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)
Friday, April 9, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Romans 5:12-17 (NIV)
12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned--
13 for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law.
14 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.
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.
It was through Adam that all creation fell. The consequences were dire. One sin brought sin to all the world. The great thing about Jesus Christ's gift is after all the sin in the world and what computer could track that massive amount, Christ one act brought life to many. Christ one act has overflowed to the masses and has not only given forgiveness, but life as well. The way I look at Paul's statement is the mess caused by sin was greater than the one act of Adam and this mess of humanity going all the way back to Adam God took care of through Christ. In reality we have no idea of the miracle of the cross. It was Christ being crucified and him becoming sin for us that we have received life. Adam, Abraham, Isaac, Moses, David and the true Israel were all depending on this one sacrifice to take their sins away. Rejoice in your miracle this day. Rejoice that you have life in Christ. Give thanks that Christ followed through on His mission.
Now read it in the Message and have a better day.
Romans 5:12-17 (MSG)
12 You know the story of how Adam landed us in the dilemma we're in—first sin, then death, and no one exempt from either sin or death.
13 That sin disturbed relations with God in everything and everyone, but the extent of the disturbance was not clear until God spelled it out in detail to Moses. So death, this huge abyss separating us from God, dominated the landscape from Adam to Moses.
14 Even those who didn't sin precisely as Adam did by disobeying a specific command of God still had to experience this termination of life, this separation from God. But Adam, who got us into this, also points ahead to the One who will get us out of it.
15 Yet the rescuing gift is not exactly parallel to the death-dealing sin. If one man's sin put crowds of people at the dead-end abyss of separation from God, just think what God's gift poured through one man, Jesus Christ, will do!
16 There's no comparison between that death-dealing sin and this generous, life-giving gift. The verdict on that one sin was the death sentence; the verdict on the many sins that followed was this wonderful life sentence.
17 If death got the upper hand through one man's wrongdoing, can you imagine the breathtaking recovery life makes, sovereign life, in those who grasp with both hands this wildly extravagant life-gift, this grand setting-everything-right, that the one man Jesus Christ provides?
12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned--
13 for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law.
14 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.
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.
It was through Adam that all creation fell. The consequences were dire. One sin brought sin to all the world. The great thing about Jesus Christ's gift is after all the sin in the world and what computer could track that massive amount, Christ one act brought life to many. Christ one act has overflowed to the masses and has not only given forgiveness, but life as well. The way I look at Paul's statement is the mess caused by sin was greater than the one act of Adam and this mess of humanity going all the way back to Adam God took care of through Christ. In reality we have no idea of the miracle of the cross. It was Christ being crucified and him becoming sin for us that we have received life. Adam, Abraham, Isaac, Moses, David and the true Israel were all depending on this one sacrifice to take their sins away. Rejoice in your miracle this day. Rejoice that you have life in Christ. Give thanks that Christ followed through on His mission.
Now read it in the Message and have a better day.
Romans 5:12-17 (MSG)
12 You know the story of how Adam landed us in the dilemma we're in—first sin, then death, and no one exempt from either sin or death.
13 That sin disturbed relations with God in everything and everyone, but the extent of the disturbance was not clear until God spelled it out in detail to Moses. So death, this huge abyss separating us from God, dominated the landscape from Adam to Moses.
14 Even those who didn't sin precisely as Adam did by disobeying a specific command of God still had to experience this termination of life, this separation from God. But Adam, who got us into this, also points ahead to the One who will get us out of it.
15 Yet the rescuing gift is not exactly parallel to the death-dealing sin. If one man's sin put crowds of people at the dead-end abyss of separation from God, just think what God's gift poured through one man, Jesus Christ, will do!
16 There's no comparison between that death-dealing sin and this generous, life-giving gift. The verdict on that one sin was the death sentence; the verdict on the many sins that followed was this wonderful life sentence.
17 If death got the upper hand through one man's wrongdoing, can you imagine the breathtaking recovery life makes, sovereign life, in those who grasp with both hands this wildly extravagant life-gift, this grand setting-everything-right, that the one man Jesus Christ provides?
Monday, April 5, 2010
Romans 5:6-11
Are you ready to Rome?
Romans 5:6-11 (NIV)
6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!
10 For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
11 Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
When I used to do more counseling as a pastor there was a question that I use to put to people who were struggling with life. The question that I would I ask was "Do you know that your parents loved you?" Ninety-nine per cent of the time people would say yes I know that my parents loved me. Then I would ask this question, "How did you feel your parents love?"
Invariably the people would sit there with a blank stare. Only ten to fifteen per cent ever gave me some concrete answers to this last question. If the question was changed just a bit and it was worded this way, "Do you know that God loves you?" Most believers would say yes. I have had them say yes to this question. However when the question of how do feel God's love is placed before them it is a different story. If you were to answer these questions how would you answer them? Romans 5:1-11 is overflowing with the message that God loves us. God has sent the godly to die for the ungodly. God manifested His love in that when we were helpless sinners Christ died for us. We were enemies, but God has reconciled us and given us life. Christ's death and resurrection has changed everything we are to believe about God and ourselves and yes how we feel! I believe that feelings are to follow what we believe!
God carries your picture in his wallet.
Tony Campolo
Romans 5:6-11 (NIV)
6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!
10 For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
11 Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
When I used to do more counseling as a pastor there was a question that I use to put to people who were struggling with life. The question that I would I ask was "Do you know that your parents loved you?" Ninety-nine per cent of the time people would say yes I know that my parents loved me. Then I would ask this question, "How did you feel your parents love?"
Invariably the people would sit there with a blank stare. Only ten to fifteen per cent ever gave me some concrete answers to this last question. If the question was changed just a bit and it was worded this way, "Do you know that God loves you?" Most believers would say yes. I have had them say yes to this question. However when the question of how do feel God's love is placed before them it is a different story. If you were to answer these questions how would you answer them? Romans 5:1-11 is overflowing with the message that God loves us. God has sent the godly to die for the ungodly. God manifested His love in that when we were helpless sinners Christ died for us. We were enemies, but God has reconciled us and given us life. Christ's death and resurrection has changed everything we are to believe about God and ourselves and yes how we feel! I believe that feelings are to follow what we believe!
God carries your picture in his wallet.
Tony Campolo
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