June 30, 2022 – Thursday
Romans 5:15-17 NIV
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 graceof 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!
Comments
You may notice I have underlined every gift and grace in the verses above to bring your attention to them as grace, God’s unmerited favor, is a gift to all of us through His Son, Jesus the Christ. As you read through it, also be aware trespass is another word for sin.
This section of chapter five is about how sin and death entered the world through one man, Adam while life, eternal life, entered the world through the obedience of one man, Jesus. The opening verse for this section says, 12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—.
Let’s first look at verse 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! The one man who first sinned is of course Adam as he could not keep the one command God had given him and through him sin and death entered the world. Then we have God’s grace, the gift that came by the grace of one man, Jesus Christ and it overflows to the many! This is Paul explaining God wishes to forgive all our sins through the grace of Jesus Christ and the many ir overflows to is everyone who will partake of this gift of grace, undeserved mercy. It is literally a gift, something we needed without understanding our need, something we did not earn, could not earn. All we can do is humbly accept this gift while being thankful for God’s great mercy.
Paul then explains, 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. Adam’s sin brought judgment, condemnation, and death. But it was after so much sin God’s gift of grace brought forgiveness, new life, hope, and justification. We have justification or acquittal for all of our sins because of the obedience and sacrifice oft one man, Jesus the Christ. Paul has no explanation of how this is accomplished, only that it is done and done through Jesus.
Then Paul sums it up brilliantly when he writes, 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! With all the death and damage caused by Adam’s sin, Jesus bringing us God’s abundant provision of grace plus the gift of righteousness reign in life all through the one man, Jesus Christ. God’s grace through Jesus is much-much greater than all the damage and death caused by Adam.
Bottom Line: We have so much to be thankful for in knowing what Jesus did for us and what a wonderful gift God’s favor is when we did not deserve it. But like David in Psalm 58:2b we should be saying, I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Your mercy is so incredible, so kind, and so loving all we can do is say, “Thank You!” – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek