus himself, in the opening verse says, “Do not sin anymore.” This isn’t the only time we hear these words from Christ. Jesus tell the women caught in adultery, “Go and sin no more.” John 8:11. Nowhere in scripture does Jesus, his disciples, or the apostles every permit or excuse sin. Every one of them calls for repentance. They teach and quote Old Testament scriptures. They give instruction to the church on how to live. There are rules, commands, and instructions to obey. Jesus says, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” John 14:15.

Please don’t have a knee jerk reaction to what I’m saying. “My dearly loved brothers, understand this: Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger, for man’s anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness. Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and evil, humbly receive the implant word, which is able to save you. But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James 1:19-22.

So now I am challenging you. I am calling you to repentance. Take an honest assessment of your life and ask yourself, am I willfully and deliberately walking in sin? Am I walking in obedience to God’s Word? Am I trampling the grace of God? Do I use the Grace of God as a permit to sin?

I want to leave you with one final verse. Take time to mediate and chew on the the scriptures I have provided then spend time today in prayer. Please know that I love you and that it is the love of God that compels me to call you to repentance.

“For if we deliberately sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire about to consume the adversaries.” Hebrews 10:26.