Invitation to Study Romans

[Laudite]

Just reading over these scriptures and this has come to mind, so I hope you won't mind if I post it here.

How is this, my husband knows the part of the law, plus many other parts, but this one in particular rises now and again between us.
Keeping Holy the Lord's Day, this being a sinful thing does not register with him as he continually breaks it, knowingly.
He says it doesnt apply to him as he's not a Christian, but surely the law was given for the ungodly, he is therefore either unaware of the sin envolved or just doesn't car.

We know while we have faith we will endeavour to keep the law but when faith is absent, as in my husbands case, it is meaningless to that person.
So how come the law was given to the ungodly?

Was it to bring them to a saving knowledge of salvation?
I know truly before I was saved, although knowing God's law, to my shame, I blanked it, as many do today, so how can Gods' law being given to the ungodly ever do what it's supposed to?

Am I making any sense, or have I got it all out of context?
Thanks bros.

Ok, so I'm not certain to whom you refer when you say the ungodly. Are these the 'without the law,' the gentile, or the sinful? The law is given that we may recognise that we sin and require help outside ourselves to be justified. That is what Paul means when he talks about those who do not have the law but percieve the law and are 'a law unto themselves' specifically, many scholars think he is refering to philosophy in vogue in worldly Rome that we are week and require salvation because we are not strong enough on our own. (This philisophical turn undergirds the rise of mystic salvation cults like the cults of Isis and Mythras)

In practical terms, I'm a bit confused. If your husband has not been baptised by the Holy Spirit and does not accept christian holdings, then in what sense could he meaningfully keep holy? At any rate, be at peace- your agitation seems a bit cart before the horse. Paul tells us that the law can't save us- in terms of salvation the only thing that matters is Christ. Perhaps it might be useful to have a thread on evangelism strategies. Peace- God will give the help you and he need in the fullness of time

To save space- Romans is one of the more personal of the epistles- the section on Father Abraham in a Christian context reveals Paul as a serious and intellegent Rabbinnic scholar and the material he goes for first is the tradition that he comes from.

 

[rjones]

It's good to be back with you brothers and sisters. We went on a family vacation.

Here's my post for the next 2 verses of chapter 5

Romans 5:1-2 "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 rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith: To this point, Paul has convinced us that the only way of salvation is to be justified by grace, through faith. Now he tells us what the practical benefits of this are.

Romans 1:18-3:20 tells us that we are guilty before the courts of God’s law, God’s glory, and our own conscience. Then Paul explained how because of what Jesus did for us, the righteousness of God is given to all who believe. The guilty sentence is transformed into a sentence of justified, and justified by faith.

We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: Because the price has been paid in full by the work of Jesus on the cross, God’s justice towards us is eternally satisfied.

This is not the peace of God spoken of in other places (such as Philippians 4:7). This is peace with God; the battle between God and us is finished (John 19:30) - and He won, winning us. This peace can only come through our Lord Jesus Christ. He and His work is our entire ground for peace. Jesus is our peace. (Ephesians 2:14)

Through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand: we have a standing in grace - in God’s unmerited favor. This grace is given through Jesus and gained by faith. This standing in grace reassures us that God’s present attitude towards the believer in Christ Jesus is one of favor, seeing them in terms of joy, beauty and pleasure.

Grace (God’s undeserved favor towards us) is not only the means by which we are saved, it is also a description of our present standing before God. It is not only the beginning principle of the Christian life it is also the continuing principle of the Christian life. "We stand translates a perfect tense, used in this sense of the present, and with the thought of a continuing attitude." (Morris)

Because our standing is based on grace, we really can stand and have peace, because we know that our access is a permanent possession. It cannot be taken away at a later time.

“And this access to God, or introduction to the Divine presence, is to be considered a lasting privilege. We are not brought to God for the purpose of an interview, but to remain with him; to be his household; and by faith, to behold his face, and walk in the light of his countenance.” (Clarke)

And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God: The logical conclusion to such peace and such a standing of grace means that we can rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

God bless you all.

 

[Richie]

Dear Brother Rjones, Sister Maureen and every one studying with us:

Brother Rjones, it is great to have you back studying with us.

