Romans Part 19
Through Adam, all have sinned and would die. Through Jesus Christ, all men have the opportunity to live through the gift of His sacrifice.
In Romans 5:15, Paul contrasts the devastating consequences of Adam's sin with the overwhelming greatness of God's grace. He encourages us to consider not merely the effect of Adam's sin on the world in general, but its effect on each of us personally. Every person has experienced the pain, brokenness, and suffering that sin brings. We have been wounded by the sins of others, and we have also caused pain through our own sins. Yet Paul emphasizes that God's grace far outweighs the damage caused by sin. What Adam introduced into the human family, Christ has come to overcome. Isaiah looked forward to this reality when he prophesied that "of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end" (Isaiah 9:7). The reach of God's grace is far greater than we can imagine. His plan for mankind extends well beyond the present age and, for those who understand the biblical teaching on the resurrections, reveals a purpose that is broader and deeper than many Christians have been taught.
Paul goes on to say that those who receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will "reign in life" (Romans 5:17) through Jesus Christ. This points forward to the thousand-year reign of Christ on the earth, when the saints will reign with Him as kings and priests. Revelation repeats this promise several times, describing God's faithful people as kings and priests who will reign with Christ in His Kingdom. These saints are the firstfruits of God's great harvest of mankind, and their reign marks only the beginning of God's work of bringing humanity into His family.
Paul then explains that Adam's one offense led toward condemnation, while Christ's righteous act leads toward justification and life. The language Paul uses reminds us that this is a process involving the choices people make. Through those choices, character is formed, either godly character or ungodly character. God does not force anyone down either path. Instead, He sets before humanity life and death and calls each person to "choose life" (Deuteronomy 30:17). The sooner we recognize that choice, repent, and begin living according to God's ways, the better.
As Paul discusses the relationship between sin, the law, and grace, an important question naturally arises: Did God establish the law simply so that sin would increase? Was that His purpose all along? And if grace increases where sin abounds, does that mean God actually wanted humanity to sin and suffer? Paul anticipates these questions and addresses them by asserting that these conclusions do not reflect the character of the God revealed in Scripture. God did not design mankind for sin and misery. Rather, He uses His grace to overcome the consequences of sin and to accomplish His purpose of bringing people to righteousness and eternal life. Paul begins addressing this misunderstanding at the end of chapter 5 and then answers it directly as he opens chapter 6, where he explains that grace is never a license to continue living in sin.
Epistles of Paul is a course taught at ABC by Mr. Steve Myers. Recordings from the 2023–2024 class year are available on the ABC website.
UYA Team | uya@ucg.org
United Young Adults (UYA) primarily serves the 18–32-year age group for the United Church of God. There are three main areas of contribution to the lives of young adults: Promoting Spiritual Growth, Developing Meaningful Relationships and Making the Most of Your Talents. The Know Your Sword series is a daily expository message introducing God’s Word from a trusted perspective.
