Scripture
12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned— 13 sin was indeed in the world before the law, but sin is not reckoned when there is no law.14 Yet death exercised dominion from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who is a type of the one who was to come.
15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one man’s trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many. 16 And the free gift is not like the effect of the one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification. 17 If, because of the one man’s trespass, death exercised dominion through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness exercise dominion in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
18 Therefore just as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all. 19 For just as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 But law came in, with the result that the trespass multiplied; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, just as sin exercised dominion in death, so grace might also exercise dominion through justification leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 5:12-21
The Epistle reading from Romans 5 for this week actually ends at verse 19. But, I want to focus on 18-21 because here I find great hope for all of us.
While many of us may not want to admit it, we live in a world that is based on merit. We are graded (in some way, shape or form) from the time we are five years old until we exit high school (or college or graduate or doctorate programs). For me, I had a difficult time leaving the academic world because so much of my existence, twenty years of my then twenty-four year-life-span, I was in school. I wanted a grade on every sermon with pen marks telling me how to improve. I wanted someone to tell me on an A-F scale how I was doing in my job. I still have those moments when I miss knowing exactly where I stand.
For many, that is the way the Christian life is understood. We think there are acts of righteousness required for us to have true salvation. Paul reminds us that our righteousness does not come from anything we do. We are all made righteous through the acts of Jesus Christ... “where sin increased, grace multiplied even more.” Because of Christ, God’s grace was fully known to us and we are freed from the death of sin.
Life is not about grades or merit. Being a Christ follower means being secure and assured of what Jesus Christ did and continues to do for us. We live in the tension of our desire for merit and the knowledge that the love of Christ is the only merit we need.
May you live each day of Lent with that assurance and allow yourself to be saturated with that deep love. May this season be a time when you intentionally choose that love and share that love with others. May this enhance the “alleluias” of our Easter celebration.
Amen.
Rev. Asa Majors - Associate Pastor 1st UMC
This is part of a daily devotional series running through the Lenten Season (March 5-April 20th). Please feel free to comment below and share this devotional with your friends and family.
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