Friday June 9, 2021

Heavenly Father – help me start today with a clear heart and a clear mind ready to receive your word in a brand new way today. Amen.

Romans 5:12-20

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—To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come. 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! 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. 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! Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. 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 law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more,

What a beautiful reminder the Apostle Paul provides us with in that last sentence, “Where sin increased, grace increased all the more.”
Eugene Peterson provides this translation of Paul’s words:
“One man (Adam) said no to God and put many people in the wrong; one man (Jesus) said yes to God and put many in the right. All that passing laws against sin did was produce more lawbreakers. But sin didn’t, and doesn’t, have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace. When it’s sin versus grace, grace wins hands down.” – Romans 5:19- 21 MSG
It’s hard to believe we cannot sin beyond God’s grace, because we recognize the immensity of humanity’s sin, and our own sin.

● Have you ever felt that you have sinned beyond God’s grace for you?
● How does it feel now, to know, as Eugene Petersen translates verse 21, “When it’s sin versus grace, grace wins hands down.”?

Lord, these are your words. This is our story. Help me live in a way that honors you today and everyday. Amen.