No — being under Grace does not mean we can sin freely.
Romans 6:14-15 declares that sin is not to have dominion because believers are not under the Law but under Grace, and the question 'Shall we sin?' is answered with an emphatic 'God forbid.' Les Feldick repeatedly stresses that grace is never license.
Romans 6:14-15 — This passage directly addresses the question: believers are not under the Law but under Grace, and the idea of sinning because of Grace is rejected with 'God forbid.'
Romans 6:14 says, 'For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.' The very next verse asks the question this page is answering: 'What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.' Scripture's own answer is a firm rejection of the idea that being under Grace permits sin.
Les Feldick teaches that being under Grace does not mean Christians may sin freely. He says over and over, 'Grace is not license.' He explains that Romans 6:14 means the old Adamic sin nature no longer has dominion over the believer because the believer is not under the Law's ritual and stipulations or the demands of Judaism. Freedom from the Law is not freedom to sin.
Les Feldick compares Law and Grace as being as different as daylight and dark. He says believers are not under the ritual and stipulations of the Law of Israel or the demands of Judaism, but are under Grace. Legalism is darkness, and God's grace is light. Grace is unmerited favor—nothing a person can do counts with God; it is all based on what Christ has done. He also points out that the Lord's Prayer belongs under the Law and its doctrine is legal, especially its conditional forgiveness.
No. Les says that being under Grace does not mean we can just do as we please or sin as we please. God's mind on sin has not changed; what was abominable under the Law is still abominable. Under the Law, picking up sticks on the Sabbath resulted in death by stoning, but believers are not under that legalistic system. If believers fail, God will deal with them in love and move from one level of discipline to another—not cast them out as under the Law.
Les teaches that grace is never license. Being under grace does not mean believers become lawless. They are not under the stringent demands of 'thou shalt and thou shalt not,' but they are led and guided by the indwelling Holy Spirit. The old Adamic nature no longer has dominion, and believers have intense liberty—but that liberty is not a reason to sin.
The Lord's Prayer Under Law
Les shows that the Lord's Prayer belongs under the Law and has legal doctrine, and then points to Romans 6:14-15 to reveal the difference between Law and Grace.
Grace Is Not License
Les says Romans 6:14 shows believers are no longer under the ritual and stipulations of the Law, but he immediately adds, 'Grace is not license.'
God Forbid: Sin Under Grace
Les answers Romans 6:15's question by saying, 'God forbid! Don't think such a thing,' and explains God's mind on sin has not changed.
Law's Punishment vs Grace's Discipline
Les contrasts the Law's death-by-stoning punishment for Sabbath work with God's loving discipline for believers under Grace, showing that Grace is not license.
Old Adam and Dominion
Les describes the old Adamic sin nature no longer having dominion and calls grace unmerited favor, moving from the darkness of legalism into the light of grace.
Grace Never Licensed
Les tells a caller that grace is never licensed; believers are free from 'thou shalt' demands, but they are not lawless—they are led by the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Banish the Thought
Les emphasizes that the answer to Romans 6:15 is 'God forbid,' and suggests that 'banish the thought' is a more accurate translation.
Clear Teaching of Romans 6
Les points back to Romans 6:14 as the clearest passage showing that the old Adamic nature no longer has dominion because believers are under Grace, and the Law no longer has any effect.
Romans 6:14: For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
This verse states the believer's position under Grace rather than Law, and is the foundation for the question about sinning freely.
Romans 6:15: What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
This verse directly asks and rejects the idea that being under Grace permits sin.
No. Romans 6:15 asks, 'Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace?' and answers 'God forbid.' Les Feldick says, 'Grace is not license.' God's mind on sin has not changed even though believers are not under the Law.
Paul emphatically rejects the thought that being under Grace gives permission to sin. Les Feldick says that a better, more accurate translation is 'banish the thought.'
Believers are free from the stringent demands of the Law, such as 'thou shalt and thou shalt not,' but grace does not make them lawless. Under Grace, believers are led and guided by the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Watch the Teaching: The Disciples' Prayer Explained: Matthew 6 Verse by Verse