Get Out of Jail Free

Romans 5:18-21

What then are we to say? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may increase? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.

Monopoly is one of those games that my family played growing up. Often times it would get quite heated as the balance between the haves and have-not grew larger between the two. One of the cards that you could draw in both Community Chest and Chance was a “Get out of jail free” card. You got to keep it and at a time of your choosing could play this card to keep from going to jail and either having to sit out in hopes of rolling out with doubles or paying to get out. This card gave you a bit of carte blanche to sweat a little less when you rolled particularly as you rounded that last corner of the board with the policeman blowing his whistle.

The question comes before Paul in this passage about what we are to do once we know that grace is in our lives. Are we supposed to sin without fear because we know we are saved? Are we free to do whatever we want because we know at the end of the day that God loves us? No. While we are loved and we are saved, in response to the amazing gift of grace, our response should be to follow the life that God calls us to live. We should strive in all that we do to love our neighbors as ourselves, to seek the lost, and to help those in need. While God knows that we will make mistakes, God still calls us toward a faithful life and one where we try. Faith should not be a “get out of jail free” card and a justification to sin boldly.

Prayer

God, thank you for calling us to a life of your service. Thanks to the gift of Jesus, we know that we are loved and forgiven but that you still call us to try to live a life of faith. Help us to love one another and live a life worthy of your calling. In peace, Amen.