The free gift that changes everything

Romans 5:15-17

15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one man’s trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many. 16 And the free gift is not like the effect of the one man’s sin. For the judgement following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification. 17 If, because of the one man’s trespass, death exercised dominion through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness exercise dominion in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

Death came into the world through the sin of the first human beings. In theological terms, death is the consequence of sin cutting human beings off from the life-giving grace that exists in Jesus Christ. As sin cuts us off from the life and sustaining grace of God, death results. I realize that seems a strange way to understand what happens – but if we think about the actions in our world that are considered most sinful – they frequently are actions that involve the actual taking of life, or are callous disregard for the lives of other people. Just as big sins do that, so do smaller sins, cut us and others off from the life offered by God to the world.

In response to sin’s destructive power, which came into the world through the first human beings, God sent Jesus Christ who offers the gift of life in himself. The difference pointed to in vs. 15, is that one process offers death, the other process offers life. The one process brings condemnation to many, the other brings right relationships to many.

The processes of the world are turned upside down in what God is doing in Jesus Christ. Hope replaces despair; grace replaces condemnation; gift replaces judgment; and life replaces death. The efforts of sin and death and hell to bring destruction to the world are met by the powerful response of God in Jesus Christ to give hope and life. A new narrative begins in Jesus.

So we sing with Amazing Grace “how precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.” Thanks be to God. 

PRAYER:

We thank you, Lord God, that you are turning the world upside down, defeating the powers of sin and death and bringing new life in Jesus Christ. We rejoice in the free gift that has been offered to us and to all. Thanks be to you, O Lord, for this great gift. In Jesus’ name. Amen.