Misinterpretation of Romans 6:1–2: "Not to Keep Sinning So That Grace May Abound"

Written on 9 July 2026

Misinterpretation of Romans 6:1–2: "Not to Keep Sinning So That Grace May Abound"

A point of discussion within Free Grace theology concerns the interpretation of Romans 6:1–2, particularly whether the Apostle Paul teaches that believers should "not keep sinning so that grace may abound."

The Statement

In the sermon Do People Only Believe Free Grace Because They Love to Sin?, Jacksmack77 states:

> "Paul is simply giving an exhortation not to keep sinning, so that grace will abound."

This statement has been criticized as a misinterpretation of Paul's argument because it attributes to Paul a reason that the text itself does not give.

The Biblical Text

Romans 6:1–2 (KJV) states:

"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?"

The phrase "that grace may abound" belongs to Paul's rhetorical question, not to his exhortation.

Paul's Argument

The flow of Paul's reasoning is:

1. Romans 5:20 states that where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.

1. Paul anticipates an objection: "Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?"

1. Paul immediately rejects the proposal: "God forbid."

1. He gives his reason: "How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?"

Thus, Paul's stated reason for rejecting continued sin is that believers have died to sin through their union with Christ, not that they should refrain from sin in order that grace may abound.

Why the Interpretation Is Criticized

The criticism is not that Paul exhorts believers to holy living. Romans 6 contains numerous exhortations, such as:

• "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin..." (Romans 6:11)
• "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body..." (Romans 6:12)

Rather, the criticism is directed at the wording:

> "not to keep sinning, so that grace will abound."

This wording transfers the purpose clause ("that grace may abound") from Paul's rejected hypothetical question to Paul's exhortation. In the biblical text, Paul rejects the suggestion that believers should continue in sin for the purpose of increasing grace.

Alternative Paraphrase

A paraphrase that more closely follows the text would be:

> "Paul rejects the idea that believers should continue in sin in order that grace may abound, and exhorts them to live consistently with the fact that they have died to sin."

This preserves the logical structure of Romans 6:1–2 without attributing to Paul a purpose statement that he does not make.

Conclusion

The criticism of the statement "Paul is simply giving an exhortation not to keep sinning, so that grace will abound" is that it does not accurately reflect the wording or argument of Romans 6:1–2. While Paul certainly exhorts believers not to continue in sin, the reason he explicitly gives is that believers are "dead to sin," whereas the phrase "that grace may abound" forms part of the rhetorical objection that Paul immediately rejects with the words "God forbid."

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