(Read Romans 5:16,17)
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing.” Yesterday we looked at some of the differences between the first Adam and the Last Adam (Jesus). Paul told us that Adam was “a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come.” Adam was like Christ in that his decisions, as one man, left a legacy for all men. But Paul made a clear distinction between Adam and Jesus. Paul said, “But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift.” Adam left us a curse, Jesus left us a gift. Adam left us sin and death, Jesus left us and outpour of Grace and the gift of righteousness. We should never cease to thank God for sending Jesus to die in our place.
Let’s pick up the text where we left off yesterday. Paul went on to write, “And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin.” Paul continued to make the point that what Adam left for us is completely different from what Jesus left for us. Paul continued, “For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. The inheritance of Adam and the inheritance of Jesus are very different. Paul said, “For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins.” Adam left us a cruse, Jesus left us a gift. In Adam we are condemned. In Jesus we are made right with God, even though we are unquestionably guilty of man sins. The issue is not whether or not we are guiltless, because we are undoubtedly guilty. The point is that God takes the guilty and cleanses us with the Blood of His Son Jesus, because He took the guiltless (Jesus) and PUT our sin and guilt on Him! God took the only sinless man (Jesus) and MADE Him sin, so that He could take sinless men and MAKE us righteous!
2. Thank God for the abundant provision of Grace we receive through Jesus. Paul said, “For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness.” Another translation reads, “how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace.” God’s grace is not going to run out. God is not going to get tired of you. God’s Grace does not have a limit. Because of Jesus, God freely gives you an abundant provision of His amazing, unearned, undeserved, unmerited and almost unbelievable Grace! God knows you don’t deserve what He does for you. He blesses you by Grace. If you could earn it, then it would not be Grace. God does not bless you because you are so good, He blesses you because He is so good!
3. Thank God for the gift of righteousness we receive through Jesus. Paul said, “For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness.” Righteousness is a gift. You don’t earn gifts. If you work for a gift, then the gift becomes a payment for your work. Gifts cannot be earned. God does not expect you to earn your righteousness, because you never could. God only expects you to receive this free gift through Christ Jesus. You were not right, and you could never become right, but Jesus made you right by Grace!
4. The gift is offered through Jesus to all men, but it must be received. Paul said, “for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.” While gifts cannot be earned, they must be received. God has offered forgiveness of sin and eternal life to the world. All who receive His Son also receive, with His Son, the gift of righteousness and eternal life in Christ Jesus. This gift is too good to keep to yourself. If you have received this gift, you should make every effort to tell others, who have not received Jesus yet, the Good News of salvation that comes freely by God’s undeserved Grace!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for loving me enough to send Your Son Jesus to die for me, even though I did nothing to deserve His death. Jesus was completely innocent and I was completely guilty. Jesus was sinless and I have sinned more times than I want to acknowledge. Jesus was born righteous and lived righteous. I was born in sin and I lived like a sinner. You took Jesus, who had NO sin in Him, and You MADE Him sin. So that You could in turn take me, a person with no righteousness in them, and MAKE me righteous. You put my sin on Jesus and You put His righteousness on me. You did not do this because I earned it, worked for it, or deserved it. You did this out of an abundance of Grace and the righteousness I now live in came to me as a free gift. I believed the gift, I received the gift, and I now get to enjoy the gift. I live with an understanding of the abundance of Grace (which will never run out) and the free gift of righteousness (that I did not work for and that I could never earn). The more I learn about what You have freely given me in Christ Jesus, the more thankful I am to You and the more I want to tell others about the gift that has changed me forever. I freely received the gift of righteousness and I now willingly tell others that the same offer I received is made available to them in Christ Jesus. This gift is too good to keep to myself. I submit myself to You Father, to be used of You, to share this Good News with others. I will be Your mouth to talk and Your legs to walk today. You shall use me for Your Glory! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
