Saturday

Romans 5: 12 – 21

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned— for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.

But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
NIV

There are so many problems with sin. Many of them are obvious, but others are as insidious as sin itself.

We often fool ourselves that because we haven’t committed adultery or murder we aren’t sinners. This is as erroneous as thinking that living a “good life” will allow us to spend eternity in heaven.

Sometimes as we try to walk in the light of our Lord, we realize the fallacy of that line of thinking. Then, sin presents us another problem. We become so convicted of our sin nature that we doubt our salvation. Sadly, we can even get to the point of counterfeit righteousness – I’m so pious, I KNOW how bad I am!

Jesus’s sacrifice, His single act of obedience, atones for EVERY act, thought, inclination of sin EVER.

It took me years to really believe that last statement of truth. Thankfully, not as many years as it took me to believe that I was indeed a sinner and in need of salvation.

MS