Romans 5 Devotional: Grace Wins the Race against Sin

27 October 2009 233 views No Comment

By Pastor Will Kang

Romans 5:1-10

“People give many different meanings to the word ‘peace,’ but almost everyone wants it […] Yet no ultimate peace is possible without coming to terms with God. People who search for peace will never find it until they find peace with God. Lack of such peace is the basic human predicament.”

List all the words from this passage that express what we received through the death of Jesus. How do these expressions apply to my life? From vv.1-10, I see that I have received the following: 1) Justification before God, 2) peace with God, 3) Access to God’s grace, 4) Hope of the glory of God, 5) the ability to rejoice in sufferings, 6) God poured out love o my heart, 7) and the Holy Spirit.

How does the gospel enable us to “rejoice in our sufferings?” According to the text, I can rejoice in my sufferings because they are not an end, but, rather, they work to produce a greater end. That end is hope. Paul says that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance produces character and character produces hope. Paul then goes on to say that hope does not disappoint us.

Romans 5:20-21

How has the fact that “where sin increased, grace increased all the more” been demonstrated to be true in my life? It’s no secret and it’s no lie that I am a sinner. I know that; God knows that; and anyone who has been close to me knows that. There are moments when I reflect upon my sins that I get so overwhelmed by shame and guilt that I just want to hid crawl under a rock and disappear. The Bible says that the wages of sin is death, and during moments of personal reflection I can see its reasons. My sins are worthy of death and condemnation from a holy God. What’s amazing is that I didn’t get that. Instead, while I was still a sinner, Christ died for me, allowing me to live. I received forgiveness for my sins and eternal life. Clearly this is grace. But grace has increased all the more, and this sentiment has been exhibited in the fact that I am experiencing the rich life in the community of God and in the fact that I get to participate in ministry as His ambassador. It amazes me that I, a sinner, get to represent Christ to a world that does not know Him. It amazes me that I can love and receive love from so many people outside of my nuclear family.

Are there sins that I have been reluctant to confess before God because of the fear that God’s grace cannot overcome them? Right now, there is no such sin. I have confessed my sin before god, and my mentors know about what’s going on in my spiritual life. It is not an easy thing to confess them, especially before others. But I’m glad that these sins are not hidden. Having confessed them before God and before people who have spiritual authority over my life has helped me know that God’s grace has overcome my sins. I can identify with John Newton when he penned the words to Amazing Grace.

Amazing Grace

How sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost

But now I’m found

Was blind but now I see.

I can blind myself into thinking that I’m an okay guy. But when I bring my sins out of the closet and bring them before God and before those who have spiritual authority in my life, I know I’m a wretched sinner. But instead of receiving condemnation, I received grace, and that grace has been amazing.