Victory over death
But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. Romans 5:15-18 Man is always in search of significance, sense of worth, and purpose. From the text, the Apostle Paul emphasized the gift of righteousness that comes alone from the Lord Jesus Christ. This gift of righteousness is what brings about meaning in the life of a believer. Adam’s sin brought about death. Death does not only refer to the physical death or cessation of life that each person will experience but also the lack of meaning and purpose in life. We can claim that we are alive yet if we are still living in sin, eventually that life will lead to despair, emptiness and loneliness. God brings about life to those that accepts His offer of forgiveness. This leads to a freedom to live the life that God provides. There will be times that you feel that your spirit is down, you are crushed, and confused yet the life of Christ within provided the strength to continue on and the claim that in Him you are secured. “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9). God does His work in you so that He could display through you the life of Christ. “Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies” (2 Corinthians 4:10). Your daily walk with the Lord could become a clear demonstration of God’s righteousness. Each day, God wants you to invest your life sowing works of righteousness not because you want to earn your way to heaven but to display the life of those that are already in Christ. You are no longer in the power of sin because Christ’s righteousness is in you. This is what Paul was inferring to when he said, “For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:17). Do not take for granted God’s gift of righteousness instead let it motivate you to live your life serving the holy God. There is so much more that God wants you to experience. God can fill your life with joy, peace, contentment and fulfillment as you allow Him to reign in you. Yes there will be times of heartaches and sufferings because of the pressures of life but since Christ is in you, as Paul said, you “will live in triumph over sin and death.”
Blessings,
