July 19

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ~ Romans 5:8

The Curse We Inherited and the Gift We Don’t Deserve

We are broken people living in a broken world. Looking in the mirror, it’s a sobering thought, how much of the brokenness in the world is in us. We all know that. We all carry it around with us, the first lie we told as a child, all the way up to the worst thing we’ve ever done, whatever that is, sin is both a concept and a condition. And in Romans 5, Paul tells us where that condition comes from and what God has done about it.

It started with one man. “Through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12). Adam’s disobedience did not just ruin his own life. It drew the entire human race into sin. And death reigned over us because of it. That’s why we see the mess in this world, all the violence and hatred and sickness and separation from God, it’s not just bad luck. It’s the result of rebellion.

But here’s the good news. Sin came into the world through one man and God sent the God Man to undo all that damage. Jesus Christ, “For if through the offense of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many” (Romans 5:15). Jesus didn’t come to add another religion to the spiritual buffet, He came to rescue sinners from wrath. And while we were still enemies of God, and while we were still helpless and hopeless in our sin, Jesus Christ died for us. He paid the penalty for our sin and by His death and resurrection He raised us up to live new lives in Him.

And the point, where the rubber meets the road, “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). He loved us while we were unlovable. He rescued us while we were still undeserving. That kind of love isn’t human, it’s divine. And it is poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom God gives to all who believe in Him (Romans 5:5).

Jesus’ death on the cross did not just display love, it satisfied the wrath of God against sin and those who practice it. Jesus’ blood justifies us, makes us right before God. Jesus’ resurrection life now secures us, He did not just save us from something, He saved us to something. “Being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Romans 5:10). Not religion, redemption.

Adam’s sin brought condemnation and death and Jesus’ obedience brings justification and life. One man brought the curse. One Man brings the cure. “As by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous” (Romans 5:19). The law came to show us just how deep the problem ran, how far we had fallen. But sin ran deep, grace ran deeper. “Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Romans 5:20). That is not a license to sin, it’s a reason to run to the cross. Because when sin ruled, death followed, but now, through Jesus Christ, grace reigns. And that grace leads to eternal life (Romans 5:21).

This isn’t just theology. It’s the only hope for a fallen world. One man brought us down. But One Man, Jesus Christ, can raise you up. The question is, have you received Him?

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).

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Read / Listen

1 Chronicles 28:1-29:30
Romans 5:6-21
Psalm 15:1-5
Proverbs 19:18-19

New Testament: Romans 5:6-21

Summary:
Peace with God Through Faith
Death in Adam
Life in Christ

July 19^th, our reading in the New Testament for today will be in the Book of Romans, chapter 5, verses 6 through 21. Now, in chapter 4, you may recall, Paul went back to Abraham and David to explain how God declares believing, sinners righteous. Now, he goes all the way back to Adam. Adam’s sin passed sin and death onto the whole human race.

But Christ’s obedience gives righteousness and life to all who trust in Him. In our first birth, we became condemned children of Adam. But in our second birth, we are the forgiven children of God. Note the blessings of justification. We have riches, peace, access into God’s grace, joy, hope, love, the Holy Spirit.

What riches we have in Christ. And trials work for us, not against us. Develop Christian character. How rich we truly are. We’ll read about reconciliation.

We’re at peace with God, and we need to not be afraid. If he did so much for us when we were his enemies, well, just think what he’ll do for us now that we are his children. When we belonged to the old creation under Adam, well, death and sin reigned. Now that we’re in Christ, in the new creation, grace is reigning and we are reigning in life. Listen, you can live like a king by the grace of God.

Well, let’s read about it now in the New Testament. Romans 5:6-21