Romans 5:12-21
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— for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 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.
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. 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. 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.
Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 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. Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Read 1 Corinthians 15:35-49
Choices are so powerful. I often wonder at the huge impacts created by small choices. What if I hadn’t gone out to meet my wife for that first date? Where would I be now?
God gave Adam the power to choose to disobey or to believe and obey. Genesis 2:16-17, “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” Obviously, Adam and Eve chose poorly and their choice has echoes that ring throughout our world today. They chose disbelief over belief, mistrust over trust, rebellion over obedience.
Our nature comes down to us from these original rebels and so we are rebellious. Rebellion is like using magic to get what you want instead of trusting God to provide what you need. As the prophet Samuel told King Saul, “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft.” – 1 Samuel 15:23. This is our state in the first Adam but, 1 Corinthians 15 :45, “Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.”
Adam’s sin set us up to fail but the gift of God’s favor isn’t a set up. The power of God’s grace towards us brings us into favor with God, through belief, despite our sin. Colossians 2:13, “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses”
Sin is a tyrant that pays his subjects only in death. The law was God’s instrument whereby the terrible grip of sin upon humanity was brought into sharp relief. Sin, as a tyrant, cannot be rebelled against because sin is rebellion and trying to reject it only plays into its hands. There is no reforming the state held by sin.
But now, because Jesus has paid for our visas, God is handing out refugee relief for any who would renounce the state of sin and embrace the State of Righteousness whose Prince is Peace. Turn in your ID that identifies you as belonging to sin death and hell. Receive the free gift of naturalization in the land of peace, goodness, gentleness, love, joy, kindness, patience, and self-control.
Luke 17:20-21, “Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”
brotherpayne 