Unlimited: Condemnation and Justification
Sep 22, 2022 1161
The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification (Romans 5:16b.)
Paul is explaining why the gift of God’s grace cannot be compared with the results of Adam’s sin. Sin brought condemnation but the gift of God brought justification. Justification is the opposite of condemnation. If condemnation is how we are lost, then justification is how we are saved.
Notice the sequence of salvation: many trespasses, followed by the gift, which brought justification. Paul is consistently using the past tense here.
The gift of God was the sacrifice of his Son at Calvary. We don’t hope to see the benefits at some time in the future. We have them right now. We have already been justified, forgiven, redeemed, reconciled, and made right with God!
Sin brought condemnation but the gift of God brought justification.
For all those who accept the gift of God through Christ, their tears will be obliterated by happiness, the victory of Jesus will completely cover their defeats, and eternity will overwhelm mortality. As those who have been justified, we live in the certainty of this as a both a present and a future reality, as the apostle wrote in another letter:
…“Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
55 “Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor 15:54-57.)
Spiritual Application
Regardless of whether you are a believer or not, what reality are you living in right now? Are you living in the reality of sin, judgment, and condemnation? Or are you living in the present reality of having been made right with God through the blood of Christ, despite your “many trespasses.”
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