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Day

13

Abundant Grace

Lent 2023

Read Romans 5:12-21

12 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— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 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.

15 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. 16 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. 17 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.

18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 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. 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.

…by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. Romans 5:19

When I was a kid, I remember my parents saying that if you even just hung around people while they were doing something bad, you were as guilty as they were. In a simple level of comparison, that’s like our sin. Being part of the human crowd means we are sinful. This sin and the death it brings entered the world through Adam’s disobedience and rebellion against God. We are a part of the crowd of sinners called humans. It’s not just their sin, though. It is ours, too.

Sin is part of our human condition, but through one man, Jesus Christ, we receive a gift of God. In Jesus’ obedience, grace reigns and many will be made righteous. Through him we have eternal life. Rejoice! As Christ’s follower, you have been made righteous and are justified before God. Because of Christ you have received God’s abundant provision of grace!

Prayer

Jesus, thank you for the righteousness and the life that you have given me through your obedience. Amen.

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