August 12, 2020
We Can't Out-Sin God's Grace
Romans 5:12-21
Jamie Fort
Central Truth
God's grace is continuous and never-ending. Even when we don't know we need it, His grace covers us. It is what saves us: His undeserved, unearned, unmerited favor. We do nothing to earn it and nothing to keep it. It is His gift to us!
Key Verse | Romans 5:20
Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.
Romans 5:12-21
Death in Adam, Life in Christ
12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men 1 5:12 The Greek word anthropoi refers here to both men and women; also twice in verse 18 because all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.
15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
18 Therefore, as one trespass 2 5:18 Or the trespass of one led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness 3 5:18 Or the act of righteousness of one leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Dive Deeper | Romans 5:12-21
One day, quite recently, I was hit with three different verses throughout the morning. I say "hit" because they came up in various ways yet carried the same message: "Do not judge." The first verse was during my devotional, another on the radio, and the third while clearing some emails. I felt like God was trying to get my attention so I girded my loins in preparation to be careful that day to "not judge." I thought certainly He was preparing me for what was ahead so that I could walk in this truth. I gave God the high five for the heads-up and out the door I went.
I'm sure you all know where I'm going with this, and, yes, you're right, I failed miserably! In the midst of a "hectic" and "pressure" situation that came later that day, my ugly self-righteousness reigned. Yuck! (My quotes are for the excuses I made for myself!) The bottom line is this: Jesus! I needed Him! My failures, sin, and rebellion reminded me of this. But instead of focusing on how miserably short I fell that day, I focused and set my mind on a greater, more powerful, more freeing, and yes, exciting truth: God's love and grace abounds far greater than all my sin! Even when His Word gives me a big "heads-up" that reveals His truth, I need Him! You need Him!
God doesn't reveal our sin to make us miserable, but rather to remind us of our great need for Him and to refresh us in the knowledge of His tremendous grace! It's in this place with Him that I'm able to extend that same grace to others and effortlessly walk according to whom He says I am.
Discussion Questions
1. Do you see yourself as a harsh judge sometimes?
2. Can you see how a precious reminder of our own sin and failure can cause us to fall at His feet of grace?
3. Do you believe the truth of His grace is powerful enough to cause a heart change in you, to sanctify you, and to lead you to not judge others in the future?
4. Do you try to live in God's abounding grace through your own merit? What can you add to His grace?
5. Are you 100% certain that you will live with God forever in heaven? If not, you can be. Ask God to reveal to you His perfect standard and how much you fail and fall short of what's right. By trusting in Jesus Christ to redeem you from your sins and imperfection and by believing that His death, burial, and resurrection were enough for you, He will cause His free gift of grace to fall upon you, and He will cleanse you of all your sins—past, present, and future.