Reading: Romans 5:12-19

Romans 12:19 – “Many people were made righteous through the obedience of one person, just as many people were made sinners through the disobedience of one person.”

In Romans 5, Paul argues that sin came into the world through Adam. And because of his disobedience, death also came into the world. This story played out in Genesis 3. Since almost the beginning of time, sin and death have ruled over humankind. The consequences of sin were clarified with the giving of the Law under Moses. Sin was “taken into account” by the Law. There were specific penalties for specific sins. The ultimate punishment was death.

Today we prefer to disconnect sin from death. We like to compartmentalize or encapsulate our sin. I think we’re more comfortable seeing sin as isolated, often small acts or decisions that displease God. We then feel regret or remorse. This leads to confession and we try to repent. Paul understands sin a bit differently. For Paul, sin is all that works against God. Sin is everything that pulls us away from or even separates us from God. This broader understanding of sin also viewed sin as the result of a broken relationship with God. We prefer to see it the other way around. Seeing sin as the outcome of an already broken relationship places the responsibility for sin more squarely upon us. It removes the “devil made me do it” kind of excuses we sometimes use. When we are not walking closely with God, Paul would argue, we open the door for sin to enter our hearts. In this understanding, it is our choice. We decide to walk apart from God, then to be disobedient, as Adam did.

The antidote, the solution, the saving grace for sin came through the obedience of one person: Jesus Christ. The power to walk daily and faithfully with God comes to us through the gift of Christ’s Spirit. This gift that dwells in our hearts can lead us to be righteous. Under grace, Christ’s righteousness seeks to rule in our hearts. When we choose to walk with God, the Spirit empowers us to walk in right relationship with God, both in this life and into eternity. Thanks be to God for the gift.

Prayer: Lord God, what a friend we have in Jesus! He bore our sins. He won our acquittal. And then he gifted us his Spirit. What a gift – the power over sin and death, the power to walk justly and humbly with you, the guide to abundant life. Thank you for your great love, O God. Amen.