We’ve been looking at Paul’s letter to the Roman church. In my last post, we talked about the battle between life and death.
Paul obviously understood the importance of this principle. He continues to talk about it in the next few verses..
Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men.
Romans 5:18-19
Because of Adam’s sin, everyone is now under the same guilty verdict. Because of that, we deserve the death sentence.
However, because of the work of Christ on the cross, that sentence has been nullified. According to this verse, we now have been given access into a not guilty life through Christ.
For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
Romans 5:19
Paul finds another way to tell us the great things that God has done. Adam caused us all to become sinners. But, by the love of the Lord, His sacrifice has now made us righteous in God’s eyes.
These are wonderful truths that we need to be meditating on. Don’t let the enemy lie to you. Never convince yourself that you’re unworthy of God’s love. Jesus Christ has made you worthy. You can be clothed in His righteousness.
The law was added so that the trespass might increase.
Romans 5:20a
As we continue along this line, we see where the villain of the story comes in. Remember, it’s the law that empowers sin.
I like the way this verse reads in the original Greek. It tells us that the law sneaked in so that the sins would increase. The law is very stealthy. You would think that it’s trying to help you. But instead, it’s trying to trip you up.
In actuality, the law is the word of death that the devil stands upon. The law’s goal is to increase sin and the reign of death.
I’m grateful to God that this isn’t the end of the story.
But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 5:20b-21
The truth is that where sin abounds, the grace of God super-abounds. Nothing can outperform our Lord. Sin, no matter how great, cannot outdo grace.
Christ won a great victory. So now, just like sin reigned in death, grace now reigns through righteousness, being focused on eternal life.
God’s grace is now carrying out the agenda of life. At the same time, sin is carrying out the agenda of death. It’s up to us to decide who’s reign we want to submit to.
Personally, I want to choose life. But the question becomes; how do I walk in this life that Christ has purchased for me? That’s a good question, and over the next couple of chapters in Romans, Paul deals with that very thing.
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Question: How have you messed up in trying to follow the law?
© 2021 Nick Zaccardi
The Spirit and the Word 