Weekly Sermon
Romans 5:17 reads, “For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.”
In Hebrews 9:27 God’s Word reveals that “it is appointed unto men once to die.” In the opening portion of Psalm 89:48, Ethan the Ezrahite asked the rhetorical question, “What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death?” In the opening portion of 2 Samuel 14:14, the wise woman Tekoah stated unto King David, “For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again.” In 1 Corinthians 15:26 God’s Word declares, “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” Death reigns all around us. Yea, death reigns within us. Yet we might ask – Why does death reign? Why does death even exist in this world?
Did the Lord our God and Creator originally create this world as a world of disease and death? No, He most certainly did not. The opening portion of Genesis 1:31 reveals the opposite. It reveals that after the Lord our God and Creator had completed His work of creation, He looked upon “everything that He had made, and, behold, it was very good.” So then, if the Lord our God and Creator did not originally create this world as a world of disease and death, why does disease and death now exist in this world? The answer is given in Romans 5:12 – “Wherefore, as by one man [that is – the first man Adam] sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Again the answer is given in the opening line of Romans 5:17 – “For if by one man’s offence [that is – the first sin of Adam] death reigned by one [that is – by the first man Adam].”
So then, in this message let us consider a matter of death and of life. Yea, let us consider the Biblical truth concerning the reign of death and the reign of life.
Romans 5:17 reads, “For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.”
In Hebrews 9:27 God’s Word reveals that “it is appointed unto men once to die.” In the opening portion of Psalm 89:48, Ethan the Ezrahite asked the rhetorical question, “What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death?” In the opening portion of 2 Samuel 14:14, the wise woman Tekoah stated unto King David, “For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again.” In 1 Corinthians 15:26 God’s Word declares, “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” Death reigns all around us. Yea, death reigns within us. Yet we might ask – Why does death reign? Why does death even exist in this world?
Did the Lord our God and Creator originally create this world as a world of disease and death? No, He most certainly did not. The opening portion of Genesis 1:31 reveals the opposite. It reveals that after the Lord our God and Creator had completed His work of creation, He looked upon “everything that He had made, and, behold, it was very good.” So then, if the Lord our God and Creator did not originally create this world as a world of disease and death, why does disease and death now exist in this world? The answer is given in Romans 5:12 – “Wherefore, as by one man [that is – the first man Adam] sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Again the answer is given in the opening line of Romans 5:17 – “For if by one man’s offence [that is – the first sin of Adam] death reigned by one [that is – by the first man Adam].”
So then, in this message let us consider a matter of death and of life. Yea, let us consider the Biblical truth concerning the reign of death and the reign of life.
The Reign of Death
In the opening line of Romans 5:14, this reign of death is mentioned – “Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses.” Again in the opening line of Romans 5:17, this reign of death is mentioned – “For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one.” What then is involved in the reign of death over humanity and this world?
First, we must understand that death entered this world by the original sin of the first man Adam. In the opening portion of Romans 5:12, God’s Word states, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin.” Death is the direct result of sin. The very sting that has brought and continues to bring death into this world is sin itself. Yet sin din not enter this world at God’s original creation of the world. Rather, sin entered this world at Adam’s original sin against God. In Genesis 2:16-17 we read, “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).
Second, we must understand that we all were made sinners by nature through the original sin of Adam. In the opening portion of Romans 5:19, God’s Word states, “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners.” We all are the physical and spiritual descendents of Adam. Yea, we all are the physical and spiritual descendents of sinful Adam. As the spiritual descendents of sinful Adam, we all are brought into this world as sinful by nature. Furthermore, as the physical descendents of sinful Adam, we all are brought into this world with the curse of death already upon us.
Third, we must understand that death has passed upon all of us because we all have sinned against God. In the closing portion of Romans 5:12, God’s Word states, “And so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” We all are brought into this world as sinful by nature; therefore, we all sin against the Lord our God. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). We all have sinned because we all are sinners. We all have sinned because we all are sinful by nature. Even so, because we all are sinners and have sinned, we all are under the reign of death. We all are under the reign of physical death, in that we all must face an appointed time of physical death. We all are under the reign of spiritual death, in that we all are spiritually dead in sins, being separated from the eternal life of God. We all are under the reign of eternal death, in that we all are condemned by our sinfulness to the eternal judgment of hell.
