Romans 5:16 and 17

Last devotion I commented that man's predicament was worse than being sinners.  How about being dead?  Is that worse than just being ungodly?  I believe so.

Although man suffers physical death at the end of his time on this planet, without the life of Jesus, all are "dead men walking,"  while they were on the earth.

The following Scriptures are to me, some of the most endearing to my personal life.  Imagine being on a desert island all by yourself.  Along comes a bottle from the ocean with a message in it.  As you carefully open the aged piece of paper, these words are on this "message in a bottle":

"But the free gift is not life the offense.  For if by one man's offense many died, MUCH MORE the grace of God and the gift BY the grace of the One Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many!

And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned.  For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the FREE GIFT which came offenses resulted in justification.

For if by one man's offense death reigned through the one, MUCH MORE those who RECEIVE abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ.

Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to ALL men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one MAN's righteous act, the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of LIFE."

It' clear: Adam's transgression brought death and condemnation to all men.  For 6,000 years this reality has been played out before our eyes.  We have the Word of God to display it and now in this generation we see it as well.  Ever wondered why God has allowed it to go on so long?  MERCY!

But the reality is that God says the act of one man's obedience, JESUS, brought about something marvelous - that if just one person gets a hold of it, it shall be transforming to the individual. 

The Scriptures say that though Adam's sin brought such death, MUCH MORE, meaning there is no comparison - those who receive God's ABUNDANCE of grace (endless supply); AND the gift of Christ's righteousness (which previously we discussed no one receives this except through faith), SHALL REIGN in life through Jesus Christ. (Verse 17)  This needs to be repeated - so I did.

Now I see that it is not referring to this "life" on planet earth as in "stuff" we do.  Paul is talking about the resurrection life of Jesus.  He is not talking about our activities while we live here.

For I've seen, and did this myself for many years, that I went about "doing" the activities of this existence  (that we call "life"), but was not EXPERIENCING the life that comes SOLELY from Christ through His Holy Spirit.  An example of this is when some experience a lack of activities, they say they are bored.  So they go about finding more activities and then say they are having "the time of their life!"

Again, the life God is talking about is NOT activities.  Many are active in activities, but still DEAD.

In  verse 17, Paul is talking about LIFE as a Person.  Life as in living - alive, fruitful, reality - ETERNAL!  The example in Paul's life, is that he had the life of Jesus  while in prison for the Gospel.  His existence was not based on watching television, going on vacation - he said so. "For me to live is CHRIST!"

This distinction is important.  Why?

One of mine and Gary's favorite analogies that we use when talking about what happens to a person when they are born of God's Spirit is like that of a cat and a dog.  The species changes.

Once we were "cats" representing death of spirit, no ability to bring forth the character of Christ Himself - then when Christ came into the spirit of man and His life came, we became "dogs" - a totally different species - yet still part of the animal world. 

We are still "men," but not of the same MAN anymore.  We have changed from Adam to Christ.  One is dead - the other is life.  And there is only ONE who is Life - He just simply imparts His to us!   Worth pondering.

Paul will truly expound on "being raised" up in Chapter 6 of Romans.  But the smashing point of these verses are that God has given a prescription.  Most people when they get one from their doctor, go have it filled, then take the medicine as prescribed.

Here is the prescription of God:

THOSE (meaning we can or we don't), who RECEIVE abundance of GRACE - AND the GIFT of righteousness...  Can't see one ounce of religion in this, can you?

How do we do this?  Simply like a child, through faith/trust/humble obedience start receiving God's abundance of grace.  It might be that for a while we "see" no evidence or it seems plain - BUT this is the absolute wonder of believing God.  Remember Abraham?  "Who contrary to hope, in hope believed." And, "God who gives life to the dead." (Romans 4: 17, 18)

Abraham did not "see" anything for a while in his body.  He simply relied on God's promise.  It says of him that he JUDGED God as FAITHFUL.  He was FULLY convinced that what God had promised, He was able to perform.  God cannot lie - ever.

 Today then, let's by faith RECEIVE the abundance of God's grace - meditate on the LIFE of Jesus Christ within our hearts through God's Spirit.  Let us KNOW that God's Son in us brings forth His fruit.

Jesus Christ is LIVING in you and in me.  He Himself is the REAL Life. 

Sue Gaither