2020-02-17 Romans 5:18-21
Notes
Transcript
18 So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is justification leading to life for everyone.
19 For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
20 The law came along to multiply the trespass. But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more
21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness, resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
I. One man brought death to this world. One man will restore this world.
I. One man brought death to this world. One man will restore this world.
18 So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is justification leading to life for everyone.
19 For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
A. Adam introduced a cancer into this world which we cannot cure.
A. Adam introduced a cancer into this world which we cannot cure.
18 So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is justification leading to life for everyone.
19 For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
Illus: Yes we have been walking through a first in our lifetime… the almost complete stoppage of our lives and economy because of a viral threat.
I think that this virus has exposed in us something far more dangerous than the disease… and I do take the disease seriously.
I believe this virus has exposed the cancer of sin and selfishness in us.
It has exposed in many way the lack of love in our midst as people.
If there is something we can bicker and fight over we will.
I have democrat friends saying that the virus is a right wing conspiracy and and I have republican friends who think this is a left wing conspiracy.
There have been business owners who are spat on because they ask people to wear masks and police officers who are thrown into lakes because they tried to encourage social distancing.
The loss of control in our lives because of this virus has shown how truly selfish, self centered, and sinful we are.
The stress of both the economic and viral disaster has exposed a deep broken side of us.
Just as sin caused insurmountable damage in a world of death, it also brought a cancer to our souls.
12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned.
B. Jesus took our sinful cancer and gave us his untainted life.
B. Jesus took our sinful cancer and gave us his untainted life.
18 So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is justification leading to life for everyone.
19 For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
Illus: Because of sin, and because our God is a just God not allowing wickedness to go unpunished, someone had to pay for the cancer of sin in our live.
Let’s talk fair for a moment. If God would give us fair he would remove his hand from us and allow us to suffer on this earth from the full extent of wickedness that would be natural from our own selfish desires.
Not only that, fair from God would also be facing his unrelenting wrath eternally as we have all embraced our role as sinful enemies who further the brokenness of this world.
God did have to be fair. Because God is just, punishment needed to be had for your wickedness.
Our just God removed his hand of providence from his son so that the fullness of selfish sinful humans could war against him.
Our just God poured out his unrelenting wrath on his son, Jesus Christ.
God took what was fair to us and poured out our justice on to Jesus.
More than that, God took what Jesus deserved, and gave it to us.
Jesus was God. Jesus did not sin. Jesus lived perfectly.
Jesus deserved the glory of eternity. He deserved the fellowship as the son of God.
Because Jesus took both our punishment and wrath, God has given us the glory of eternity and fellowship as sons of God.
6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die.
8 But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
9 How much more then, since we have now been declared righteous by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath.
II. There is no amount of sin that Jesus cannot heal.
II. There is no amount of sin that Jesus cannot heal.
20 The law came along to multiply the trespass. But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more
A. The standard is the righteousness of God. God gave the law so we could see our failure.
A. The standard is the righteousness of God. God gave the law so we could see our failure.
20 The law came along to multiply the trespass. But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more
Illus: I don’t know if you have discovered this device yet, but there is such a thing as a makeup mirror.
It is a mirror which magnifies your face. I looked into one once and realize there are these tiny holes in my nose.
This mirror shows every blemish that you might have, even if it unnoticed to the average eye.
Using this makeup mirror does not create the blemishes. This mirror simply illuminated the blemishes. Catch that… the blemishes were there all along, you place your face under the light to see them.
The law is the makeup mirror of the soul.
The law did not create sin. The law illuminates the blemishes of your heart, mind, word, and actions.
The law exposed what you may not have have seen without it’s magnification.
Any time you think, act, or speak in a way that does not measure up to the righteousness of God, you sin.
The law was given so that we would understand when we sin. It is a teacher to show us our need for God.
7 What should we say then? Is the law sin? Absolutely not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin if it were not for the law. For example, I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, Do not covet.
B. Because Jesus was God, his death is great enough to forgive every single sin.
B. Because Jesus was God, his death is great enough to forgive every single sin.
20 The law came along to multiply the trespass. But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more
Illus: Today you might be thinking… but you don’t know how bad my sins are.
You might be in a place where you know that you did not need the magnification of the law, because your sins were that great.
I want to speak to you directly for a moment.
Look at what the bible says: where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more.
There is nothing whatsoever in your past that God could not forgive.
When Jesus died on the cross, he didn’t just die for the “little” sins, he died for the worst atrocities that have ever been committed.
When you trust Jesus, he forgives all of your sins.
18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,
III. Embrace the eternal life found in the grace of God.
III. Embrace the eternal life found in the grace of God.
A. God gave grace, undeserved righteousness, which gives you eternal life.
A. God gave grace, undeserved righteousness, which gives you eternal life.
21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness, resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Illus: I want you to see today what God has done for you.
God has not turned a blind eye to your sin.
God has taken your sin and all the punishment your deserve for it and placed it on himself.
He has done more than that. God humbled himself, became a human being, lived perfectly experiencing everything we do as humans without sin.
That perfect life he lived, is placed on you.
When you step into eternity, you will be clothed with the perfect life of Jesus Christ.
8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—
9 not from works, so that no one can boast.