QT 11/12/2024 Rom 5:17-21, God has provided the solution, what is your response?

Romans 5:17–21 (ESV) —

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 led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness 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.

 

NOTE: I know some will see this comparison of Adam's trespass and Jesus' work to indicate that there is universal salvation just as there was universal condemnation. The problem is that both required a response. Maybe that is why the author uses "many" even though it resulted in "all" as in the case of Adam's trespass. The response to Adam's trespass was that we chose to trespass too (in part because the flesh was weakened by Adam's trespass). The response to Jesus' work is also conditional:

• Vs 17 "….those who receive … the free gift …"
• Vs 19 "… many will be made righteous" -- not necessarily meaning "all," even though that was the case with Adam's trespass
• Vs 21 "… grace also might reign …" -- "might" not meaning "will" -- it depends on our response to the gift

You might want to blame God for your sin condition, but he has provided a way out. We chose sin, but we must also choose Jesus. If we don't we can only blame ourselves, not God. We chose.

 

PONDER:

Some people think they have the perfect argument to confound God (if he exists they would say) upon death. That scenario only exists in the mind of the fool. What is your excuse?

 

PRAYER: Father, open our eyes to truth before it is too late. You plan to recreate earth someday as you always intended. I pray that our lives would witness to others the power of change before the end.