Shall we sin that grace may more abound? - Rom. 6:1

Rom. 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:.......
6:1 ¶ What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

This is precisely the conclusion that the doctrine of eternal security based upon justification "without works" draws from those who believe justification is based upon works, beliefs and faith conjointly rather than justification "without works."

They do not properly discern between the doctrine of justification and the doctrine of regeneration and that one does not exist without the other. The former deals with our POSITION due to God's work in the personal physical body of Christ in order to completely satisfy all the legal demands of God against the sinner. Thus removing him out from under the condemnation of the law and imputing to him the righteousness provided in the personal life of Christ by faith without our works. The latter deals with our PERSON based upon God's work in and through us whereby progressive sanctification occurs. The two are distinct from one another but not without one another as they are Siamese twins joined together in our initial conversion to Christ.

They are clearly seen in the Christian act of water baptism (Rom. 6:4-5). In the act of water baptism we publicly identify with Christ figuratively in connection with regard to two inseparable doctrines. In water baptism we publicly identify with the likeness of Christ's death and burial in our POSITIONAL relationship with Christ in satisfying the penalty of the law against sin - that is the doctrine of justification. In water baptism we publicly identify with the likeness of the resurrection life of Christ in our PERSONAL relationship with Christ in overcoming sin - that is the doctrine of regeneration. All who have died with Christ positionally according to the doctrine of justifcation by faith without works have been raised with Christ personally according to the doctrine of regeneration by the Spirit. So there is no such thing as a justified man who is not a regenerated man and even though we are justified by faith without works, we are "created in Christ unto good works" or regenerated/quickened.

The regenerate state provides the internal desire and inclination to be submissive to God's will and removes all excuses for sinning (Rom. 6:7-7:5). However, it does not guarantee we will not sin (Rom. 7:14-25) only that we have access to the power of the Spirit to overcome sin as long as we walk in the Spirit and walk not according to the flesh (an option only a born again child of God has who still has the law of indwelling sin along with the indwelling Spirit within him) - Rom. 8:9-27.

The truth is that it is not our whole human nature that is born again. Our body has not been born again. Our soul has not been born again, what is born of Spirit is spirit. Our soul is the battle ground between the regenerated spirit (new inward man) and our outward man (the flesh). Our soul is our determinate affections/desires and thoughts. If we determine (volition) to set our affections on things above while casting ourself on the power of the Spirit we will not determinately or willfully sin. If we "think on these things" by the power of the indwelling Spirit we will not determinately or willfully sin. However, at no time in our unglorified state do we ever cease to sin in the sense of coming short of the glory of God (1 Jn. 1:8-10). At our very best state in this life we still come short even during those times it is not by determinate choice.

The warefare over the soul is not a war about obtaining heaven or hell but about saving the daily life for the glory of God or about "redeeming the time." As a man thinketh so is he. According to what we set our affections on will be reflected by our attitudes, thoughts, speech and actions. According to what we think upon will be reflected by our attitudes, thoughts, speech and actions during that "time". We are in a battle to "redeem" our time which consists of our works (attitudes, thoughts, speech and actions) either for the glory of God or for ourselves. This is the only aspect of our "LIFE" that can be lost or saved on a daily basis and that determines rewards in heaven. It is only as we walk "in the Spirit" (Eph. 5:18) can we "redeem the time" (Eph. 5:16) and make our daily lives count for glory of God as our daily lives are brought into obedience to his will (Eph. 5:17). Here is the key to daily living and living a life more abundantly. Our daily life is the outliving of our soul or the experiential and manifest expression of our soul (determinate desires and thoughts) and we are either at all times walking after the flesh and losing that DAILY battle or walking after the Spirit and winning that DAILY battle. This is what Christ meant when he said we must crucify ourselves "DAILY" or practice self-denial by the power of the indwelling Spirit to be his disciples (followers) as one cannot follow Christ on a DAILY basis without denying himself and casting himself on the power of the Spirit (being "filled") thus coming under the leadership of the Spirit if they are going to win the battle of the moment. Jesus has won the war for us by his faithfulness in our place. But that does not mean we win all the daily battles. However, as we walk in the Spirit our spirit, soul and body is being sanctified by the Spirit and one day will be perfectly sanctified (1Thes. 5:23) and that should be our prayer and goal.

The act of water baptism visibly displays our victory in Christ (positionally) and (personally). It portrays our positional death with regard to sin by his death and burial thus satisfying the penalty of the Law against sin which is death (Justification). It portrays our resurrection with Christ not merely as a future hope but as the present state of our spiritual condition as being quickened by the Spirit (regeneration).

As many as have submitted to water baptism have publicly identified with Christ against sin. They have publicly testified they are not only died to sin positionally but are dying to sin by the resurrected life of Christ in regeneration. They are testifying that all justified by faith without works are regenerated persons who are at war against sin. So shall we who have been justified by faith without works sin that grace may more abound? "God forbid."