Romans 5:20 - Where Sin Abounded, Grace Abounded Much More.
Romans 5:20 (NKJV) Moreover the law entered
that the offense might abound. But where sin
abounded, grace abounded much more,
Romans 5:20 (NLT) Gods law was given so
that all people could see how sinful they were.
But as people sinned more and more, Gods
wonderful grace became more abundant.
Romans 5:20 (CWR) So, the written law was
given to increase awareness of sin and of our need
for a Savior. But as sin continued to increase,
so grace increased that much more.
INTRODUCTION
Paul had already asserted that we stand
forgiven and joyful in God's grace (5:2), and here he
added more punch to that reality. The essential
nature of God's grace is that it rules over the
presence of sin and death in our world. While Adam's
failure brought on the reign of sin and death, Jesus
Christ has brought the reign of life through his
grace for all who are willing to receive it. Our
old unmanageable life represented the rule of
death through Adam. Our life in redemption through
Jesus Christ represents the rule of God's grace,
kindness, and love. As we turn our life over to God,
we can begin to receive the wonderful life that
he offers. [Life Recovery SB]
As a sinner, separated from God, you see his
law from below, as a ladder to be climbed to get
to God. Perhaps you have repeatedly tried to
climb it, only to fall to the ground every time
you have advanced one or two rungs. Or perhaps
the sheer height of the ladder seems so
overwhelming that you have never even started up. In
either case, what relief you should feel to see
Jesus offering with open arms to lift you above
the ladder of the law, to take you directly to
God! Once Jesus lifts you into Gods presence,
you are free to obey - out of love, not
necessity, and through Gods power, not your own. You
know that if you stumble, you will not fall back
to the ground. Instead, you will be caught and
held in Christs loving arms. [Life Application
SB]
COMMENTARY PEARL
Too Much to Measure
Desta Haileselassie's list of casualties
grows daily. A Tigrayan living in Sweden, Desta is
determined to record the deaths of the Tigrayan
minority in their conflict with the Ethiopian
government. Nineteen of his family members have died in
the conflict, but every one of the more than
three thousand people on his list feels like
family. Due to restricted information, his list
represents only a fraction of the total, but Desta
documents what he can: the groom killed during a
wedding, the teen shot randomly through a wall, the
only child killed by shelling. "It's a very hard
job to do," Desta shares.
Sin abounds in this desperate world, and,
as the apostle Paul reported, it "reigns." Like
a king, sin exerts control. Its effects are
obvious when considering genocide, war, divorce,
abuse, and crime. Ultimately, sin's reign results
in death; no one is exempt.
But praise God, there's a promise! In the
same place that sin abounds, grace is even more
plentiful. To convey the magnitude of grace, the
apostle Paul used a word that means "to abound
beyond measure." God's grace is so abundant, it
cannot be measured - it overflows! Hymn writer
Frederick Lehman said it this way: "The love of God is
greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell."
Because of this abundance, grace can
reign in our own lives instead of sin. And when
grace is in charge, the results are righteousness
and eternal life.
It's easy to become discouraged by the
effects of sin. But remember, God's grace is so much
bigger that it can't be measured. To keep a proper
focus, try beginning a "grace list" - you'll be
adding to it for eternity.
Gracious Father, when I see the effects
of sin, help me remember the magnitude of Your
grace. [The Most Amazing Bible Promises by Amazing
Facts]
COMMENTARY
The exaltation of the redeemed will be an
eternal testimony to Gods mercy. In the ages
to come, He will show the exceeding
riches of His grace in His kindness toward us
through Christ Jesus.
Through Christs redeeming work the
government of God stands justified. The Omnipotent One
is made known as the God of love. Satans
charges are refuted, and his character unveiled.
Rebellion can never again arise. Sin can never again
enter the universe. Through eternal ages all are
secure from apostasy. By loves self-sacrifice,
the inhabitants of earth and heaven are bound to
their Creator in bonds of indissoluble union.
The work of redemption will be complete.
