SIN IN EXCHANGE FOR GOD'S GRACE

In the Romans 5:20-21 New International Version (NIV) it reads:

In verse 20, “The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, verse 21  so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”. 

We see grace was mentioned five times from verses 15 to 21 of Romans Chapter 5.  The climax of this passage is the concentration of the word grace.  Grace was the key to all spiritual experiences of failure and sin. Paul also refer himself as the “chief of sinners”

We also notice that the word “increase” was mentioned several times here and was used three times in verse 20 – twice for sin and once for grace. Grace increased here is mentioned “to abound” or “to overflow” or having more than enough.  It gives the word super abundance.  Grace increased super abundance more than enough to cover all.

Where sin reached a high water mark, grace completely flooded the world.”  D. Martin Lloyd Jones used the word “engulfed”, calling grace a flood that sweeps everything before it.

1) God is not withholding Grace when sin increases.  If we offended by someone, we tend to withdraw from the person and withdraw our favor and blessings.  But God is not like that, instead where sin increases or failure increases, more grace or grace superabounds.  For God will not let us down to be at the bottom.  God's super gracious grace will encourage us greatly now and then. 

The first man Adam and Eve sinned? They were afraid thinking that grace would be withdrawn.  God had been good to them. Even they rebelled and eaten the forbidden fruit that God said they could not eat. God says, “if you eat of it, you will surely die.”  Instead, they found grace. God did not withhold grace from Adam and Eve who have sinned.  He made great promises of grace, announcing that the Messiah would come to destroy the work of the devil and bring mankind back to heaven.

Adam and Eve tried to cover their shame with fig leaves, but God’s gracious grace clothed them with the skin of animals, which represented Christ’s shed blood and righteousness.  Grace was not withheld from Adam and Eve; grace was given spite of sin.

That was old covenant picture of God’s gracious love for them.  What about the New Covenant now? How will it be different?  Jesus blood was shed not animals blood.  If God could gave Jesus to die for us how much more will He not give us all things pertaining to this life and godliness. This will include HIS GRACIOUS ABUNDANCE GRACE.

2) We also see that Grace is not something that makes up for our failures or sins.  Grace is not measured out in proportion to our disobedience. When a person sins he will think that God will take away his blessings one by one.  That means he have been given 100 percent of God’s grace in the beginning but now because he sins, he is slowly wasting away this 100 percent grace by his sins.  Do we find ourselves thinking that kind of thought?  He was a first-class Christian when he accepted Christ but now having failed God many times he consider himself a second class or third class Christian?  The more he sins he consider himself a lower class Christian.   In the end he is condemned as a believer in Christ. That is wrong thinking as believers.  We can fall into some great sin like Moses or David.  Our sin did not keep God’s grace from flowing to us in full measure when we first came to Jesus. It will not keep grace from reducing us now.  We know that God and everyone hate sin but sin did not keep God’s grace from flowing to us more. The point is that God will never diminish his grace toward you because of some sin.  The enemy wants us to think the opposite.  The bible says because of sin (in desperation), you will most find grace to be more abundant and fresh than before.

Paul knew that grace is so powerful and fresh to all believers. Fresh Grace!  Paul says that “sin reigned in death but grace reign through righteousness to bring us life and life abundantly through Jesus Christ”.  

3) Grace is more than an attitude, for grace is THE POWER of God to Salvation.  God has thrown his weight into His GRACE (Jesus full of GRACE) and grace will definitely triumph. Grace is more than an offer for help.  Grace is Life – a Life Transformation to all of us. Sin shall not master over us, you are not under law (influence of sin) but under the influence of GRACE (JESUS Himself) Being united with Jesus by God’s grace we take His life into our life. 

The gravity of sin will not suck you in – you are out in the outer space of GRACE in God’s presence. Sin dominion is out when Grace is in! In the outer space you are floating from GRACE to GRACE. GOD'S GRACE WILL SUCK YOU INTO MORE AND MORE OF HIS BLESSINGS AND HIS PRESENCE. YOU ARE NEAR TO THE THIRD HEAVENS!

If sin is overwhelmed by grace then sin is NOT the big thing.  Grace is the greatest thing NOW. Your faith now is not yourself and your sin but God’s grace and His powerful grace that will change your life.  Most religion will teach you make every effort to stop sinning and you will make it to heaven.   If you stop sinning and do it well enough and long enough you will be saved. Here sin is the focus. 

 

SIN IS THE BIG THING.  BUT GOD SAYS GRACE IS THE BIGGEST OF ALL.  SIN IS JUST THE DEAD LAKE OF A NATION BUT GRACE IS THE OCEAN OF THE WORLD.  You cannot compare sin and grace.  Sin cannot even come close to Grace in comparison. DO NOT MAGNIFY SIN BUT MAGNIFY GRACE! THE KING OF GRACE CAME AND TAKE IT ALL.  HE CAME TO OUR LIVES AND RULE IT ALL AND HIS GRACE WILL REIGN VICTORIOUSLY IN OUR LIVES.  AMEN AND AMEN!  THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON:

 

BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND (HIS GRACE) YOU SHALL BE SAVED!  (DELIVERED, HEALED, BLESSED, OVERCOMER) HAVE A BLESSED HAPPY HOLIDAY!