Grace Reigns. Romans 5:20-21 V.20. The matter of sin bringing separation from God did not need the law to make it a fact. That happened when Adam, in self-will, disobeyed God. But for those who had placed vain self-confidence in their law-keeping, the Spirit of God points out the fact that the law came alongside the act of sin so that those who had trusted in the law could see the real sinfulness of sin and that the trespass, or breaking of the law in any way was far more serious than they thought.
The law gives no power to keep the law. It more plainly reveals our natural sinfulness and guilt. The law increases sin because it clearly shows what sin is. No one is righteous. “By the law is the knowledge of sin.” The law put sin out in the open so no one could try to excuse their unbelief. It made the sin that was always there more obvious because it explained how wrong it was. It put sin in stark contrast to God’s holiness. It reveals what is in us.
Sin abounds, of that there is no doubt, and it does not fade away but increasingly gets worse. God allowed this to happen, but even after Israel, to whom was given the law and continually broke it, God showed His abundant grace. Instead of the tragedy of sin that happened in the beginning, and the breaking of the law that was given 2500 years later being the focus of our attention, it is the overflowing extent of God's great grace that we are directed to. The law came alongside of sin and further exposed its sinfulness. But grace came and overflowed it all as it flooded to all sinners of every nation, tribe and family. God's grace is extended to every person world-wide.
V.21. No matter how deep in sin by nature a person may have gone, God's grace is there for them to take hold of. No matter how self-righteous a law-keeper may attempt to be, God's grace is there for the one who repents and accepts the justification by grace that God offers. The results of the work of the Lord Jesus on the cross takes us past all the efforts of a person to reach to God by his or her own effort, and He can bring us into God's presence by His own blood. Not only does He present us to God, but He keeps us from falling.
Sin no longer reigns, bringing physical and spiritual death as its consequence. Now, grace reigns as king. The kingdom of sin had death as its result. The kingdom of grace has brought eternal life through the righteousness paid for by the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. This has been given to us as a gift. Now, we are cleared of our condemnation in Adam and also of our own personal sins. Our justification has freed us from all condemnation. It is truly the justification of life.
Adam’s offense brought death to everyone. Christ’s obedience has made life available to every person who will put their faith in Him. One man brought death; by His death, One Man brought life. One man brought condemnation; the Other Man brought justification. One man brought guilt; the Other Man brought freedom. One man brought fear; the Other Man brought peace. Now our life is in Christ, and the bondage of sin is past.