Now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 6:22-23).

A mother of teens was arranging the evening’s snacks in the church youth room when she glanced at the white board. There a lesson on “grace” was outlined.  Then, with a firmness that betrayed a hint of anger, she turned to the youth pastor and said, “My children don’t need more grace. They need more rules.”

Now, the mother’s words might sound unkind, but the pastor understood her concern. He knew she was a godly woman who was truly worried for her kids – and other kids in the church. We are right to be concerned about a faith without boundaries. 

Whenever we broadcast that God’s unconditional love has provided an escape from sin, fears arise that teens and adults alike will abuse God’s kindness. But grace frees us from the enslavement of sin, not the guidance of God. 

Hearts captured by grace are enslaved to God’s heart with a loving compulsion to honor him (2 Cor. 5:14-15). Grace frees us from sin not to sin. 

Faith without standards is folly, not grace. We cannot please the One we love if we don’t know what pleases him. There is no grace to experience if there is no way to respond in love to the One who gave himself for us.

Prayer:
Lord, thank you for the gift of eternal life! Help me to use my freedom from the guilt and power of sin to demonstrate love for my Savior that gives my life its most profound joy.