The teachings of its resurrected Savior became the new guidelines for living for the first-century church. It was clear to all eyewitnesses who heard the many parables and teachings of Jesus, that He challenged the standards of righteousness preached by the Jewish rabbis for centuries.

Jewish Practices 101 were clear then as they are for the Orthodox Jews today: God’s chosen people are to seek holiness (Leviticus 19:2 ; 1 Peter 1:13-16), follow the ethical behaviors and traditions elaborated by Jewish rabbis based on Scriptures’ principle of ethics and laws, observe the feasts, and follow the Mitzvot (commandments) as found in the Torah.

It is believed that the apostle Paul penned down the letter to the Roman believers after finishing his work in the East. He had never been to Rome and planned on visiting the community of believers in the city on his way to Spain after bringing a collection to Jerusalem for the poor Christians there (Romans 15:22-28).

The Roman church was mostly comprised of Jewish believers, but also contained a great number of gentiles. The Epistle to the Romans is an atypical letter compared to Paul’s other writings, in that it is organized and carefully presented as the apostle’s statement of faith. A Jew and former Pharisee, Paul is careful to clarify in this “statement of faith” certain subjects much debated among Messianic Jews: Is Salvation gained by works, keeping of the law AND faith… or faith alone? Does Grace justify disregarding the commandments? Are we free to sin, since we’re not under the Law?

Does that sound familiar?

The Great debate among first-century Jews is still a great debate today. And for those of us living in the 21^st century’s “Age of Grace”, Paul’s clarification on the issue is best found in the letter to the Romans. He addresses it in the sixth chapter of Romans:

“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?” (v.1)

His answer could not be more direct:

“May it never be! How shall we, who died to sin, still live in it? Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore, we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin.” (vs. 2-7 – emphasis mine)

[bctt tweet=”The debate is ongoing and will never end until the trumpet sounds… Does grace justify ungodly behavior? Does it excuse it? Does it allow it? Does it welcome believers into the Throne Room, regardless?” username=”PatHolbrook”]

Oh, dear saint, may each of us allow the Holy Spirit to guide us to the answers to these questions, as we honestly and unbiasedly read Paul’s answer to the Roman church:

We were once slaves to sin and had no desire to conform to God’s will (v.20).

We have been set free from the slavery of sin… and have become (willing) slaves to God, which results in sanctification, as we are set apart for God’s purposes… (v.22)

Salvation, as the gift that it is, cannot be taken back. Jesus Himself told his disciples: “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” John 10:28-30

But I am convinced, by overwhelming evidence in Scriptures, that a fulfilling, peaceful and purpose-filled life can only be found once a born-again Christian submits his or her prideful heart and lustful flesh to the holiness of God.

[bctt tweet=”I am convinced, by overwhelming evidence in Scriptures, that a fulfilling, peaceful and purpose-filled life can only be found once a born-again Christian submits his/ her will & flesh to the holiness of God” username=”PatHolbrook”]

I cannot find the argument against this principle anywhere in the New Testament.

Salvation is a gift to all repentant sinners who trust Jesus as their Savior.

And Salvation is eternal.

Closeness to a Holy God and purposeful, joyful life, however, can only be found by believers who “submit their bodies as a living sacrifice, acceptable to God…” and are not “conformed to this world, but rather, seek to be transformed by the renewing of their mind.” That is how we “prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:1-2)

[bctt tweet=”May God help us all to make our highest goal to be more like Jesus every day, not because we have to, but out of love and gratitude alone.” username=”PatHolbrook”]

And, most of all, may we fully understand that this goal is attainable, as we deliberately lay down our sins and shortcomings before the Throne, as a sacrifice of love and gratitude to a God who gave it all, so we could have access to the Holy of holies and experience life at its best.

Is holding on to any sin, desire or choice worth giving up this blessed communion and peace?