Romans 2:1, 3 NLT
[1] “You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things….
[3] Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things?”

Having exposed the wickedness of ungodly Gentiles, Paul turns to the Jews. They were smug in their belief that they were safe from God’s wrath because they were His chosen people, blessed and protected by the knowledge of His covenant.

In the main, the Jews were just as ungodly as the Gentiles. Their history was littered with accusation, condemnation and judgment for their idolatry and its effects on them.

Paul reminds them again, in case they had forgotten,

Romans 2:6-8 NLT
[6] “He will judge everyone according to what they have done… [7] He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. [8] But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness.”

Possession of God’s Word and the blessings of His covenant are no guarantee that His people will escape His judgment. There is only one criterion for safety, lives that are in line with His instructions.

Obedience to God’s Word is not the way to be saved from God’s wrath. Salvation is by faith in Jesus alone, by God’s grace, but… the evidence that we have been saved from sin is in our attitude to sin.

If we think that we can continue in sin because God forgives, we are making a grave mistake. The attitude, “It won’t happen to me!” clearly shows that we have misunderstood grace.

Grace is free but not cheap. God’s grace towards us cost Jesus His life in the cruellest and most painful way. Grace cost the Father the agony of watching His Son die at His own hand.

Romans 8:32 NLT
[32] “Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all…”

To treat the grace of God as cheap is to belittle Jesus to the lowest of the low.

If anything, God’s children should be elevating the worth of Jesus to the highest of the high by hating and fleeing from sin as the most abhorrent of all human behaviour.

The cross is God’s unembellished declaration of His attitude to sin, anything that contradicts God’s holy and righteous attributes. He cannot abide sin. His plan of salvation takes care of every effect of sin on people; alienation from God, pollution of our souls, the power to drag us into hell…all these and more that separate us from God and His plans for a godly family od sons and daughters like His Son.

If we trifle with sin in any way, thinking that small deviations from God’s holiness don’t matter, we are in serious danger of losing our way. Paul was emphatic, writing to believers, that those who deliberately practise sin in any form will not inherit God’s kingdom.

Philippians 3:17-18 NLT
[17] “Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. [18] For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.”

Galatians 5:19, 21 NLT
[19]”When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures…
[21] envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”

Are we to live lives of sinless perfection, then? Impossible! As long as we are in these bodies, we will always wrestle with temptation and easily fall into sin. There is an ongoing war between our flesh and the Spirit in us.

However, if we do sin, and we will, inadvertently, God has provided a solution.

We have an advocate…

1 John 2:1-2 NLT
[1] “My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. [2] He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.”

… and we have a way out…

1 John 1:8-9 NLT
[8]” If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. [9] But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”

Paul reminds the Roman readers that the cross of Jesus has a powerful effect on believers if they understand what the death of Jesus means in their lives. It’s not only about forgiveness. It’s about a new life and a new way of living.

Romans 6:1-4 NLT
[1] “Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? [2] Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? [3] Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? [4] For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.”

In conclusion, our attitude to sin and righteousness are clear evidence of our standing in grace.

Romans 5:1-2 NIV
[1]”Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, [2] through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.”

What is Paul saying?

Our faith in Jesus, if it is genuine, has changed our standing before God from sin and condemnation to grace and God’s power. We have a permanent standing in God’s grace that enables us to recognise and stand against sin.

Romans 6:14 NIV
[14] “For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.”

However, God’s grace is only for those who are humble enough to admit they are wrong. The attitude, “It won’t happen to me!” will disqualify me from the grace I need to overcome temptation and sin.

James 4:6-8 NIV
[6] “But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” [7] Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. [8] Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

“It won’t happen to me”? Yes it will, unless you access God’s grace by confession, forgiveness, and humble trust in God to keep you from sin.