Romans 5:20-21 - The Reign of Grace

Romans 5:20-21 20 The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Message: Grace reigns to eternal life. Sin reigns in death.

Time: The Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans from the Greek city of Corinth in AD 57, just three years after the 16 year old Nero had ascended to the throne as Emperor of Rome. Persecution of Christians wouldn't begin until AD 64. The church was experiencing times of relative peace. From where he wrote, Corinth, was a hotbed of sexual immorality and idol worship.

What the Lord is Saying:

Review
As this section ends on original sin, namely the passing of one's man sin to the entire human race, and death to all, I also think about this chapter as a whole.
The focus of this chapter has been on the results of justification. I started out looking at the peace of God.

• Peace is the result of being justified. It isn't a momentary peace, but it is a forever peace. It's true I may not always feel that peace, but the reality is the peace is there.
• I am congratulating myself of the access I now have been given to God and the certainty of my future state in God's glory. 
• I get to experience tribulations (great difficulties). There is joy in tribulations. God uses those tribulations to produce in me patience. It helps me to focus beyond the ordeal, to a future event. It proves my character and authenticates my faith. It marks hope in my life that God is there and firm in my life. They remind me overall that God does love me. 
• God loves me so much because I am helpless. Jesus died for sinners, for those not good. I am that person. 
• I am saved from God's wrath. 
• I am reconciled to God through Christ: past, present, future. 

And then it shifted to a contrast of being condemned to being justified. Sin entered the world through on man and death through sin. Sin and death spread to all men. Even without the law sin still exists. The Law helps sin be called sin, but sin still exists apart from the law (just as death exists apart from the law). Grace is much greater than sin. One man brought death. One man brought life.

Do Laws increase sin? 
I don't think so. The Law is not sin, as Paul states later. The Law exposes sin. Sin is hidden often without a law. Sin can be deemed acceptable behavior without the law stating it is wrong. We need laws in our society otherwise people would run wild. There is definitely a tension in the world today as to what is a law and what is not a law. But, I think what God wants to make clear is the conscience of man knows what is good and evil. The Law declares it sin for society at large.

Sin entered the world through Adam. This is clear. And it is also clear from the previous verses that sin was completely paid for and removed through the death and resurrection of Jesus. But, in between Adam and Christ is Moses. Paul wants to be clear that the Law was never meant to save the sinner, but rather expose the sinner.

Paul uses the word transgression 6 times in Chapter 5 and each time it is used it refers to the sin of Adam. Each time it is used in the singular, referring the sin of Adam. We all share a sin nature. Transgressions show how we have crossed the line. The Law shows us the specific acts of sin that we are rebellious on.

Sin results in huge amounts of grace
Wayne Grudem defines sin as "any failure to conform to the moral law of God in act, attitude, or nature. Sin is here defined in relation to God and his moral law. Sin includes not only individual acts such as stealing or lying or committing murder, but also attitudes that are contrary to the attitudes God requires of us."

Grace is God's generous favor to undeserving people. As I share the gospel with people, I define grace as receiving something you don't deserve. When a homeless man comes up to you and asks you for a meal, if you give it him, he has neither earned it nor can he pay it back. By giving it to him you have been gracious. As I share with people it amazes me how people don't understand grace. But, the important thing is I always wait to introduce grace after I have defined sin or rather, the breaking of God's Law.

Last week in the sermon at church, Matthew 9:37 was quoted about the harvest being plentiful, but the laborers are few. The reality is the harvest is growing more and more plentiful. Why? Because exposing sin as sin is decreasing and the people are becoming more focused on living grace than the need for grace. It is really rather tragic. The world has trained us to not defer to how they define what is right and wrong. And in the process, what God defines as right and wrong is being snuffed out. Yet, the Bible is clear, Satan is at the helm of this world.

Sin reigned in death
As sin lessons more and more in our world, God is put more and more on trial. Why? Because of death. Without sin, death has no comprehension. For the people that believe in God, they are under more and more scrutiny because death is still occurring. Kids are dying from diseases. A car crash takes the life of a father of many children. Painful deaths continue. Diseases of every kind are on the rise. Death continues. And the world does not comprehend that God can be real with all of this going on.

It actually seems like a natural progression of man as man decides that sin is less and less prominent. Paul states it clear here in verse 21, "Sin reigned in death." When Adam sinned and brought sin into the world, the result of sin in Genesis 3 was death.

People are not surprised that death occurs, but they are surprised by how it occurs. With our advancements in medicine, treating diseases, prolonging life, the reality is death still occurs in unexpected ways. And this is incomprehensible to man. It is unfortunate, but it shouldn't be a surprise. I don't think people have a problem that death occurs, but they definitely have a problem with how it occurs and when. As in everything in life, man wants to be in charge and decide the right time for life to end.

I will say that up to this point I have not felt that Romans 5:12-21 are difficult verses, but here in verse 21, when sin and death are now being talked about, this is a difficult subject. But, I think it is difficult is because as people we want so badly to understand death and why it is occurring. Everyday, new reports come out as to what may be causing heart disease or cancer or other types of death and suffering. But, when unexplained death happens and in the background, people of faith continue, the masses in life can't comprehend how faith people can continue when unexplained death occurs. But, I must move on in this text.

Grace reigns through righteousness to eternal life
God has the answer and the answer is His grace. Earlier in Chapter 5, I saw that because of being justified I have peace with God and I can exult in hope. There is a sureness of my future. And even then in tribulation, those difficulties should place my focus on the future. Grace reigns. Eternal life can only be answered by grace. It can only be answered by God and His answer for life because man is a sinner and sin results in death.

It is all because of Jesus. Mr. Repeater (Paul) tells us again that eternal life is because of Jesus. What we need to know is our life would not be as great is Adam had not fallen. We have a greater life in Christ that we could have ever had in Adam.

Promise: From Tabletalk, April 15, 2014: "For justification, the law multiplies transgression, revealing it for what it is and driving us to Christ for the righteousness that alone can justify us."