But right now, I'm not in a condition to post because I'm ill. I'm suffering from fever and a thundering heat stroke. I've been suffering with stomach problems too. All this happened because of the strain I went through during exams. Please pray for my healing.

I will post when I get well.

God bless you.

 

[Maureen]

Brother Ritchie
I am so sorry to learn of your illness, and I certainly will pray for your recovery.

Laudite
It was spoken to me that we are all God's children, some of us are sved by His grace, praise Him, others not, but He is our maker, therefore we know to keep His day holy.
I knew long before I was saved this was so.
Although it merits nothing without salvation.
But it also good to know that God is given thought to rather than not.
I know it is only through faith alone that this becomes desire.
But it can't be harmful to show some reverence.

 

[rjones]

I'm praying for your healing Brother Richie. I have also asked several other assemblies to pray for you as well.

 

[rjones]

Here is my post for Romans 5:3-5

Romans 5:3-5 "And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations: We have a promise of glory for our present situations. This glory isn't just available for when we get to the sweet bye-and-bye. Paul replies, “I know we have many tribulations now but we glory in those also.”

Paul isn’t simply spinning out spiritual platitudes. First, he uses strong words. Tribulations is "a strong term. It does not refer to minor inconveniences, but to real hardships" (Morris).

Knowing that tribulation produces perseverance: We can glory in tribulations (literally, stresses) because they are the occasion to produce perseverance (endurance).

A runner must be stressed to gain endurance. Sailors must go to sea. Soldiers go to battle. For the Christian, tribulation is just part of our Christian life. We should not desire or hope for a tribulation-free Christian life, especially because:

God uses tribulation wonderfully in our life.
God knows how much tribulation we can take, and He carefully measures the tribulation we face.
Those who are not Christians face tribulation also.

“I’ve heard people advise others against praying for patience because God will then send them tribulations. If that’s the way patience comes then, ‘God, bring on the troubles.’ I need patience!” (Smith)

“Whatever virtues tribulation finds us in, it develops more fully. If anyone is carnal, weak, blind, wicked, irascible, haughty, and so forth, tribulation will make him more carnal, weak, blind, wicked and irritable. On the other hand, if one is spiritual, strong, wise, pious, gentle and humble, he will become more spiritual, powerful, wise, pious, gentle and humble.” (Martin Luther)

“ ‘Tribulation worketh patience,’ says the apostle. Naturally it is not so. Tribulation worketh impatience, and impatience misses the fruit of experience, and sours into hopelessness. Ask many who have buried a dear child, or have lost their wealth, or have suffered pain of body, and they will tell you that the natural result of affliction is to produce irritation against providence, rebellion against God, questioning, unbelief, petulance, and all sorts of evils. But what a wonderful alteration takes place when the heart is renewed by the Holy Spirit!” (Spurgeon)

Perseverance, character; and character, hope: This is a golden chain of Christian growth and maturity. One virtue builds upon another as we grow in the pattern of Jesus.

Most every Christian wants to develop character and have more hope. These qualities spring out of perseverance, which comes through tribulation. We may wish to have better character and more hope without starting with tribulation, but that isn’t God’s pattern and plan.

Now hope does not disappoint: The hope that tribulation builds in us is not a hope that will be disappointed. We are assured of this because God has proved His intention to complete His work in us - the proof being the love of God . . . poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Every Christian should know what it is like to have the love of God . . . poured out in our hearts - to have a deep inner awareness of God’s love for us.

God’s love isn’t given to us in a trickle, it is poured out in our hearts. Some Christians live as if it was only a trickle but God wants us to know the outpouring of His love.

This love is ours by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. A lack of awareness of God’s love can often be credited to a failure to be constantly filled with the Holy Spirit and to walk in the Spirit.

“The love of God is like light to a blind eye until the Holy Ghost opens that eye . . . may the Holy Spirit now be here in each one of us, to shed abroad the love of God in our hearts.” (Spurgeon)

Everyone who is a Christian has the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9). But not every Christian lives in the fullness of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18), and not every Christian walks in the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:4-5).

God bless

 

[Richie]

Dear Brother Rjones, Sister Maureen and every one studying with us:

I'm glad to be back and well. Thank you so much for your prayers for me.

