WORD From The Woods
Romans 5
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
In Paul’s letter to the Roman Church, he talks a lot about the law, judgment, righteousness, and faith. In this passage, we see how all of that is brought together in Christ. Paul makes it clear that we aren’t justified by doing good works or keeping the law, we’re justified by God’s amazing grace through faith in Jesus Christ! I love the way that Paul emphasizes the awesome power and grace of what Christ did through His sacrifice on the cross. Most of us would lay down our life for a close family member, maybe for a good friend, most likely not for a convicted felon though. But, Christ laid down His life for humanity while many were still living for sinful pursuits before we were even born and committed our first sin! Paul goes through a series of comparisons between Adam and Christ. He explains that just as sin entered the world through one man, Adam, salvation came into the world through one man, Jesus Christ. I love how he lays this out! If sin came into all of humanity through one common man, how much more can God’s grace abound through one man like Jesus Christ, who is actually the creator of the universe! I love verses 16-17, “And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.” And, in verse 20, it says that the law came not so that man could follow enough rules to please God, but that their sin would be made so apparent that their need for Grace would be undeniable! Adam’s rebellion brought sin and death into the whole world, past present, and future. God’s plan of redemption through Jesus Christ brought life and grace beyond measure into the world. God is so good and so powerful, that His plan of redemption is retroactive back to Adam and reaches into the future thousands of years until the end of time! That is the kind of God we serve, and we can rejoice in that!
Please keep us in prayer this week as we go to the Oregon Logging Conference. We will be there at the show with our booth sharing the gospel and will be hosting the Christian logger's breakfast on Saturday. Pray that God will prepare us for service and that He will prepare hearts and give us opportunities to point people to Christ, all to His glory! Stop by and say hello if you’re around the show this week!
God Bless and have a great week! -Terry-
Romans 5
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
In Paul’s letter to the Roman Church, he talks a lot about the law, judgment, righteousness, and faith. In this passage, we see how all of that is brought together in Christ. Paul makes it clear that we aren’t justified by doing good works or keeping the law, we’re justified by God’s amazing grace through faith in Jesus Christ! I love the way that Paul emphasizes the awesome power and grace of what Christ did through His sacrifice on the cross. Most of us would lay down our life for a close family member, maybe for a good friend, most likely not for a convicted felon though. But, Christ laid down His life for humanity while many were still living for sinful pursuits before we were even born and committed our first sin! Paul goes through a series of comparisons between Adam and Christ. He explains that just as sin entered the world through one man, Adam, salvation came into the world through one man, Jesus Christ. I love how he lays this out! If sin came into all of humanity through one common man, how much more can God’s grace abound through one man like Jesus Christ, who is actually the creator of the universe! I love verses 16-17, “And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.” And, in verse 20, it says that the law came not so that man could follow enough rules to please God, but that their sin would be made so apparent that their need for Grace would be undeniable! Adam’s rebellion brought sin and death into the whole world, past present, and future. God’s plan of redemption through Jesus Christ brought life and grace beyond measure into the world. God is so good and so powerful, that His plan of redemption is retroactive back to Adam and reaches into the future thousands of years until the end of time! That is the kind of God we serve, and we can rejoice in that!
Please keep us in prayer this week as we go to the Oregon Logging Conference. We will be there at the show with our booth sharing the gospel and will be hosting the Christian logger's breakfast on Saturday. Pray that God will prepare us for service and that He will prepare hearts and give us opportunities to point people to Christ, all to His glory! Stop by and say hello if you’re around the show this week!
God Bless and have a great week! -Terry-