Grace Is Not An Excuse To Sin

 Some people take eternal security as an excuse to sin freely, radical ones even claim that to claim otherwise is "self righteousness" or "phariseic", yet no major Free Grace theologian has taught license. There are many biblical consequences to sin.

One of the first lies Satan used was "thou shalt not die", Satan wants us to think that one can sin freely without consequences, this article seeks to grow people in discipleship.

Loss of rewards

Christ commanded us to gather rewards, and if we fail to obey we will certainly lose eternal rewards.

The bible describes it in this way in 1 Corinthians 3 (NKJV):

Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

Jesus also affirms this in Matthew 5:11-12:

“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” 

Lack of fellowship

The book of 1 John is written as a guide for fellowship with God, as is stated in the intro:

1 John 1:5-7 (NKJV)

"This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin."

John calls the readers to do good works, confess their sins and turn from their sins in order to maintain their fellowship with God.

1 John 4:8 (NIV)

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Loss of joy

As a consequence of losing fellowship, we may also lose our joy, this is seen in Psalm 51:12, which states: "Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit."

Natural consequences to sin

Sin also has natural consequences everyone will suffer, both believer and unbeliever alike. This is why Paul in Galatians 6:7 declares: "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap."

Chastisement

We may be directly chastised by God as a result of our sin, sometimes it might be very extreme or even physical death:

Hebrews 12:6-11 (NKJV)

6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens,

And scourges every son whom He receives.”

7 If[a] you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no [b]chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Psalm 89:30-33: If his children forsake my law and do not walk according to my rules, if they violate my statutes and do not keep my commandments, then I will punish their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes, but I will not remove from him my steadfast love or be false to my faithfulness.