- …for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. Romans 5:13-14 – Let’s first start with unpacking what this is not saying. It’s not saying sin was not a thing before the written law was given, for that’s clear with the wrong doing of Adam and Eve. It’s not saying sin didn’t have consequences before the law for that’s clear with the fact that death still happened in the time before Moses. So what are we to gain from this passage? That sin was still a thing even if the written law hadn’t been given yet and that the consequences of sin were in this world ever since Adam’s fall. For while the law may not have been written down, God’s law was still present in the world written on man’s heart, and our wrongs against His law still condemned us. All this Paul is saying so that every reader knew that from whatever time period they came from, they needed a Savior. Those before Moses needed a savior for they still did wrong against God and those after Moses needed a savior for they did wrong against God. The written law didn’t create sin, it just spelled out for us what was considered sin by God all along. So how does all this connect with us today? Paul’s message was we all need a Savior to save us from our sin, and that’s a message we can certainly agree with. Death has been in our story since Adam, but now because of Jesus life has been introduced. In Christ the death attached to sin has been paid for and the curse that came upon us due to Adam’s wrong has been lifted. What a joyous message to hear! I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3428
- Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:1 – Honestly just starting off reading this chapter with a verse like that set the tone for a great devotional time. How amazing is a truth like this! We have peace with God. That the God who creates all things looks at us and doesn’t see our sin anymore but sees us as beloved children who He has found perfect peace with. All that came to us through Jesus. Not because you gave at church last week or because you let go of that sin finally. It’s because of Jesus we have this peace. If then you have this peace with God in your life because you’ve been saved by Jesus, try to actually live in peace today. Know that God isn’t disappointed, upset, frustrated, or angry with you. He’s at peace with you. Let that peacefulness you have with Him change how you approach Him today. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1053
- Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:20-21 – The comparison game is strong in this chapter. What are we seeing compared? The power of sin and death and the power of God and His grace. What’s the outcome? God and His grace wins every time. We learn how sin came into our world through Adam’s sin and sin began to reign in our story as a result. Death had overtaken humanity and as a result of the law being given, we now had knowledge of our transgressions against the law making it evident to us the hopelessness of our situation. But God. Before we even knew we needed a Savior, God brought to us the Savior we needed. Yes, sin has power, but Jesus has more. Yes death reigned, but Jesus was able to break it’s reign and take over instead. While our sin became more and more known to us, God’s grace showed up every time to reveal God was powerful enough to save us still. When we pause to think about where we would be without God’s law, grace, and love, hopefully that moves us to a posture of thankfulness to God. Yes sin and death have power and even had power over us, but God has made it clear sin can’t remain in His presence and death can’t reign when He’s on the throne. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2414
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