Through One Man
Romans 5:12-14 ESV
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.
When God first created man,
he was perfect in nature, without sin. He had perfect fellowship with God. But,
God gave mankind a command. They should not eat of a particular tree that God had
placed in the garden. Of everything else they were free to eat. But, Satan
tempted woman (Eve) and she ate of the fruit of the tree, and she gave some to
her husband (man, Adam), who was there with her, and he ate. Thus, they sinned
against God.
Since that time, all
humankind has been born with sin natures. And, we have been under the curse of
sin, which is death, but not just physical death, but spiritual death. For, all
of us will die physically one day, unless our Lord returns and takes us to be
with him, yet not through death. But, not all of us will die spiritually, for
those of us who have trusted in Jesus Christ to be Lord and Savior of our lives
have been brought from death to life in Him.
Yet, since the sin of Adam,
not only have we been under the curse of sin, born with sin natures, but we
have been separate from God, falling short of his glory and his divine approval
(See: Rom. 3:23).
For, from the creation of the
world, humankind has had the knowledge of God, for God revealed his eternal
power and his divine nature to them through his created works. So, mankind is
without excuse. We, absent of faith in Jesus Christ, are under God’s wrath,
because we have been given the knowledge of God and of his will for us, and
yet, in our sin natures, we did not honor God, but we followed after the ways
of the flesh, instead (See: Rom. 1:18-32).
The Free Gift
Romans 5:15-17 ESV
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.
Although Adam (and Eve)
sinned against God in the Garden of Eden, and thus the world and humans have
been under the curse of sin and death since that time, and even though God
revealed himself and his will to humans from creation, but they chose to go
their own way and to follow the sin nature, instead, so that they are without
excuse, God did not leave us without a plan for how we can be saved from sin
and death. Amen!
God the Father sent God the
Son, Jesus Christ, to take on human form, and to suffer and die for us, for our
sins, so that through faith in him we can be forgiven our sins, delivered from
the curse of sin, and be set free to walk now in his righteousness and
holiness. Through one man came sin and death for all, and through one man the
many can be made righteous, through faith in Jesus Christ, our Lord, our God
and our Savior.
But, many misunderstand this
free gift of God’s grace to us. This free gift is not just forgiveness of sins
and the hope of heaven when we die. This free gift, which we can do nothing to
earn or deserve, in our own merit, is deliverance from our slavery (bondage,
addiction) to sin. And, it is freedom to walk in holiness, purity,
righteousness, truth, integrity and morality. For, this is why Jesus died, that
we might die to sin and live to righteousness.
God’s grace to us, his free
gift, is not carte blanche (free rein) to continue in our sinful addictions
without guilt or remorse. His grace, which brings salvation, teaches us to say “No”
to ungodliness and worldly passions (lusts) and to live self-controlled, godly
and upright lives while we await Christ’s return for us, his bride. For, if we
continue living in sin, following the evil desires of our hearts, we will not
have life in Him, but eternal death.
God’s Grace Abounds
Romans 5:18-21 ESV
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.
Jesus Christ, who knew no
sin, became sin for us on that cross so that we might become the righteousness
of God, not just positionally, but in practice, too. For, the gospel message is
what was given to Paul, that he should open spiritually blinded eyes, turning
them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they
might receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by
faith in Jesus Christ.
Scripture teaches us that
when we believe in Jesus Christ, with God-given faith, that we die with Christ
to sin, and we are raised with him to newness of life in him, created to be
like God in true righteousness and holiness. The old has gone. The new has
come. We were once objects of God’s wrath. Now we are recipients of his
wonderful grace which delivers us out of our addictions to sin and which sets
us free to live godly and holy lives, pleasing to God – all in his power and
strength working within us.
Scripture also teaches us
that if we are to come after Christ, we must deny self and take up our cross
daily and follow (obey) him. Jesus said that if we hold on to our old lives of
sin, we will lose them for eternity, but if we lose our lives for his sake,
i.e. if we die with him to sin, then we have eternal life with God. And, it
says that if we walk according to the flesh, we will die in our sins, but if by
the Spirit we are putting to death the deeds of the flesh, then we will live
with Christ for eternity.
So, please understand here
that God’s grace to us is not just forgiveness of sins and heaven when we die.
He died that we might no longer live for ourselves but for him who gave his
life up for us. Eternal life is not guaranteed us on the basis of words we say
or thoughts we think, but on the action which accompanies our professions of
faith, which prove that our faith is genuine, and that it is of God, and not of
the flesh. For, if we walk according to the flesh, we will die in our sins, not
have eternal life with God.
The Heart of Man
An Original Work / April 4, 2012
Based off Matt. 15:1-20; Mk. 7:1-23
Listen to me ev’ryone and
Understand this teaching of Christ:
Why do you break the commands
Of God for the sake of tradition?
When you follow the ways of man,
And don’t obey the words of Christ,
You nullify the words of God,
And you hold to the ways of man.
What comes out of a man’s mouth is
What makes him unclean and dirty.
The things that come out of the mouth
Come from the heart, from within him.
The heart of man is so sinful;
From his nature, out comes evil:
Lying, cursing, greed and malice,
Lust and lewdness, deceit, slander.
Jesus calls us to obey him;
Turn from our sins; follow His ways.
Yet, his people honor him with their
lips,
but their hearts not with Him.
Their worship of God is in vain.
Their teachings are rules taught by
man.
Jesus calls us; gently leads us
To return and follow His truth.
Tuesday, April 10, 2018, 4:22
a.m. – Thank you, Jesus, for this teaching from Your Word. Bring it home to our
hearts, I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen!
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