Romans 5:19-20 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.
Paul now brings many of his ideas from the previous chapters together in this one statement. One of the purposes or at least outcomes of the law is that it defines sin and causes our rebellion against God to exert itself against God’s sovereignty. The law sets the boundary, but our sinful natures want to cross that boundary through living for ourselves or with distorted priorities and drives. The good news is that God’s grace is more powerful than the pull of sin. That means that God’s promises are true and we can experience this victory now, in part, as the guarantee of final victory in resurrection. God gives us the grace to overcome the affects of death now. This means in every day life that we can have peace in the midst of the discord from sin, we can have joy in the midst of physical suffering, we can have love in the brokenness of our relationships. Sin reigns in death and influences our decisions, thinking, and works its way out to our behaviors. Grace brings life in the midst of the shadow of death. This light may be a small light at first but will grow as our faith and hope grow. Grace brings righteousness with the outcome of eternal life. This all comes about through Jesus Christ our Lord.
For older posts, click here.