Sermon Prep | Romans 5:17

A Priceless gift

Prayer:

Scripture: Romans 5:15-18 (ESV) Ro 5:15  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. 16  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. 17  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. 18  Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.

Illustration:

John R. Claypool has related the story of his friend, Sam Keen. Like many, Keen felt that if he could obtain a doctorate from an Ivy League school and join a respected college faculty, he would be happy, would lose that sense of “nobodiness.” He achieved these objectives, but he remained unhappy, unsatisfied. Then one night, alone in a hotel room, like another bright man of yesteryear, he found himself asking, “What must I do to be saved?” The answer came abundantly clear. “Nothing, nothing at all. It comes with the territory or it does not come at all.” Subsequently, he said “he had been like a man riding on an ox, looking for an ox.”

Have you ever felt like you've been looking for something and it was right underneath your nose. Think about the shaking of the unopened Christmas present, hoping that its the present you've been waiting for, and not another pair of socks or underwear. But t open that present and to find that its exactly what you need.

Well I want to challenge your thinking today, and to hopefully change the way that we view Christmas. That this is indeed a holy day. a day set apart and a day that we fix our eyes on the only hope for a world wretched with sin. And that is Christ Jesus.

Yes, it is a day that has become an commercial headache for many and a day consumed by presents, lights and Christmas corrals. Those are the things that bring smiles to many and yet are a reminder of pain to others. But, when we think about the act of gift giving. There is a gift that no wrapping paper can contain, better yet the world cannot contain it. It is a gift

Adam’s sin brought death

God’s gift brought righteousness

God showed his glorious favor (Tit.2:11-15), (Ep. 2:4-9)

Heirs (Tit. 3:7).

God’s righteousness is made available to man.

Rom. 4:24-25, 2 Cor. 5:21, Tit. 3:4-5

Adam’s sin brought condemnation

God’s gift brought justification

Justified from all sins Acts 13:39, Rom. 5:1, Gal. 3:6

Adam’s sin brought about death

God’s gift brings life

Here and now John 10:10

sufficiency in all things 2 Cor. 9:8

Great power Eph. 3:20

God will supply Phil. 4:19

Eternity John 3:16, John 5:24, Luke 19:17

Adam’s sin brought condemnation to all men.

God’s gift brought justification of life upon all men

free gift of God Rom. 6:23

God freely gives us all things. Rom. 8:32

Saved by Grace Eph. 2:8