July 01, 2022 – Friday
Romans 5:20-21 NIV
20 The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more,
21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Comments
As this is a continuation of what we looked at yesterday in verses 15-17, let’s now look at the verses 18-19 with them for context and then look at the verses above that followed: 15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16 Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! 18 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. 19 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. The one righteous act was Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and it was His obedience that made it possible for many to be made righteous before God.
With the context provided let’s now look at our two verses for today, 20 The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. If you stop reading there you might ask, “Should we go on sinning so grace might increase or abound even more?” Paul was read for that question and asked and answered it in the first verses of chapter six, 1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? The KJV is even more emphatic in its answer, God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Many versions of the Bible say God forbid! or Absolutely not! and a few May it never be! Note the exclamation mark (!) at the end of each of these. I cannot imagine his answer without that emphasis!
Going back to verse 20, when Paul writes where sin increased, grace increased all the more He is making the point grace abounds to cover all sin with Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Paul considered himself to be the ‘worst or chief of sinners’ and was amazed at the grace he received. In other words, no matter what your sin, come to the cross and know your sins can be forgiven if you will but admit your sins, believe Jesus died to pay the price for your sins and rose on the third day. Paul believed, but he had direct contact and experience with Jesus what about those of us who do not share his experience or that of His disciples? Jesus provides an answer for us in John 20:29 when He says to Thomas, Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. We are blessed as we have not seen Jesus in the flesh as Thomas did and yet we believe. And the reason grace increased all the morewas for the reason Paul gives, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. There was to be no doubt that God’s grace, His unmerited favor, brings us eternal life through Jesus and none other.
Bottom Line: We have salvation through God’s favor and cannot as Christians live a life of sin. We will not be without sin in our lives, but we will no longer live lives of sin.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank You that Your grace abounds so wonderfully covering all our sins. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek