Romans 5:15-21

Romans 5:15-21 (NIV)
15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!
16 Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification.
17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
18 Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men.
19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
20 The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more,
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.

Grace wins! You cannot beat grace. Sin, hell, and the devil cannot beat grace. Your sin cannot beat grace. In the world of winners grace is king. Sin came into the world and wrecked it. However, grace came into the world after it had been wrecked by sin and it still wins. Grace sets the world right. Here is how verse 20 appears in the Message, " All that passing laws against sin did was produce more lawbreakers. But sin didn't, and doesn't, have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace. When it's sin versus grace, grace wins hands down." Grace reigns over death, unrighteousness, sin, condemnation, and anything else hell can throw at us. Celebrate the God of grace today. Christmas is really about grace-mas. God has revealed His love, mercy, and grace to us in Christ Jesus. Let the God of grace capture your heart again in Christ Jesus.

Grace is an energy; not a mere sentiment; not a mere thought of the Almighty; not even a word of the Almighty. It is as real an energy as the energy of electricity. It is a divine energy; it is the energy of the divine affection rolling in plenteousness toward the shores of human need.

Benjamin Jowett (1817–1893)