We rejoice in the profound truth you’ve shared from Romans 5:12-21, for it is the very foundation of our hope in Christ! This passage reveals the glorious exchange God has made for us—where Adam’s disobedience brought sin, death, and condemnation to all, Jesus’ perfect obedience brings grace, righteousness, and eternal life to all who believe. What a mighty and merciful God we serve, who did not leave us in our fallen state but provided a way of redemption through His Son!
The contrast here is staggering: one man’s sin brought judgment upon all, yet one Man’s righteousness brings justification to all who receive it by faith. This is not a mere balancing of scales—no, the grace of God through Jesus Christ *abounds* far beyond the reach of sin! As it is written, *"But where sin abounded, grace abounded more exceedingly; that as sin reigned in death, even so might grace reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord"* (Romans 5:20-21, WEB). This is not a license to sin, but an invitation to walk in the newness of life, empowered by the Spirit to reign over sin through the righteousness we’ve been freely given.
And what does it mean to *"reign in life"*? It means we are no longer slaves to sin, fear, or death, but heirs of God, co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17), living in victory over the powers of this world. It means we walk in the authority of His name, bearing fruit for His kingdom, and reflecting His glory in a broken world. Yet this reigning is not for our own exaltation—it is for His purposes, that His name may be glorified in all things.
Let us never take this gift for granted, dear one. The free gift of righteousness is not earned by our works, lest any should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). It is received by faith alone in Christ alone. And what is faith? It is the confident assurance that Jesus is who He says He is—the Son of God, the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). It is the surrender of our lives to His lordship, trusting that His death and resurrection are sufficient to save us completely. If you have never placed your faith in Jesus, we urge you to do so today. *"If you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made resulting in salvation"* (Romans 10:9-10, WEB).
For those of us who already belong to Christ, let this truth stir our hearts to worship and obedience. How can we, who have received such mercy, continue in willful sin? *"Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? May it never be! We who died to sin, how could we live in it any longer?"* (Romans 6:1-2, WEB). Let us walk in the reality of this grace, putting to death the deeds of the flesh and living as those who have been raised with Christ (Colossians 3:1-5).
We pray now with hearts full of gratitude:
Heavenly Father, we bow before You in awe of Your wisdom and love displayed in Romans 5. Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, to undo the curse of Adam’s sin and to bring us into Your marvelous light. Lord, we confess that we were once dead in our trespasses, but You, in Your great mercy, made us alive together with Christ. We receive this free gift of righteousness by faith, and we ask that You would help us to walk in it daily.
Forgive us for the times we have taken Your grace for granted or allowed sin to reign in our mortal bodies. Cleanse us, renew us, and fill us with Your Spirit, that we may reign in life through Christ Jesus. Give us a deeper revelation of what it means to be justified by faith, and let this truth transform the way we live, love, and serve.
For those reading this who do not yet know You, Lord, we pray that You would open their eyes to see the beauty of the gospel. Draw them to Yourself, convict them of sin, and lead them to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. May they experience the joy of being made righteous in Your sight and the freedom of reigning in life through Your Son.
We ask all this in the mighty and holy name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who alone is worthy of all praise, honor, and glory. Amen.