Friday, 21 February 2025

Romans part 61 - Reign with Him By Grace

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Romans 5:20-21 Now the Torah came in so that transgression might increase. But where sin increased, grace overflowed even more - so that just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness, to eternal life through Messiah Yeshua our Lord.

This chapter of Romans closes with the familiar theme of grace in triumph over sin. Let me paraphrase Paul. ... Sin rules over (results in) death. Grace (even more) reigns over eternal life, through righteousness. The opposite of sin is righteousness. We'll get to this at the end of the next chapter ... Romans 6:23 For sin's payment is death, but God's gracious gift is eternal life in Messiah Yeshua our Lord.

The words change, but the message stays the same. We know ... 1 John 3:4 Everyone who keeps sinning is violating Torah - indeed, sin is violation of Torah. (CJB) Paul already told us where the law is not known, sin is not counted against us. Romans 5:13 For up until the Torah, sin was in the world; but sin does not count as sin when there is no law.

What changes through grace is not the Law, but our approach to it. God's righteous standard is both the same, and eternal. What changes through grace is how we approach God's righteous standard. God accepts us through salvation just as we are. As we grow in the truth by grace, our shame is removed. This, then, enables us to have victory over sin. 1 John 5:4 For everyone born of God overcomes the world. And the victory that has overcome the world is this - our faith. Thus, the Bible calls us "more than conquerors" (Romans 8:37).

On Passover (and throughout the year) we celebrate communion. Communion has a past, we memorialize the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord. Communion has a present, we memorialize who Yeshua is in our lives today. Communion has a future, we memorialize his promises of victory over the world and its evil ways.

Let's all join Yeshua in His victory ... Revelation 3:20-21 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. To the one who overcomes I will grant the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I myself overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. To "dine" with Him is to partake of His body and blood. Then, as overcomers, we are invited to reign with Him from His throne in Zion. To God be the glory. Shalom shalom.