Presumably Paul’s opponents were saying that Paul’s gospel is one in which sin is promoted since Paul claims that the laws of Moses are not required for salvation.1 Christ them promotes sin because there is no need for obedience to be justified (Romans 6:1, Romans 6:15; Galatians 5:13–26).2 This claim is inconsistent with the revealed nature of God (James 1:13–15) as well as the work of Christ (Luke 23:41).3 It also misunderstands the work that Christ came to do and neglects the change that the Spirit works in the hearts of those who have true faith.
17 But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not!