For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
Romans 6:14
Fear is a strong motivator, but is it the kind of motivation we need every day? Perhaps not. What we fear often becomes a negative motivator and creates a life of dissatisfaction and legalism. But when we do things from love, everything changes.
Paul begins here by stating that sin will not be a master over us. That is probably the most amazing news you’ve heard all day. Even if it is still early in the morning. However, you’re also most like a little confused because it seems like sin is a master over you. Many people deal with failure in their lives that they have forgotten how spiritual renewal and a joyful life actually feel. I want you to feel spiritual renewal again today!
Fear Operates Under the Law
Once we understand that the law is a recipe for fear, we can better understand God’s intention for spiritual renewal and a joyful life! Laws can frequently produce an unhealthy fear in our lives that drives us to conform regardless of our thoughts or feelings. For example, if the speed limit is 70 on the interstate, why do so many people brake hard when they see a highway patrolman parked in the median? Because they fear they broke the law. Not only that, but there will be harsh consequences for breaking that specific law. Insurance rates go up, and you end up paying exorbitant fines you can’t afford. Sounds like fun, huh?
They don’t have a relationship with the highway patrolman. They have a relationship with the law. The patrolman becomes the enforcer, and none of it positively motivates us. That’s the way it is with the law in Scripture. While we do have specific laws, those laws are only a reminder that there is no way we can keep every one of those laws. They are a simple reminder that we something better. They are not insignificant but are for a purpose other than spiritual motivation. This is why we need grace.
Faith, Not Fear Operates Under Grace
Faith is not the opposite of fear but the absence of fear. Faith gives us sustainable hope for spiritual renewal and a joyful life. Faith in Jesus is never forced; it results from our deep and abiding love for Jesus and His deep and abiding love for us (John 15:5). It works this way. Grace is not some kind of free pass to speed on the interstate. Faith is a free pass to allow you to love Jesus and live an amazing life that honors Him. We are now living in the age of grace. God initially saves us “by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9)” and continues to allow us to live that new life “by grace and through faith.”
The only fear we should experience is a fear that we would disappoint the Lord by not living as we ought to live. We live the way we ought to because of God’s immeasurable and matchless grace extended to flawed people who desperately and constantly need forgiveness and encouragement.
Are you living in fear of the consequences of your sin, or are you living by grace through faith in the One (Jesus) who provides forgiveness?