From The Crucible (by Pastor Linda Pugsley)

"Grace" is not a license to sin! Some people believe it is okay to just dive in and sin any time with anyone because Jesus already forgave them of those sins. Whoa, bro–what are you thinking! Do you think Jesus died for your sins so you could keep on sinning? Isn't that a bit of an oxymoron–or maybe just a moron!

I am reminded of two examples of the foolishness of someone believing grace to be a license to sin. They are found in Philip Yancey's devotional book "Grace Notes" in the October 4-5 entries. One example was a graduate school task learning basic German. Yancey struggled, sacrificed and studied that summer because he wanted to earn that degree. But he pondered, “what if the school registrar had told him to study hard in the German classes, but, no matter what he did, he’d still get the diploma.” Do you think Yancey would have studied at all? Yeah, when pigs fly!

Can we now understand Paul's exclamatory remark of "God forbid" when asked if people can go on sinning so grace could increase? (Hm-m, mankind has been stupid for a long time, ya’ think!)

Another Yancey example is even more potent when he asks in his October 6 entry if the groom on his wedding night would ask the following of his new bride: "Honey, I love you so much, and am eager to spend my life with you...now that we’re married, how far can I go with other women? Can I sleep with them? Can I kiss them? You don't mind a few affairs now and then, do you? I know it might hurt you, but just think of all the opportunities you'll have to forgive me after I betray you!"

Sounds crazy, yet that’s just what you would be doing if you think grace is a free ticket to sin-city! No–God doesn't want to whip you into shape. Instead, you have a free will to choose–Him or you. God wants your heart, not your head, and what you think He means. He wants you to live, loving Him in the way He thinks it means. It's not a "law" relationship but a "love" relationship; meaning that you love God so much, you would hate to sin against Him. Endure the fire – it's producing pure gold!

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