I've been studying Romans the last couple of weeks. It seems some common themes about grace and justification keep coming up. It keeps reminding me that I can't do this on my own. That focus on the law only leads to defeat. That I cannot be good enough and that my flesh does not even want to be good enough. That the wages of sin is death.
But, I've also noticed how many times the word grace is used. In chapter 5 it is used in verses 2,15, 17, 20 and 21. It always speaks about grace as an abundant grace. It is a free gift. Why would Paul emphasize "free" on the word "gift" because the word gift is a word that means favour without any merit of his own "charisma". I think it is double emphasized to drive Paul's point home that you don't earn it. Where the law came and gave us an awareness of sin (Romans 5:20), then grace was even greater vs.20.
So, now as death reigned from Adam to Moses (notice this is a time without the written law). Now, grace will reign through the righteousness of Christ and his obedience v.17. His obedience was an obedience to death on a cross Phil 2:8. In 1 Cor 15:21 it also says this that "by a man came death, also by a man (Jesus) came the resurrection.
I can stop trying to please God on my own efforts and rest in the fact that because of what Jesus did I am already pleasing to God. It is through His righteousness and not my own that I am saved. This is why fear no longer need hold me because he is good enough the wash away the stain of sin once and for all.
But, I've also noticed how many times the word grace is used. In chapter 5 it is used in verses 2,15, 17, 20 and 21. It always speaks about grace as an abundant grace. It is a free gift. Why would Paul emphasize "free" on the word "gift" because the word gift is a word that means favour without any merit of his own "charisma". I think it is double emphasized to drive Paul's point home that you don't earn it. Where the law came and gave us an awareness of sin (Romans 5:20), then grace was even greater vs.20.
So, now as death reigned from Adam to Moses (notice this is a time without the written law). Now, grace will reign through the righteousness of Christ and his obedience v.17. His obedience was an obedience to death on a cross Phil 2:8. In 1 Cor 15:21 it also says this that "by a man came death, also by a man (Jesus) came the resurrection.
I can stop trying to please God on my own efforts and rest in the fact that because of what Jesus did I am already pleasing to God. It is through His righteousness and not my own that I am saved. This is why fear no longer need hold me because he is good enough the wash away the stain of sin once and for all.
