Paul continues his argument with the imaginary person presenting objections. In the previous chapter Paul has said that where sin increased grace increased all the more and the effects of God’s grace are infinitely greater than those of man’s sin. This might then lead someone to suggest that seeing the final results of sin are so wonderful (ie the grace of God) then we should sin all the more so that grace will increase even further. A similar misunderstanding of God’s grace and the gospel is often demonstrated today. The gospel is sometimes caricatured as meaning we can do what we like because God will forgive us. As Christians we can even think like that sometimes, thinking that it doesn’t matter if I sin because God will forgive me anyway.
It should also be noted that justification and sanctification are two sides of the same coin. Any attempt to think it possible to be justified without any work of sanctification going on in our lives is utterly unbiblical. However, sanctification in no way contributes to our justification, rather it is part of the fruit of it.
The phrase “go on sinning” is actually incorrect. The Greek says “remain in sin”. Sin is not just something we do, it is a state we are in, it is something we are. When we repent and believe we become a new creation in whom sin has no part, and who has no part in sin.
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