If We Are Saved By Grace, Is A Christian Therefore Free To Live As He Pleases?

Taal Lake, Philippines

By Henry Morris

The New Testament, of course, is very clear in its teaching that we are justified by grace through faith, not by works.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.”---Eph. 2:8-9.

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”---Titus 3:5.

This does not mean that our salvation is one of “cheap grace.” Although we receive it as a free gift, if we receive it at all, it is infinitely costly.

“Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold,…But with precious blood of Christ.”---I Pet. 1:18-19.

“God…sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”---I John 4:10.

The Lord Jesus Christ, the very Son of God, suffered all the desolation of Hell itself when He died on the cross, taking the punishment which each man deserves to receive for his own sins, thus bearing “our sins in his own body on the tree (cross)” (I Pet. 2:24).

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”---II Cor. 5:17.

His entire attitude and motivation are changed. [The Spirit draws him] to live in a way that will honor the Lord Jesus and draw others to Him, in thankfulness for Christ’s love and sacrifice…

“The love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if…He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again.”---II Cor. 5:14-15.

The [faithful] Christian is thus indeed free to live as he pleases, but he will please to live for Christ! Although he may at times fail the Lord in various ways, the real motivation of his life will be not to please himself, but to please the Lord…because he has been regenerated by the Spirit of God.

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.”---Gal. 2:20.

A Christian seeks to live a life pleasing to God, not in order to be saved or in order to keep saved, but because he is saved! His life is therefore a life of true thanksgiving to his Saviour.