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! Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 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! Rom. 5:15-17
Most holy and gracious Father, this portion of your Word ignites great joy within me, in response to the over-the-top-glorious, all-needs-meeting, hyper-abundance of grace which you’ve lavished on us in your Son, Jesus.
Through the failure of the first Adam, we were born spiritually dead—willing subjects, co-conspirators, members in good standing in the reign of sin and death. But now, through the work of the second Adam, Jesus, we’ve been made alive; and we now live as objects of your great affection and subjects in Jesus’ transforming kingdom—the reign of righteousness, peace, and joy—the reign of grace!
Indeed, as dead as we were in our sins and trespasses, we are much, much more alive in Jesus’ forgiveness and righteousness. As distant and disconnected as we were from you because of Adam’s sin and our own sin, we are much, much more at peace and intimate with you through the perfect work of Jesus on our behalf. As narcissistic and navel-gazing as we were through our connection to the first Adam, we are becoming much, much more other-centered, loving, and caring through our union with Jesus.
Father, this gospel shows us how very “for us” you really are. You didn’t spare your own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will you not also, along with Jesus, graciously give us all things? You’ve justified us, and there is now no condemnation. Jesus died for us and he perpetually lives to pray for us and advocate for us. Nothing will ever separate us from your love! (Rom. 8:31-35)
Indeed, as grave and great as our condition was through sin and death, the “how much more” of the gospel has trumped it a zillion times over! So very Amen we pray, with astonishment, wonder, and gratitude, in Jesus’ matchless name.