Fourth, we must understand that we all are spiritually condemned to hell because of our sinfulness. In the opening portion of Romans 8:18, God’s Word states, “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation.” We all are sinners before the Lord our God. We all have sinned against the Lord our God. We all stand guilty in the presence of the Lord our God. We all are already condemned under the righteous judgment of the Lord our God. We all are already cursed to suffer torment for eternity in hell under the righteous wrath of the Lord our God.
The Reign of Life
Yes, we all are brought into this world under the reign of sin and death. Yet by the abundance of His grace, the Lord our God and Savior has provided us a way of deliverance from the reign of death. By the abundance of His grace, He has provided us a way to enter into the reign of life. In Romans 5:20-21 God’s Word declares, “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” Even so, in the closing portion of Romans 5:17 the reign of life is mentioned – “Much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.” What then is involved in this reign of life through God’s abundant grace?
First, we must understand that the reign of life is indeed through the abundant grace of the Lord our God. In Romans 5:15 God’s Word states, “But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.” The Lord our God is abundantly gracious; and by the abundance of His grace, He offers unto us the free gift of eternal salvation, eternal redemption, and eternal life. We do not and cannot earn it. We do not deserve it. Yet He is abundantly gracious.
Second, we must understand that the reign of life (the gift of salvation) is provided by the obedient sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. In the closing portion of Romans 5:15, God’s Word states, “Much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.” Again in Romans 5:18-19 God’s Word states, “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, humbled Himself to be “made in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:7). “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8). Through His sacrificial death on the cross, on our behalf and in our place, our Lord Jesus Christ made it possible for us sinners to be saved from our condemnation and to receive the gift of eternal life.
Third, we must understand that the gift of salvation grants us justification in the sight of God unto eternal life. In Romans 5:16 God’s Word states, “And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.” Again in Romans 5:18-19 God’s Word states, “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” Due to our sinfulness, we are condemned under the righteous judgment of God to the eternal wrath of hell. However, due to Jesus Christ’s sacrifice, we sinners may be justified through the gracious love of God unto eternal life in heaven.
Fourth, we must understand that the gift of salvation is offered unto all sinners who receive Christ as Savior through faith. In the closing portion of Romans 5:18, God’s Word states, “Even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.” Even so, 1 Timothy 2:3-6 declares, “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” Yet this gift of salvation and eternal life must be received through faith in the Savior. In Romans 5:17 God’s Word states, “Much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.” Even so, John 3:16 declares, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” If any sinner will receive God’s gracious gift of salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, that sinner will reign in life by Jesus Christ. Such a sinner will receive newness of spiritual life and the promise of eternal life.
The Responsibility of Life
Yet the gift of life does bring a responsibility into our lives. This responsibility is revealed in Romans 6:4 – “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Again it is revealed in Romans 6:11-13 – “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” Yet again it is revealed in Romans 6:18 – “Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” And yet again it is revealed in Romans 6:20-22 – “For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.”
In the opening line of Romans 5:14, this reign of death is mentioned – “Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses.” Again in the opening line of Romans 5:17, this reign of death is mentioned – “For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one.” What then is involved in the reign of death over humanity and this world?
First, we must understand that death entered this world by the original sin of the first man Adam. In the opening portion of Romans 5:12, God’s Word states, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin.” Death is the direct result of sin. The very sting that has brought and continues to bring death into this world is sin itself. Yet sin din not enter this world at God’s original creation of the world. Rather, sin entered this world at Adam’s original sin against God. In Genesis 2:16-17 we read, “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).
