Grace Reigns

Intro: This morning we will come to find the work of justification is that Grace now reigns and has defeated the cast atrophic results of sin.

We will come to find that we may have decided that grace and sin are similar opposites: what I mean by that is when someone comes to know Christ they have grace and it is almost balancing the scale against sin. I am here to tell you that what we will see today is that the grace of God far outweighs what a life of sin offers. Remember Christ said I have come in order that you would have life- Abundant life- God’s original state for us to worship Him- He gives all!

Romans 5:12–21 NASB 95

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned— for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification. 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. So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Sin and Death (VS 12-14)

This is what life is apart from the redeeming work of Christ

Paul is communicating that Adam’s sin resulted in death for all

How is it fair that God would judge all of humanity on one mans sin?

This is a question I know that we will all face once in our life or many times

It is fair and gracious

Just as He judged the world through one man HE brought salvation through on man

Remember Adam was given authority

We overlook this part of the story- God had given him authority we look at him as some ignorant mant- He was given authority- He desired to do things his own way

I have come to see that for all of us who are given authority we have this inside all of us- we want more and more and to do it our own way- Let me remind you all that if you have been given authority- husband, father, principle, teacher, boss, friend. it is from the Lord and he alone can provide you direction and apart from Him we will do this on our own way.

Do you believe this or are we removing God from the authority he has given us.

May i remind you that

Death Reigns- without this grace of God

1 Corinthians 15:17 “and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.”

If the resurrection is not true then we have no hope

Resurrection only further shows that grace reigns

We sure didn’t deserve it- why

We are dead- every part of us

Adam was not deceived he acted in opposition to God- he wanted to be equal

Adam was not a fool- he did not hesitate at his option- for the longest time i thought this way- (funny) but truth should hit hard!

1 Timothy 2:14 “And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.”

1 Corinthians 15:56“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;”

This death has spread to all men!

No one is unaware of their sin

John 16:8 “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment;”

Why would we need to be aware and convicted of our Sin, it may not be what you think!

God cares - Yes our sin separates us from Him but he doesn't leave us there, you and I didn't do it God’s nature

He reveals it so you rely on Christ

Not yourself

Condemnation and Justification 15-17

We are influenced by one or the other they have no place together

Adam or Christ

What influences us is easily known- we have been watching this show the floor-

Wages of Sin is death

I am afraid we have become comfortable wanting to do this on our own

Do we take the story of Christ as optional

Believe in the Birth optional

We are about to celebrate Christmas

This is so much more than about a manger and the animals

The promised is being fulfilled

Believe in His life optional

All he did served a purpose

We need to hear this today if He did it then, He is doing the same today

Believe in His death optional

God’s mighty plan of Grace- His ultimate sacrifice

Believe in His resurrection optional

Death defeated no longer reigns

What I mean is all of christ is all for our justification

Mighty counselor

Death defeated

Your life is no longer your own

Rather we are to surrender all to him- He alone can justify mans sin- impute His righteousness on them

Daily- much more we are given more than we lost!

This is a gift that goes beyond just the remedy for our sin it is a true reflection of our God.

He gives above and beyond making the way and then giving us access to Him. All we need

We do need to ask what is reigning in your life- Adam was given authority and chose sin- Christ humble submits to the father and makes us more than conquerors as we share in the goodness of God

Greater than Adams kingdom

There are two kingdoms presented here

one of sin and death

the other is full of life

1 Corinthians 15:21 “For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead.”

Trespass and Obedience 18-19

Adam went beyond what God gave him

Genesis 2:16–17 “The Lord God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.””

Disobedient- I am afraid far to many of us are willing to excuse our disobedience- to God,

Contentment in what God has given you!

OOH HARD ONE- We do not like the word contenment- why cause that means we must surrender control and faithfully accept when God gives and takes away

By this one act we are all under the reign of death

This is a great reminder of contentment

If God has a plan submit to it - we have nothing to do with this plan, even when we pray for something, if it is good where can it only come from God.

Jesus humbled himself to the will of the father

Through this act we are made righteous

Faith and the Lord’s righteousness imputed to us

We are all under the reign of grace

We dont deserve it we have full acess to so much

Faith is not evident

Law and Grace18-21

The law’s purpose was to show humanity their need for the grace of God

incapable of being just

The law was to point to grace needed

1 Corinthians 15:56“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;”

not to wallow in condemnation

Sometimes we think this is apart of Christianity

it is not- when the Lord makes you aware of your need for Him go to him

The hardest times in our lives is when we have access to the father but we stay comfortable in our condemnation

Grace has always been the plan for God it is not an addition to His plan

Lets pause her for a second, How does grace play into our lives

Do we give it out as a gift or as an act of pride

You can do this in life

Marriage

parenting

Friendship

God gives it abundantly we should reflect our Savior

Our spouses, our kids, our friends, the community needs to understand grace-

Because of Christ the plan of God grace reigns

abundantly we have more than we lost through Adam

Christ gives in abundance as we live by faith

Remember this is about faith

Not about just living

Application

What reigns in your life is it Death or Grace

God has made it possible through Christ that His grace may reign in your life

Daily receiving of such grace- it is an abundant gift- we gain far more than we lost through ADAM- This access to the father- it is in His nature to be good and give when we are undeserving

How does this work out at foothills calvary- you cant experience the fulness of God’s grace with limited involvement with His church- If God has called you here, join, serving, getting involved in a ministry, getting council. God’s grace is abundant they are available for all- we ignore the announcement thinking its another thing- yet you will walk out with not getting connected-

Keep you eyes on Christ

Hebrews 12:1–2 “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

the storm may be around you but I am learning that part of this reigning of grace is only possible by keeping our eyes on the gift Christ

I have done this so many times- how easily we become men of little faith- keep our eyes on the one who can only sustain us and give us grace!