Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. Romans 5:18-19
Nothing is free, friends. Everything you receive must be paid for. As we’ve been studying the past couple weeks, you have sinned and have brought death upon yourself. Damnation is what Adam’s sin and, as a result, your sin have paid in full for you. Nevertheless, if you receive God’s abundant grace and His gift of righteousness, you will reign in the life that Jesus sacrificed His own life for you to have.
Last week, we looked at the power of death because of sin and that while sin is powerful, God’s free gift of eternal life is much more powerful than sin and death. How is this possible? Paul continues his thought in verses 18 and 19. The reason the God’s grace is so powerful is because of how it was purchased. Like I said, nothing is free; God is just and cannot let sin go unpunished. Therefore, God had to remove our sin and did so through coming to earth as the perfect Man Jesus. Just as Adam passed his sin on to his offspring, God passed His righteousness, bought through Jesus’ “one… righteous act,” to us. Because Jesus obeyed His Father in heaven and died an innocent death for our sins, He paid our debt of sin and allowed grace to abound much more than sin could ever destroy us. Adam disobeyed God and damned us; Jesus obeyed God and freed us. Now we can know God and glorify Him.
So, this week, recognize your sin and then turn to God’s grace. Sin may rule over you now, but it doesn’t have to do so. Because Jesus was already punished for your sin, all you need to do is confess and turn from your sin and commit your life to Jesus as Lord and King, and God will forgive you and give you the strength to live as His child, free from sin’s curse. He loves you and will always take care of you, never leaving nor forsaking you!
COMMITTING TO GOD’S GRACE AND LOVE,
Jeremiah Yonemura