Brother Rjones, I enjoyed your posts. Your posts are wonderful, especially about tribulation.

Here is my post.

Romans 5:1: Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.

Paul the Apostle uses the word, 'Peace with God', because of the fact that God's anger towards our sin has been satisfied. Now this is different from the peace of God. The 'peace of God' fills our soul with His awesome presence, but 'Peace with God' is the finished work on the cross, because we have been made right in God's sight by God's grace.

Romans 5:2: Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

Brother Rjones, you gave a wonderful explanation for this verse. I especially liked what you mentioned here:

Grace (God’s undeserved favor towards us) is not only the means by which we are saved, it is also a description of our present standing before God. It is not only the beginning principle of the Christian life it is also the continuing principle of the Christian life. "We stand translates a perfect tense, used in this sense of the present, and with the thought of a continuing attitude." (Morris)

Yes indeed, Grace is a description of our present standing before God. Because of God's amazing grace we can boldly enter God's presence. We will share God's glory joyfully at New Jerusalem, because we are His Children.

I wish if I could post the study on Romans 5:3 and more, but right now, I have no time to post. I have a lot of work at home for now. I will send you a private message and I will tell you my situation.

God bless you.

NOTE: Please don't wait for me. I'll not be able to access the internet for 2 weeks.

 

[rjones]

Here's my post on the next 3 verses.

A description of God’s love towards us.

Romans 5:6-8 "For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

When we were still without strength: Paul describes the greatness of God’s love. It is love given to the undeserving, to those without strength, to the ungodly, to sinners. This emphasizes the fact that the reasons for God’s love are found in Him, not in us.

Who are the ungodly and wicked people Jesus died for? Paul spent the first two and a half chapters of the Book of Romans telling us that we all are those people.

In due time Christ died for the ungodly: God sent the Son at the right time, at the due time. It may have seemed late to some but Jesus’ work was done at the perfect time in God’s plan: when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son. (Galatians 4:4)

In due time also has the meaning that Jesus died at the due time for us. He died when we were sinners who needed a Savior. His timing was just right for us.

Christ died for the ungodly: Paul mentioned the idea of a substitutionary sacrifice with the word propitiation in Romans 3:25. Here, he makes the point again by saying that Christ died for the ungodly. The ancient Greek word for is the word huper, which means “for the sake of, in behalf of, instead of.”

Other places where huper is used in the New Testament help us to understand this. In John 11:50, we read: nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for [huper] the people. Galatians 3:13 says, Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for [huper] us.

“You will say, ‘Oh, I am one of the worst in the world.’ Christ died for the worst in the world. ‘Oh, but I have no power to be better.’ Christ died for those that were without strength. ‘Oh, but my case condemns itself.’ Christ died for those that legally are condemned. ‘Ay, but my case is hopeless.’ Christ died for the hopeless. He is the hope of the hopeless. He is the Savior not of those partly lost, but of the wholly lost.” (Spurgeon)

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: God’s love is a love beyond even the best love among humans. A good man might die a noble martyrdom for the “right kind” of person - such as a righteous man or a good man. But Jesus died for those who were neither righteous nor good.

But God demonstrates His own love: How does the death of the Son demonstrate the love of the Father? Because it was harder for the Father to send His only Son, and because God [the Father] was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself. (2 Corinthians 5:19)

“It would be easy to see the cross as demonstrating the indifference of God, a God who let the innocent Jesus be taken by wicked men, tortured, and crucified while he did nothing . . . Unless there is a sense in which the Father and Christ are one, it is not the love of God that the cross shows.” (Morris)

The work of Jesus on the cross for us is God’s ultimate proof of His love for you. He may give additional proof, but He can give no greater proof. If the cross is the ultimate demonstration of God’s love, it is also the ultimate demonstration of man’s hatred. It also proves that the height of man’s hatred can’t defeat the height of God’s love.

The demonstration of God’s love isn’t so much in that Jesus died, but in whom Jesus died for - undeserving sinners and rebels against Him.

God bless.

 

[Maureen]

sorry brothers i broke my right wrist last night i fell in bath i am trying to type with 1 finger, not good, so wont be able to write for some weeks cant work this pc left handed.

be back when mended God willing

 

[rjones]

Dear Sister Maureen,
I'm sorry about your accident. I pray for you a speedy and painless recovery in Jesus Name. Take care of yourself while mending and know that I have told several other churches to pray for you as well.
God bless.

