Can we pray for material blessings?
How do we know that whatever we pursue is what God wants us to do?
Are we to obey the 10 commandments, or are we freed from them?
What is the true Christian life we are called to live?
After hearing innumerable sermons from a wide range of churches—from Catholic services to Protestant pulpits—these are the questions that stuck with me.
I've seen endless arguments over which beliefs are truly "right." For instance, I've heard preachers insist we must obey every commandment in the Bible, both old and new. Conversely, I've heard of the "health and wealth Gospel” as well as those who reject them.
I myself have held many wrong beliefs in the beginning, especially concerning salvation itself.
However, after studying the Bible myself, it became plain and simple that the answer has already been revealed to us in His Word.
We Christians should not be confused about the fundamental truth of our salvation and how we should live moving forward.
Sadly, many Christians have misunderstood this truth and formed their own beliefs. Some are still trying to live under the Law of Moses. Others think that once saved, they can do whatever they wish.
That is why this first article will cover the most important and fundamental aspect of Christian living.
Your Newness Of Life In Christ- His Righteousness Alone
There should not be any confusion on this truth, whatever denominations you come from. The Bible has made it clear that we are saved through grace, by faith alone, and not by our efforts.
No good works we did can save ourselves. Otherwise, why would we need God to come and save us?
Jesus Christ came to complete the work that mankind could not accomplish—to condemn sin itself in the flesh—and to give us His righteousness. Not the righteousness of angels, but the righteousness of God Himself, as a gift to us so that we might be members of Christ.
The Apostle Paul makes this abundantly clear:
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
Paul, who wrote three-quarters of the New Testament, constantly urged new believers to walk in the Spirit and consider ourselves freed from the law of sin and death. He shows us what happens if we continue to sin, and he reveals that we, as believers, should represent ourselves as stewards of God in this perverse world. We are all accountable for our deeds on the Day of The Lord.
Freed from the Law of Moses
Furthermore, Paul wrote that we who are saved are no longer subject to the Law of Moses.
For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. Romans 6:14
Some Christians believe that obeying God means we have to obey all the commandments in the Bible. This looks pleasing on the surface, but it is far from the truth for a New Covenant Christian. If a friend tells you to obey all the laws written, then ask if he or she has worn linen and wool together (Deuteronomy 22:11).
James 2:10 also tells us:
For whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. James 2:10
We know the Law of Moses was given to mankind so we could see the end of ourselves—to show us that we cannot save ourselves and that we desperately need a Savior.
Paul also delivers a stark warning against returning to the Law:
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. Galatians 5:1-4
Here, Paul explains the difference between the two ministries, and which one we are in today. He even mentions that the Ten Commandments (engraved on stones) was the ministry of death.
But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. 10 For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. 11 For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious. 2 Corinthians 3:7-11
Can Christians Continue To Sin Then?
Now that we have received the gift of righteousness from Jesus Christ and are set free from the law of sin and death, naturally, our flesh will ask: Can we sin more since we are already saved? Since we have been justified by faith and saved through grace, does it mean we can continue in sin?
This is the very question that was imposed on Paul, who preached about being saved through grace alone. This addresses the belief that, “I can do whatever I want now,” or, “I don’t need to live a holy life since I’m heading to heaven anyway.”
I encourage everyone, especially new Christians, to read the book of Romans on what it truly means to be under the new covenant, also known as the ministry of the Spirit.
In Romans 6, Paul addresses this question directly:
6 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be [a]done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been [b]freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, [c]reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as [d]instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. Romans 6:1-14
From Slaves of Sin to Slaves of God- A New Christian Living
Paul continues this thought, emphasizing our new identity and choice:
15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! 16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were [e]delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness [f]for holiness. 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit [g]to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the [h]gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:15-23
What this means is that sin no longer has power over us, which was strengthened by the Law, for we no longer serve the Law, but a new Master. Even after receiving the gift of righteousness from Christ, we can still make the better or worse decision: to continue to be slaves to sin leading to death, or to reckon yourselves to be slaves to righteousness.
There are many accounts in the New Testament where Christians continued to have a carnal mind, which required Paul to address them. There is chastisement for Christians, and it is always ultimately to save you from destruction, leading one to repentance and holiness.
Paul is also writing: Since we have already obtained a precious free gift from God to do wondrous works for Him, why would we choose to continue to live in sin that leads to nothing but death? Why not set our eyes on things above, on imperishable rewards in heaven, and on eternal life—which far outweighs whatever fleeting pleasure we get from sin now?
This is the danger of the belief that we can habitually live like our past self in sin, since we are saved and going to heaven anyway. They say, “I’m already saved, why the need to go to church? Why the need to read the Bible or pray?”
Paul wrote that the fruit of sin, the end, and the wages of those things is death.
There is even a warning to those who continue to live like this even after they have been saved, which I will talk about later. I will also write an article on overcoming addictions, particularly sexual immorality, in the next few writings.
Despite the foundational truth of our salvation, many Christians, myself included, struggle relentlessly to stay away from sin. We know we are saved, and we genuinely desire to please God, yet we often end up failing.
How do we break this cycle of defeat?
Even with the understanding Paul expresses in Romans 7:14, I've found myself struggling to overcome habitual sins and addictions. The good news is that the Bible says we have already been given the power to overcome them.
In the next article, I'll share how we can practically rely on this divine power to walk in victory.