Romans 5:17 - Human Inability

Romans 5:17 

For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. 

Message: Human Inability

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: 

Paul does a contrast of righteousness and condemnation in Romans 5:12-21. Today, let's just look at the condemnation. 

Verse 12 says that -- Through one man (Adam) sin came to all mankind -- and with sin came death to all mankind because all sinned. This is the matter of Adam being our federal head. He sinned once and it spread to all mankind and in the process all are doomed to death because all have sinned. Everyone does not have to sin the same way as Adam to be condemned, simply sinning one time in any way makes one condemned. 

This condemnation of man occurred before the Law was given and in the world. I looked at this previously in my lesson of Romans 5:13-14 whereby Paul is not saying in verse 13 that the Law must be present for there to be sin. The Law is written on our hearts. Abraham who was present 430 years before the Law was still accountable to obedience in all its forms. 

The big concluding point here is that man is not capable of justifying Himself. Adam's sin condemned all mankind. At this point death reigns in us and obedience to the Law will not happen because sin is present. So humans have an inability to attempt to keep the Law for justification. I think this is one of the chief lies of Satan - to be good enough. But, good enough is not the issue, the issue is never sinning. Only Jesus is capable because only Jesus does not sin. 

Promise: Mankind is not born neutral, but rather born guilty and corrupted, then called ones are renewed by the Holy Spirit so those can then please Him. 

Prayer: O Lord, keep me humble for I had nothing to do in being saved by You. I am condemned because I sinned. Thank you Jesus for fulfilling that which I cannot. Thank you for allowing me to receive your grace. Now I need to live everyday for you. Thank you for continuing to reinforce this in my life. As your ambassador, vessel, bond-servant - be my words and voice to communicate this to others. 

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of June is about justification; May was about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January, the doctrine of God.

 - The Sins of the Gentiles - Though born with God being evident, Gentiles do not honor God or give thanks, look to their selves for truth, and God gives them over to their sin, and in the process God's wrath is sin which will culminate on the Day of the Lord. The Sins of the Jews - Jews thought their status meant only Gentiles were true sinners. Romans 2 and 3 explains that Jews are just as guilty before God. The Law and Accountability - the Law reminds us we are sinners and doing good will not outweigh this bad; I am condemned. Righteousness According to the Law - The Law can make one righteous if obedient to all. Our sin keeps us from this.