 

[Maureen]

thank you brother rjones the more prayer the better, that i wont need an operation to fix it, will know on tues God willing

cant be doing with this 1 finger typing either, too slow and wrist aches at same time.
thank you for your kind words much appreciated.

 

[rjones]

Romans 5:9-11 "Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation."

Much more then, having now been justified His blood, we shall be saved from wrath: If we are justified by the work of Jesus, we can be assured that we are also saved from wrath through Him. The wrath of God that was revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men (Romans 1:18) was placed on Jesus as a substitute in the place of the believer.

Saved from wrath: Whose wrath? God’s righteous wrath. It is true that we must be saved from the world, the flesh and the devil but most of all we must be rescued from the righteous wrath of God.

John Trapp on much more then: “It is a greater work of God to bring men to grace, than, being the state of grace, to bring them to glory; because sin is far more distant from grace than grace is from glory.”

For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God: If God showed such dramatic love to us when we were enemies, think of the blessings we can enjoy since we are reconciled to God! If God does this much for His enemies, how much more will He do for His friends!

Much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life: This reconciliation isn’t only helpful when we die; it also touches our life right now. God is forever done dealing with believers on the basis of wrath. He may chasten them as a loving Father, but not in punishment or payment for their sins. Chastening is always to provide loving correction and guidance.

Saved from wrath through Him . . . we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son . . . rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus . . . through whom we have now received the reconciliation: The point is clearly emphasized. What matters is what we have through Jesus. What we have through our own works doesn’t matter and can’t help us. It’s all through Jesus.

Saved from wrath through Him . . . we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son . . . rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus . . . through whom we have now received the reconciliation: The point is clearly emphasized. What matters is what we have through Jesus. What we have through our own works doesn’t matter and can’t help us. It’s all through Jesus.

God bless.

 

[rjones]

Romans 5:12-14 "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned-For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come."

Just as through one man sin entered the world: The Apostle Paul regarded Genesis 3 as totally, historically true. According to Paul (and Jesus, as He says in Matthew 19:4-6), Adam and Eve were real people and what they did has a lasting effect to the present day. Paul doesn’t prove this, he simply accepts it true from Genesis 3 - sin entered the world through Adam. Significantly, Adam is responsible for the fall, not Eve. Eve was deceived when she sinned but Adam sinned with full knowledge. (1 Timothy 2:14)

And death through sin: Death entered the world and spread to all men as a result of Adam’s sin. God promised Adam, in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die (Genesis 2:17). The principle of death was introduced into the world when Adam sinned and it has reigned on earth ever since. Every grave is evidence to the spread and reign of sin since the time of Adam.

Thus death spread to all men, because all sinned: Since death and sin are connected, we can know that all men are sinners - because all are subject to death. A sinless man is not subject to death but since every person is subject to death - even the smallest baby - it proves that all [mankind] sinned in Adam.

“All sinned in this case means ‘all sinned in Adam’; Adam’s sin is the sin of all.” (Morris)

We may not like the fact that we are made sinners by the work of another man. We may protest, and say, “I want to stand on my own two feet, and not be made a sinner because of the work of another man.” Nevertheless, it is fair to be made righteous by the work of another man only if we are also made sinners by the work of another man. If we aren’t made sinners by Adam, then it isn’t fair for us to be made righteous by Jesus.

Until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law: We know that at the root of it all we are made sinners because of Adam and not because we break the law ourselves. We know this because sin and death were in the world before the Law was ever given. The law was too late to prevent sin and death and it is too weak to save from sin and death.

Nevertheless death reigned: The total, merciless reign of death - even before the law was given at the time of Moses - proves that man was under sin before the law. Death reigned . . . even over those who had not sinned in the exact way Adam did, showing that the principle of sin was at work in every human.

Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come: Paul presents Adam as a type - a picture, a representation - of Jesus. Both Adam and Jesus were completely sinless men from the beginning, and both of them did things that had consequences for all mankind.

God bless.

