Hearts Renewed: Daily Devotions for Spiritual Growth

SUNDAY, 1 SEPTEMBER 2024

TEXT: Romans 5:12-21

12. Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned-

13. sin was indeed in the world before the law, but sin is not reckoned when there is no law.

14. Yet death exercised dominion from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who is a type of the one who was to come.

15. But the free gift is not the trespass. For if the many died through the one man’s trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many.

16. And the free gift is not like effect of the one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification.

17. If, because of the one man’s trespass, death exercised dominion through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness exercise dominion in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

18. Therefore just as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all.

19. For just 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.

20. But law came in, with the result that the trespass multiplied; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,

21. so that, just as sin exercised dominion in death, so grace might also exercise dominion through justification leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

(New Revised Standard Version Holy Bible)

TOPIC: DEATH IN ADAM BUT LIFE IN CHRIST

In Africa, it is said that when one finger touches oil, the whole fingers have a feel of it. It is the same scenario that played our here where, through one man, death came and through another came life.

Apostle Paul had already addressed the fact that believers in Christ experience enjoyment through affiliating with Christ. He further portrayed the fact that condemnation (death) came through one man (Adam) while the blessing of life came through another (Jesus Christ).

Death came into the world before the law was given. Adam is presented as the prototype of Jesus Christ and in Adam death is experienced through sin.

But in Christ Jesus, life is released to man as in obedience to God’s work and not in the giving of the law that increases trespass.

QUESTION: Do you desire life in Christ Jesus to live or are you living in sin that kills and destroys?

PRAYER: O Lord, thank You for the grace and life through Jesus Christ. May this grace keep and help me not to sin against You, in Jesus name. Amen.