Today’s Reading: Romans 5:6 – 6:18; Psalm 84

I love today’s passage of scripture! As I read through each verse, my joy and excitement increase! Paul’s continued explanation of the gospel gives us reason to celebrate. It is by faith in God and not by works that we are made right with God, but this is only possible because of the death of Christ Jesus.

THE POWER OF THE BLOOD OF CHRIST

When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. – Romans 5:6-8

How humbling to consider just how unworthy we are of the sacrifice made on the cross. Think back to the history of God’s people in the Old Testament. They were unfaithful over and over again. Jesus came down and lived among them, displaying his power through his miracles and his preaching. And yet they cried out for his death. He was rejected by those he had come to save. And we are no more worthy of this gift of salvation than they were. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (3:23), yet he calls us his friend.

And since we have been MADE RIGHT IN GOD’s SIGHT by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. – Romans 5:9-11

I love that last sentence because that is exactly what my heart does — rejoice in my relationship with God! I am blessed by His friendship, which makes it all the easier to bow down in reverence and submission to His Lordship. I can trust in the One who loves me; I can submit to the authority of the One who has restored me by giving His Son for my salvation.

THE POWER OF ONE MAN’S DECISION

For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. – Romans 5:15b-17

When Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, it brought condemnation to all of us. When Christ became the sacrifice for our sins, he brought new life to everyone! What a powerful contrast! HIs one act of righteousness made it possible for us to experience a right relationship with God.

Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous. – Romans 5:19

Thank you, Jesus, for this new life I am experiencing because you were willing to die! I give you my life and accept the power of one man’s decision. Just as Adam’s decision to disobey greatly affects us all, I recognize that my decision to disobey could also greatly affect others around me. In the same way, just as Your decision to obey God has given me new life, I submit to God’s sovereignty so that You can use my obedience in the life of others. I am no longer a slave to my sinful nature; I have been set free from the power of sin by your blood shed on the cross. Thank you for this amazing gift of salvation! Amen.

SIN HAS LOST ITS POWER IN OUR LIVES

God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us RIGHT STANDING WITH GOD and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. – Romans 5:20-21

Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not!…We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him…

Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace. – Romans 6:1,6-8,12-14

Sin is no longer my master, therefore I will NOT let sin control the way I live. God, who calls me “friend”, sent His Son to die for me while I was still a sinner. I was made right in God’s sight through the blood of Jesus Christ when He died on the cross. Because of His sacrifice, God’s wonderful grace and His gift of righteousness now make me right in God’s sight.

THE POWER OF MY DECISION

Therefore, because I am living in relationship with God and have been made right in God’s sight, I will NOT let sin control the way I live. I will not give in to sinful desires. Sin is no longer my master. Neither am I the one in charge. I live under the freedom of God’s grace and He is my master, my Lord, my Savior, my friend. Praise God!!! This is the power of one man’s decision. This is the power of MY decision!