Through the years I have heard more than one person say “Oh, I’m a sinner saved by grace” as they continue to live in their sin. WHAT! Is this really all Christ did at the cross to suffer so that we may remain in our sin and claim we are saved? What did Jesus mean when He said to those He healed “Go and sin no more”? We find the answer explained very well how once we are saved by grace we are to cease from sin (1 Peter 4:1-7) Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

We cannot say we don’t know what scripture means to no longer live the way we used to before repenting and coming to Christ, especially since the previous passages actually lists what the former life is.

1. Lasciviousness – Uncontrolled desire for sexual pleasure, Obscene behavior, Wanton, Lewdness, Debauchery.

2. Lusts – Intense cravings or desires, Lust for power, Lust for wealth.

3. Excess of wine – Ephesians 5:18“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.” It cautions against the loss of self-control and destructive behavior caused by drunkenness.

4. Revellings – Heavy Drinking, Wild, noisy, unrestrained partying, Carousing, Verbal abuse.

5. Banquetings – Elaborate Feast’s the poor could never attend, Special foods specific to traditions and seasons.

6. Abominable idolatries – Detestible worship of a false god, Worship of any diety that is served as above God Almighty, Moral Corruption.

When the man at the pool of Bethesda was healed of an infirmity he had for 38 years we see Jesus saying words that should cause us to take note, that to return to sin holds a greater consequence as He said a worse thing may come (John 5:13-17) And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place. Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole. And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.

As a new creature in Christ we no longer serve the flesh and sin, but in newness of spirit do we serve God! To live in sin is a self centered life, as thinking of only ones desires (2 Corinthians 5:14-18)  For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:  And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.  Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.

Romans 6:1-14 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.  Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.  For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.