September 2 – Bound to Abound

“The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Romans 5:20-21 (NIV)

The Law of God, revealed at Mt Sinai through Moses, was intended to lead Israel closer to God.  Although constantly rebellious as they were, God used the Law as his righteous prod to teach, what sin is and how they should walk on the path which kept them undefiled by sin and holy to the Lord.  In the Garden of Eden the first Adam sinned and was condemned to living by the “sweat of his brow.”  In another Garden Jesus, the Last Adam, obeyed the Father sweating great drops of blood, and conquered Adam’s sin on the cross.  The result was that when sin – which is a trespass of the law –  increased (literally “abounded”) grace increased all the more (“overflowed superlatively”). What a contrast! No matter how great sin of humans become, God’s grace abounds– overflows beyond it and surpasses it abundantly. Superlatives fail to express the depth of his grace and love. No wonder Paul wrote that God’s grace “is sufficient” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Verse 5:20 more accurately reads, “Then the Law came in beside” (literal translation). Grace was not an addition to God’s plan; grace was a part of God’s plan from the very beginning.  

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