Grace Outweighs Sin – Surrendering to Grace

Hello friends and welcome back to The Book of Romans Series. Today we are exploring chapter five. Yesterday we talked about how righteousness is only credited through faith in Christ. Today Paul continues to talk about faith.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Verses 1- 5)

Because Jesus died and rose from the dead, we have access to grace – forgiveness of our sins. So, not only do we find glory in God, but also our sufferings. Because through our suffering we find perseverance, character, and hope. We should be rejoicing God, not only when things are going our way – but, more so, when we are suffering! And also because Jesus suffered for us.

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Verses 6-8)

Jesus died for the people who didn’t deserve to die for - Us. Now, that I am thinking of it – I cannot help but ask myself how many times I’ve said, “They aren’t worth it.” The ‘what’ they weren’t worth and the ‘who’ has varied through my lifetime. But Jesus looked upon us – sinners, haters, slanderers, liars, etc. (the list could go on and on) and He said, “They are worth it.” He loves us so much that he died for us, as un-deserving as we are. And if I claim to be a Christian, then I claim to be like Christ. If Christ is loving and finds everyone worth it – then I should too.

Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Verses 9-11)

How great is our God! The next section is title: Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ

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 is 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 judgement followed one sin and brought condemnations, 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! (Verses 12-17)

God’s gift of grace cannot be compared our sin. The sin brought condemnation and the gift brings justification. No matter what you’ve done in your life; you can still be forgiven. If you have a scale, and on one end you put the heaviness of all the world’s sin and on the other end you put the grace bought by Jesus’s blood – the scale would break because the blood of Jesus would outweigh all of the sin entirely.

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. (Verses 18 & 19)

The trespass and disobedience of one man, Adam (and Eve – because they were both equally at fault), resulted in condemnation and sin for all people and the righteous act of obedience of one man, Jesus Christ, resulted in justification, life, and righteousness for all people. He pushed the undo button so to speak. Wow, how great is our God – Did I say that already? I’m not sure, but I will say it again! HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD!

The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Verses 20 & 21)

As sin increases – grace increases more. Because grace will always outweigh sin. Jesus did the impossible. He saved us from our sin – something that seemed an impossible feat. Again, HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD! He is indeed great. Smile about it today. Surrender to His grace.