True Grace.

     For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
                               Romans 6:14 NASB

     There is this idea that somehow the grace of God allows us to sin. Many individuals believe that it's ok to sin because God understands, and after all, grace covers it.
     It is true that it is by grace, and not by works that we are saved (Ephesians 2:8-9). It is equally true however, that as His workmanship, we are created for good works (Ephesians 2:10)!
     Paul makes the point in Romans 6:1-23, that in salvation, we are delivered from the bondage and power that sin holds over us. Through our identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, we are set free from sin to serve Christ in righteousness.
     He anticipates that some may claim that grace gives them liberty to sin, and he emphatically says NO, grace does not give you freedom to sin, but freedom from sin (Romans 6:1-2, 14-18).
     We get a true picture of what God's grace really means for us in Paul's letter to Titus.

     For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
                                   Titus 2:11-14 NASB

     This passage shows us that true grace instructs us to deny sinful and worldly desires and behavior. It teaches us to live sensible, righteous lives that please God who has redeemed us from every lawless deed through Jesus Christ.
     God's purpose in saving us was to have a people for His own possession who were zealous for good works. He desires to have a holy people who have turned from sin, and now live for Him (Ephesians 1:4, 1 Peter 1:2), people who have been transformed from what they were, into something new and glorious in the eyes of God (1 Cor 6:11, 2 Cor 5:17).
     Grace does not wink at sin. It never gives us permission to sin. The true grace of God will turn us from sin, and set us free. Anything less than this is not grace at all.