“Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:” (Romans 5:20) What sin? “What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.” (Romans 6:15) It couldn’t be phrased much simpler than that, our sin, our personal sin, not the sin of a nation, a nation is a group of individuals who have huddled under the same banner, and a nation cannot sin as a whole unless an individual within it coerces or in some other way entices another individuals to commit to agree to the sin they have begun, and as more agree to sin in this manner, the nation is guilty then of the sin as a whole.
Here is where, when the judgment of God falls upon that nation, the rain begins to fall on the just as well. (Matt. 5:45) Sin is disobedience to the known will and Word of God, and in the latter of that statement, even the word is not necessary to obtain the knowledge of sin, “For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:” (Romans 2:14), along with Romans 1:20, “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.”
Sin is not limited to only those who have been exposed to the inerrant Word of God, but has fallen upon every man. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Grace is the unmerited favor of God, giving us what we do not deserve, because of His love for us, therefore disobedience is met with unmerited favor in the personal life of the born-again believer, but not without cost to ourselves. The price we must pay though is quite simple, but must come with conviction of the heart, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
And to whom do we confess, to Jesus directly, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (1 Tim. 2:5)
It really could not be any easier, we recognize disobedience, sin, within ourselves, either from the Word of God, or by the mercies of the Holy Spirit, we confess that sin, ask for the ability to turn from it, and we receive unmerited favor, grace. The fellowship with the Lord remains unbroken, we continue to study daily to show ourselves approved to all who ask for a reason for the faith that we have been blessed with, (1 Peter 3:15) and ask for His guidance and leading to continue to serve with only one purpose in mind, that He would be glorified, (Romans 15:6) for He alone is Sovereign.
We learn humility by the word Sovereign, and are then able to live Micah 6:8, “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” At its core, at the very base, the foundation, all that the Lord has shown to us in this area is indeed meant for babes, it has little place in the mind of a great theologian, it holds no value to the lost, but “It is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” (Romans 1:16)
From these most basic tenants we move on, as much as the Lord allows, as much as He desires to place upon us “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.” (Eph. 4:11) So that the body of Christ, with Jesus Christ as the head, is complete. “From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” (Eph. 4:16)
Love, care, compassion, concern is available to all, as is wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. The Lord God Almighty does not blind any of His children to the truth, He never deceives any of us, He is always open and honest with us and informs and equips us in all we need to accomplish the tasks in this life that He asks us to accomplish. No one is left without what they need, but when sin abounds in the life of the believer, and when it is left unrepented of, grace will cease, mercy, as far as He determines to give of it, will remain, we will not receive what is due us because of His continuing love for us, but grace, His unmerited favor will cease, until we return.
Here is why those who have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof, (2 Tim. 3:5) have the wrath of God upon them even unto this day, (John 3:36) for they have attempted to usurp the power of God, and have replaced it with their own ideologies and traditions, it is why they will receive the greater damnation. (Matt. 23:14) It is so simple, yet beyond brilliant at the same time, there is no sin that grace cannot cover, and there is not one sin, past, present, or future, that was not paid for and covered on the cross by the precious blood of our Savior. All to the glory of God.