 

[Jonah2005bt]

Is there anywhere in Romans, where Paul talks reminds us to go to GOD in prayer when ever we are struggling with sin?
Other than the passage in chapter 7:14-20?

 

[rjones]

Jonah2005bt,
I don't think so but I will research this more in depth and get back to you with my findings.

God bless.

 

[rjones]

Contrasts between Adam’s work and Jesus’ work.

Romans 5:15-17 "But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ."

But the free gift is not like the offense: Adam gave an offense that had consequences for the entire human race - as a result of Adam’s offense, many died. Jesus gives a free gift that has consequences for the entire human race, but in a different way. Through the free gift of Jesus, the grace of God . . . abounded to many. Adam’s work brought death but Jesus’ work brings grace.

Paul describes the results of Adam’s offense: Many died; judgment, resulting in condemnation, and death reigned over man. He also describes the results of Jesus’ free gift: grace abounded to many, justification (because many offenses were laid on Jesus), receiving abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness, and reigning in life.

“He is not saying that death reigned over us all because we all sinned; he is saying that death reigned over us all because Adam sinned.” (Morris)

Death reigned . . . righteousness will reign: We could say that both Adam and Jesus are kings, each instituting a reign. Under Adam, death reigned. Under Jesus, we can reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

It is staggering to think of how totally death has reigned under Adam. Everyone who is born dies - the mortality rate is 100%. No one survives. When a baby is born, it isn’t a question of whether the baby will live or die - they will most certainly die; the only question is when. We think of this world as the land of the living, but it is really the land of the dying, and the billions of human bodies cast into the earth over the centuries proves this. But Paul says that the reign of life through Jesus is much more certain. The believer’s reign in life through Jesus is more certain than death or taxes!

Romans 5:18 "Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.

One man’s offense . . . one Man’s righteous act: From this passage, Adam and Jesus are sometimes known as the two men. Between them they represent of all humanity, and everyone is identified in either Adam or Jesus. We are born identified with Adam; we may be born again into identification with Jesus.

Resulting in condemnation . . . resulting in justification: The outcome of this election - choosing Adam or Jesus - means everything. If we choose Adam we receive judgment and condemnation. If we choose Jesus we receive a free gift of God’s grace and justification.

The free gift came to all men: Does this mean that all men are justified by the free gift? Without making a personal choice, every person received the curse of Adam’s offense. Is it therefore true that every person, apart from their personal choice, will receive the benefits of Jesus’ obedience? Not at all. First, Paul makes it clear that the free gift is not like the offense - they are not identical in their result or application. Second, over three verses Paul calls the work of Jesus a free gift, and he never uses those words to apply to the work of Adam. It is simply the nature of a gift that it must be received by faith. Finally, Paul clearly teaches throughout the New Testament that all are not saved.

In what sense then did the free gift come to all men? It came in the sense that the gift is presented, but not necessarily received.

Romans 5:19 "For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous."

Adam’s disobedience makes mankind sinners. Jesus’ obedience makes many righteous. Each representative communicates the effect of their work to their “followers.”

Many were made sinners: Paul emphasizes the point again. At the root, we were made sinners by the work of Adam. Of course, we chose Adam when we personally sinned. But the principle remains that since another man made us sinners, we can be made righteous by the work of another man.

This is the only way for the work of Jesus to benefit us in any way. If every man must stand for himself, without the representation of either Adam or Jesus, then we will all perish. None would be saved, because each of us sins and falls short of the glory of God. Only a sinless person acting on our behalf can save us, and it is fair for Him to act on our behalf because another man put us in this mess by acting on our behalf.

If I robbed a bank and was pronounced guilty by the judge, what would happen if my friend came before the judge and said, “Your honor, I love my friend so much that I want to serve his prison time. I want to stand in his place and receive the punishment he deserves.” The judge would reply, “Nonsense. We will not punish you for his crime. That wouldn’t be fair. He did the crime, so he has to pay the penalty.” It would only be fair for another person to pay the penalty if I was guilty because of another person’s work.

The person who says, “I don’t want to be represented by Adam or Jesus; I want to represent myself” doesn’t understand two things. First, they don’t understand that it really isn’t up to us. We didn’t make the rules, God did. We simply have to deal with it. Secondly, they don’t understand that our personal righteousness before God is as filthy rags (Isa. 64:6). To God, our personal righteousness is an offensive counterfeit; so standing for yourself guarantees your damnation.

