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. 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. 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. Romans 5: 17-19, NIV.
Merciful God, We praise You for the very “Good News” of the gospel, that “Christ Jesus died for sinners, of which I am chief.” Please help us LORD, to accept the gift of life that He offers us, as we study today, and live eternally. This is our prayer in the holy name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
The way people usually pose the question to us is: “There is good news, and there is bad news, which do you want to hear first?” I do not know how you respond to that. My response is usually, “Give me anyone first.” The reason I respond this way is twofold: What you consider bad news, may not be bad news for me; and your opinion of good news might not represent that for me! The other reason is, I really do not know what effect either of the news will have upon me. Our Scripture for today has the bad news first, followed by the Good News in each statement. I believe that God has a reason to present the Good News of the Gospel in this way. As human beings, many of us tend to take things for granted! In things of salvation, it is good for us to see what we have been saved from, in order for us to really appreciate our salvation! Let us look at each statement briefly, and give God praise for His great salvation!
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. The bad news is, that because one man sinned (Adam), all of humanity came under the death penalty. The very “Good News” is, that God, has provided an abundance of grace, and, the gift of righteousness! Hallelujah! I have often commented the fact that we have to work to die, while all we have to do is receive a gift and live! And for the love of me, I have not been able to figure out why, as human beings, we are willing to accept death at so great a cause to ourselves! I believe, that I am beginning to understand why – we have bought in to the lies of the Adversary! We have allowed our taste buds to develop a love for the world, and the things of the world. We have grown comfortable with the things that are temporal, and they have crowded out the love for the things that are eternal! But the Good News is, that God’s offer is still good, and, “whosoever will,” may still come and receive His offer of eternal life, in the one God-Man, Jesus Christ!
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. The bad news is, that “one trespass,” on behalf of our first parents, brought with it, condemnation, for the entire human race. The very “Good News,” is that with His (Jesus’) “one act of righteousness,” of becoming flesh and living a sinless life, He was able to impute His righteous life to us and thereby, justify us! Hallelujah! We are no longer under “the sword of Damocles,” for by His blood we have been healed, by His righteous life, we have been justified by faith! “Glory to God in the highest!” How wonderful it is that our salvation does not depend on us! How good to know that the God of heaven and earth, paid for our salvation, in full!
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. The bad news is that because of Adam’s sin, we were all made sinners. The very “Good News” is that through Jesus, all of humanity, can once again be, re-created in the image of God. The psalmist David declares, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me” (Psalm 51: 5). One act of sin, changed, as it were, our entire spiritual DNA. Our thought process became contaminated! “The LORD saw how great [people’s] wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of [their] heart was only evil all the time. The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain” (Genesis 6: 5, 6, emphasis provided). Even the innocent little ones have been affected by sin. We see it in their bad tempers, in their selfishness, and in the way they defend what is “theirs!” Praise God, there is hope! We can “be born again” (John 3: 5)!
Well, there is bad news and there is very “Good News.” Which shall I give you first? Well, the bad news is, “As it is written: ‘ “There is no one righteous, not even one . . .” ‘ ” The “Good News” is, “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1; 7,
emphasis provided). Enjoy the Good News!