License to Sin?

Some say that some people give others a ‘license’ to sin. That is not a novel idea because the author of sin is Satan, the father of lies. Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:42-44.

Looking across the pages of Scripture I have not found this idea that anyone gives to another a so-called ‘license’ to sin. However, what I have found is this, “each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” James 1:14-15. However, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13.

Man is in a mess, a very real mess and the mess was present before he was given possession of the Garden. At that time Satan has been around for a very long time before he was given opportunity to tempt Adam and Eve. And it is in this context that we can understand Paul’s previous statement, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” Recalling the events surrounding Adam and Eve, we know that they did physically escape the place of their sin, but the decision to leave Eden was God’s, not theirs. The scar of the sin was theirs to live with as the lives of their children are played out on the stage of darkness. They escaped the place, but horrors of their decision to follow the temptation of Satan remains to this very moment. The freedom to choose sin over righteousness continues. That is, the license to sin and the license to righteousness, as well. But in the end all is effectively accomplished according to the desires of God’s heart.

The desire of God’s heart is that mankind serve Him and Him only. Just as he instructed Moses and the Hebrews in the Wilderness of Sin,

"Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites.” Joshua 24:14-15.

"And if you will indeed obey my commandments that I command you today, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, The will give the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the later rain, that you may gather in your grain and your wine and your oil. And he will give grass in your fields for your livestock, and you shall eat and be full. Take care lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them; then the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you, and he will shut up the heavens, so that there will be no rain, and the land will yield no fruit, and you will perish quickly off the good land that the LORD is giving you.” Deuteronomy 11:13-17.

Reading God’s Word indicates that everyone who loves Him holds in place the license to sin or the license to righteousness. Just because a person possesses a license to drive is not given permission to disobey traffic laws without penalties.

My brother was driving above the speed limit and was stopped by a policeman and given a ticket, or as his son told his mother, “Daddy was stopped by a policeman and the policeman gave Daddy a note.” In other words, the policeman asked him for his license to drive and despite his license to drive, was still presented a ticket because the speed limit was broken. A penalty was paid. The same has happened to me, as well.

The God of Heaven and Earth, the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ has presented us with the free gift of Eternal Life in Him, but this is not a license to sin. This is a an opportunity for everyone to go to Heaven despite our sin. Christ wants to live in the heart and direct the life of every person, but because He lives in the hearts of men and women is not permission or a license to sin. There remains no penalty for sin that is already paid for at Calvary 2000 years ago.

Believers in Jesus Christ are free in Him from the penalty of sin that will be committed by them. The freedom is to live in Him, not a license to sin, but the strength to live in freedom from the penalty of sin that has been cancelled. There is not fear for the sin committed, but rather the ability in Christ Jesus not to sin. This does not mean that sin will not be committed, but the ability to live without sin is certainly present. However, we will sin not because we are human, but because we will sometimes make decisions to sin rather than follow Jesus.

But John wrote, “Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, you know the Father. write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.” 1 John 2:7-14.

A License to Sin? Hardly so. However, to know Christ is freedom from the penalty of sin when sin is committed. And praise the Lord, Jesus paid the price one time and for all time. Not to be repeated over and over again…..remember
.Hebrews 6? If not, read it again…….

Jesus said,, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"