ROMANS 5:20-21 GRACE REIGNS
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 a vain self-confidence in their law-keeping, the Spirit of God points out the fact that the law came alongside of 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.
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.
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 is able to 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 that has been 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 are cleared of our own personal sins. Our justification has freed us from all condemnation. It is truly the justification of life.
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.
It was in Adam that death reigned over me. Now in Christ I live in liberty. In bondage to sin, I had no power. Now in Christ, the blessings of eternal life on me do shower. In self-will, as in Adam, I too was under condemnation. Now in Christ Jesus my Lord, I have full salvation. In disobedience to God, in Adam I was separated. Now in Christ I am able to His will to be consecrated.
The closer the law came; the worse sin would get. In the Lord Jesus Christ, new life He did beget. The law exposed sin and brought nothing but fear. In Christ the grace of God was brought very near. The law showed the darkness of sin and its consequence. In Christ righteousness came because of the grace He sent. The law as a schoolmaster brought me to face a righteous God. In Christ there is cleansing from sin by His precious blood.
Now there is a new king reigning over my life. Grace has brought salvation, now I live in the light. Death reigned once as king but by Christ was defeated. Now sin's price is paid in full and never has to be repeated. Grace reigns now and through it there is peace and contentment. There is no power to death to bring a life sentence. The fact that I will die does not cause me despair. To die down here will bring me to joy up there.
The life I have in Christ Jesus our Lord is real life indeed. He has supplied everything necessary to meet my soul's deep need. His righteousness is mine and now His grace reigns. Since the Lord Jesus conquered death, things are no longer the same. My faith is in Him who is the solid Rock of salvation. Where grace reigns in life there is now condemnation. So, with calmness and assurance I will live by faith,
Knowing that the One who reigns now is the King of Grace.
"Father God, I thank Thee for the opportunity of being in this place of service for Thee. I can see the evidence of Thy grace in many but I can also see the great losses when man-made laws were imposed. Would it be possible, Father, for Thee to create some sort of incident or events that would be on-going and bring the children of these believers back to consider again the reality of what their parents have, rather than what they feel they didn't have. Also, please help me to present Thy Word in a suitable way tonight in the meeting. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."