In the place where sin abounded, Gods grace
much more abounds. The earth itself, the very
field that Satan claims as his, is to be not only
ransomed but exalted. Our little world, under the
curse of sin the one dark blot in His glorious
creation, will be honored above all other worlds in
the universe of God. Here, where the Son of God
tabernacled in humanity; where the King of glory lived
and suffered and died, - here, when He shall
make all things new, the tabernacle of God shall
be with men, and He will dwell with them,
and they shall be His people, and God Himself
shall be with them, and be their God. And
through endless ages as the redeemed walk in the
light of the Lord, they will praise Him for His
unspeakable Gift, - Immanuel, God with us. DA 26
Christ Frees Us from the Power of Sin
If we would know what Christ wants to be
to us, we must first o f all know Him as our
Saviour from sin. When the angel came down from
heaven to proclaim that He was to be born into the
world, you remember he gave His name, "He shall be
called Jesus, for he shall save his people from
their sins. HAVE WE BEEN DELIVERED FROM SIN? He
did not come to save us in our sins, but from
our sins....
Let us look at Him as He hangs upon the
Cross, and see how He has put away sin. He was
manifested that He might take away our sins.
But Christ is not only a Saviour. I might
save a man from drowning and rescue him from an
untimely grave; but I might probably not be able to
do any more for him. Christ is something more
than a Saviour. When the children of Israel were
placed behind the blood, that blood was their
salvation; but they would still have heard the crack of
the slave-driver's whip, if they had not been
delivered from the Egyptian yoke of bondage: then it
was that God delivered them from the hand of the
King of Egypt. I have little sympathy with the
idea that God comes down to save us, and then
leaves us in prison, the slaves of our besetting
sins. No; He has come to deliver us, and to give
us victory over our evil tempers, our passions,
and our lusts. Are you a professed Christian,
but one who is a slave to some besetting sin? If
you want to get victory over that temper or that
lust, go on to know Christ more intimately. He
brings deliverance for the past, the present, and
the future. D. L. Moody [Time With God SB]
ILLUSTRATION
I can bear witness to the power of
Gods grace! I could take you to the church, to
the section of seats in the church auditorium. I
might be able to find the very seat in which I was
sitting when this grace found me. I was a
twenty-year-old college sophomore, living with a concrete
block of guilt that had made a mess of my life.
But then I heard a preacher describe the
divine grace that is greater than sin. At the end
of the message he asked if anyone would like to
come forward and receive this grace. Iron chains
couldnt have held me back. Truth be told, chains had
held me back. But mercy snapped the guilt chains
and set me free.
I know this truth firsthand: Guilt
frenzies the soul but grace calms it! The benefit of
being a great sinner is dependence upon a great
grace! [Max Lucado Daily Devotional at
maxlucado.com]
CLOSING THOUGHT
What Are Friends For?
Sometimes Lisa Kretch got frustrated with
her friends. It seemed like she was constantly
bailing them out of something.
Take Coreen Mills for instance. She was
flunking algebra. And Nancy Olton had just broken up
with her boyfriend and was depressed all the
time. Luann Winger was gaining weight like crazy,
and all she did was complain about it and eat.
And as if that weren't enough, last week
all three of these friends had gone to a party
and had drunk several beers. Lisa had to drive
them home so they wouldn't have a wreck.
Sometimes it seemed like Lisa's friends were trying to
cause her problems. It was all getting to be too
much. Too much concern, too much pain.
Maybe she should just find new friends,
she thought. It would sure make her life easier.
But...
"Hi, Lisa!" Coreen said, setting her tray
down beside Lisa's at the cafeteria table. "Boy,
this algebra is a bear. Can you help me with a
couple of things?" This was it. The true test. Was
Lisa strong enough? She gathered her courage,
took a deep breath, paused, and said, "Sure,
Coreen. What are friends for?" And she meant it.
Lisa learned that friendship means
commitment, even when friends disappoint you. Romans
5:1-19 calls God our friend. Read the passage to
discover how committed he is to us.
How is Lisa's friendship with her
friends like God's friendship with us in Jesus
Christ?
How can you model your friendship
with God in human friendships? [Youth SB]
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY
Romans 6:1 (NKJV) What shall we say then?
Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?
Devotional pending.
1 Timothy 1:14 (NKJV) And the grace of our
Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and
love which are in Christ Jesus.
Devotional pending.
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
https://abible.com/links/