God bless.

 

[Maureen]

im so sorry brothers but its sheer agony for me to even sit for 5 mins at this pc let alone concentrate on this study.
im back tomorrow to hospital and will know final outcome then.
left hand just wont co-operate the same.

will have to pass on this study though
we sure dont know what a day may bring forth, true enough.

 

[rjones]

Lord God,
I pray for a favorable report from the doctor tomorrow when sister Maureen goes for her appointment. No surgery. In Jesus name, Amen.

 

[rjones]

Romans 5:20-21 "Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound:Paul has shown us that the law does not justify us. Now he shows that in itself, the law doesn’t even make us sinners - Adam did that. Then what purpose does the law serve? What good is it at all? Was the giving of the law God’s failed experiment? No. There is a clear purpose for the law, and part of it is so that the offense might abound. The law makes man’s sin clearer and greater by clearly contrasting it with God’s holy standard.

The flaws in a precious stone abound when contrasted with a perfect stone, or when put against a contrasting backdrop. God’s perfect law exposes our flaws, and makes our sin abound.

There is another way that the law makes sin abound. Because of the sinfulness of my heart, when I see a line drawn I want to cross over it. In this sense, the law makes sin abound because it draws many clear lines between right and wrong that my sinful heart wants to break. Therefore, the law makes me sin more - but not because there is anything wrong in the law, only because there is something deeply wrong in the human condition.

But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more: If sin abounded under the law, then grace abounded much more under Jesus. Literally, the phrase abounded much more means “super-abounded.” God makes His grace super-abound over abounding sin!

We might have expected that where sin abounded, God’s anger or judgment would have abounded much more. But God’s love is so amazing that grace abounded much more where we might have expected wrath.

If grace super-abounds over sin, then we know that it is impossible to out-sin the grace of God. We can’t sin more than God can forgive, but we can reject His grace and forgiveness.

Grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life: As Paul stated before, sin reigned in death. But grace reigns also. The reign of grace is marked by righteousness and eternal life and is through Jesus.

Grace reigns through righteousness. Many people have the idea that where grace reigns, there will be a disregard for righteousness, and a casual attitude towards sin. But that isn’t the reign of grace at all. Paul wrote in another letter what grace teaches us: For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age (Titus 2:11-12). Grace reigns through righteousness, and grace teaches righteousness.

Grace reigns to eternal life. God’s grace gives us something, and takes us somewhere. It gives more than just everlasting life in the sense that it will never end. Eternal life has the idea of a present quality of life, God’s quality of life, given to us right now - not simply when we die.

Grace reigns through Jesus. There is a King in the kingdom where grace reigns, and the King is Jesus. A life of grace is all about Jesus and others, and not about me. A life of grace doesn’t look to self because it understands that this undeserved favor of God is given apart from any reason in self. All the reasons are in Jesus; none of the reasons are in myself. Grace doesn’t reign through self, but through Jesus.

Wherever grace rules, God’s righteous standard will be respected. The legalist’s fear is that the reign of grace will provide wicked hearts with a license to sin, but Scripture doesn’t share that fear. Grace does not accommodate sin, it faces it squarely and goes above sin in order to conquer it. Grace does not wink at unrighteousness, it confronts sin with the atonement at the cross and the victory won at the open tomb.

Grace is no friend to sin; it is its sworn enemy. “As heat is opposed to cold, and light to darkness, so grace is opposed to sin. Fire and water may as well agree in the same vessel as grace and sin in the same heart.” (Thomas Benton Brooks)

God bless.

 

[Maureen]

answered prayer rjones
no surgery praise His Holy Name
I was given this verse last night while lying in bed
Trust in me with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding.
I shared it with my husband today before we went to the hospital
he asked me what it meant, I thought it was very self explanatory but seems not.

anyway I kept trusting with my WHOLE heart
i got a lighter plaster on and my right hand is helping me type this just one week later.

I still have numbness in the fingers but doc said I may have had carp el tunnel which I did but didnt find it deemed seen to, although with it perm like this it may just need opened to correct it, but im still going to trust with my WHOLE heart. amen