Second, we must understand that we all were made sinners by nature through the original sin of Adam. In the opening portion of Romans 5:19, God’s Word states, “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners.” We all are the physical and spiritual descendents of Adam. Yea, we all are the physical and spiritual descendents of sinful Adam. As the spiritual descendents of sinful Adam, we all are brought into this world as sinful by nature. Furthermore, as the physical descendents of sinful Adam, we all are brought into this world with the curse of death already upon us.
Third, we must understand that death has passed upon all of us because we all have sinned against God. In the closing portion of Romans 5:12, God’s Word states, “And so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” We all are brought into this world as sinful by nature; therefore, we all sin against the Lord our God. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). We all have sinned because we all are sinners. We all have sinned because we all are sinful by nature. Even so, because we all are sinners and have sinned, we all are under the reign of death. We all are under the reign of physical death, in that we all must face an appointed time of physical death. We all are under the reign of spiritual death, in that we all are spiritually dead in sins, being separated from the eternal life of God. We all are under the reign of eternal death, in that we all are condemned by our sinfulness to the eternal judgment of hell.
Fourth, we must understand that we all are spiritually condemned to hell because of our sinfulness. In the opening portion of Romans 8:18, God’s Word states, “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation.” We all are sinners before the Lord our God. We all have sinned against the Lord our God. We all stand guilty in the presence of the Lord our God. We all are already condemned under the righteous judgment of the Lord our God. We all are already cursed to suffer torment for eternity in hell under the righteous wrath of the Lord our God.
The Reign of Life
Yes, we all are brought into this world under the reign of sin and death. Yet by the abundance of His grace, the Lord our God and Savior has provided us a way of deliverance from the reign of death. By the abundance of His grace, He has provided us a way to enter into the reign of life. In Romans 5:20-21 God’s Word declares, “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” Even so, in the closing portion of Romans 5:17 the reign of life is mentioned – “Much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.” What then is involved in this reign of life through God’s abundant grace?
First, we must understand that the reign of life is indeed through the abundant grace of the Lord our God. In Romans 5:15 God’s Word states, “But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.” The Lord our God is abundantly gracious; and by the abundance of His grace, He offers unto us the free gift of eternal salvation, eternal redemption, and eternal life. We do not and cannot earn it. We do not deserve it. Yet He is abundantly gracious.
Second, we must understand that the reign of life (the gift of salvation) is provided by the obedient sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. In the closing portion of Romans 5:15, God’s Word states, “Much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.” Again in Romans 5:18-19 God’s Word states, “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, humbled Himself to be “made in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:7). “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8). Through His sacrificial death on the cross, on our behalf and in our place, our Lord Jesus Christ made it possible for us sinners to be saved from our condemnation and to receive the gift of eternal life.
Third, we must understand that the gift of salvation grants us justification in the sight of God unto eternal life. In Romans 5:16 God’s Word states, “And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.” Again in Romans 5:18-19 God’s Word states, “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” Due to our sinfulness, we are condemned under the righteous judgment of God to the eternal wrath of hell. However, due to Jesus Christ’s sacrifice, we sinners may be justified through the gracious love of God unto eternal life in heaven.
Fourth, we must understand that the gift of salvation is offered unto all sinners who receive Christ as Savior through faith. In the closing portion of Romans 5:18, God’s Word states, “Even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.” Even so, 1 Timothy 2:3-6 declares, “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” Yet this gift of salvation and eternal life must be received through faith in the Savior. In Romans 5:17 God’s Word states, “Much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.” Even so, John 3:16 declares, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” If any sinner will receive God’s gracious gift of salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, that sinner will reign in life by Jesus Christ. Such a sinner will receive newness of spiritual life and the promise of eternal life.
The Responsibility of Life
Yet the gift of life does bring a responsibility into our lives. This responsibility is revealed in Romans 6:4 – “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Again it is revealed in Romans 6:11-13 – “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” Yet again it is revealed in Romans 6:18 – “Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” And yet again it is revealed in Romans 6:20-22 – “For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.”
Posted in Weekly Sermon, Romans, Death, Salvation & Eternal Life, Spiritual New Birth, Walk in Righteousness
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