ROMANS 5
12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men 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. – Romans 5:12-16
ROMANS 5 FREE GIFT OF GRACE
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
Through one man’s sin, death entered all men
But God is so steadfast in his love for mankind
He gave the free gift of grace to release us from his wrath
When he did that, the path to reconciliation was opened
Paul emphasizes the greatest love we can ever receive. We don’t deserve this unconditional love because we have sinned, yet it didn’t stop God from showering us with the free gift of grace. This letter explains how Adam is so different from Jesus Christ. It is from Adam that sin came about and through him, we all became sinful, but it is through Jesus Christ that our sinfulness was cleansed.
When Adam sinned, they were banished and condemned for disobeying God. Jesus Christ came so that the judgment will be acquitted by his sacrifice on the cross. So, by one act of love, we entered righteousness. It was now possible to be reconciled with God and that condemnation is now replaced by the free gift of grace. After Christ made the sacrifice on the cross, we are now able to enter that eternal rest that God had promised all those whom he chose. In 1 Corinthians 15:21 Paul reiterates this difference between Adam and Christ by these words: “As by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.”
REFLECTION
- How can we ensure that we don’t forget to appreciate the free gift of grace?
