The Lord alone is my judge

1Cor4:4

            This question, “Whatever Became of Sin?” was a book written in the late sixties addressing the lack of morality that had infiltrated our country.  For the lost, unregenerated person, the law is our schoolmaster bringing us to Christ.  By the law is the knowledge of sin.  Yet for the born again Christian, the question, “Whatever Became of Sin?” has a completely different meaning.  St. Paul does not say that the law is his judge.  We are not under the law but under grace.  Being under grace means there is no condemnation, no judgment from the law.  Like St. Paul, God becomes our judge.  We do not live under the written code, we live in the Spirit.  We live by faith and he who is righteous by faith shall live.

            I was questioned when I wrote in my last paper that we as Christians are freed from sin.  I told him “you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free” (Jn8:32).  I mentioned “Stand fast in the freedom wherewith Christ has made me free” (Gal5:1), but he was not convinced.  He wanted to know if I sin.  I told him I was no longer under the law.  He kept insisting.  Do you sin?  Quite frankly I couldn’t give him a direct answer because the law is no longer my judge, God is.  He told me I was a sinner like everybody else.  I told him not to call me names.  I am righteous by faith in Christ.  I told him even his church believes in saints.  I am a saint not a sinner.  Sinners go to hell.  I prefer heaven.

            My question to you is, “Whatever Became of Sin?”  Do you live under the bondage of the law?  Are you afraid of doing the wrong thing?  Are you afraid to break the law or do you fear disobeying God?  They that are led by the Spirit of God are sons and daughters of God. (Rm8:14)  If you are not under the law then sin has no meaning.  Sin is the transgression of the law.  If you are not under the law you cannot transgress the law.  If you live under grace you are free.  You have joy.  You follow the leading of the Spirit to love and bless. 

            I asked this person if not being under the law made me a bad person.  I told him that I do the will of God in many ways without the condemnation that the law brings.  How about you?  Do you as a Christian live under the law?  St. John in his first epistle clearly says that “Whoever is born of God does not commit sin” 1Jn3:9.  That is only possible if you live under grace.  The law is no longer operative.  If we are filled with the Spirit, God is operative and if you willfully choose to disobey God there is no place for repentance (Heb6:6)  Abraham in offering Isaac went against the law though not yet in effect, but was obedient to God.

            Whatever Became of Sin?  For me it went out the window when I was born again!

Amen