The Daily + This Sunday!
Do we sin that grace may abound? God forbid! But praise God that His grace is greater than all our sin!
“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?” (Romans 6:1)
The church has a long history of rejoicing in God's grace. Hymns like John Newton's Amazing Grace have been sung for generations. The chorus of Julia Johnston's well-known hymn, Grace Greater Than Our Sin, reminds us that grace is, in fact, greater than all our sins.
Indeed, Paul tells us that grace superabounds! "Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more" (Rom. 5:20). To put it plainly, there is more grace in God than there is sin in us. This good news led the apostle Paul to anticipate a counter-argument:
"Wait a minute, Paul! If grace truly abounds as you claim, does that mean people can do whatever they want?"
The answer is, of course, no. God forbid that we sin so that grace would abound. However, the sheer magnitude and freeness of God's grace should provoke such questions. Few have expressed this sentiment more clearly than 20th-century British minister Martyn Lloyd-Jones:
The true preaching of the gospel of salvation by grace alone always leads to the possibility of this charge being brought against it. There is no better test as to whether a man is really preaching the New Testament gospel of salvation than this, that some people might misunderstand it and misinterpret it to mean that it really amounts to this, that because you are saved by grace alone it does not matter at all what you do; you can go on sinning as much as you like because it will redound all the more to the glory of grace. This is a very good test of gospel preaching. If my preaching and presentation of the gospel of salvation does not expose it to that misunderstanding, then it is not the gospel.
Do we sin that grace may abound? God forbid! But praise God that His grace is greater than all our sin!
THIS SUNDAY AT IMMANUEL
MORNING SERVICES
Join us this Sunday for worship at 9 a.m. or 10:45 a.m. as pastor Tony Shepherd continues our summer series on prayer. All are welcome! Catch up on previous sermons on our YouTube Channel.
SUNDAY CLASSES IN SADLER HALL
Studying the Bible Together, led by Dr. Tom Cox, studying the book of Romans in the blue room at 9 a.m.
The Bible’s Big Story, led by David McLemore, studying the Bible’s storyline centered on Jesus, His grace, and His gospel, meets in the blue room at 10:45 a.m. All are welcome!
PRAYER - As we continue our series on prayer, join us for two opportunities to seek the Lord together: every Friday at 6:00 a.m. in the Café and this Sunday, July 20, immediately after the 9 am service for a monthly Outreach Prayer meeting in the staff office area. Let’s ask together that God’s kingdom come and His will be done—in our church, our city, and beyond.
On The Horizon
MARRIAGE FOUNDATIONS SEMINAR - If you are considering marriage, engaged, or are young in your marriage, join us for our next Marriage Foundations Seminar. The seminar will take place on Saturday, August 16, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the café. Lunch will be provided. Register here.
SAVE THE DATE: MEN’S RETREAT & WOMEN’S CONFERENCE
This fall, make space to grow in gospel friendship and renewal. The Men’s Retreat is coming up on October 3–4 at Coldstream Christian Camp. The speaker is our very own Dr. Tom Cox. The women’s Conference is scheduled for November 7–8 at Immanuel Church. The speaker is Nancy Guthrie. More details and registration information will be available soon.
Amen