Twentieth Day of Lent

 Thursday, March 11, 2021

Hallelujah!  He is risen!

A Lenten Devotional Guide

By Mark and Iris Whittaker

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned, for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come. But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace

is not like the result on the one man’s sin. The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through the one man, how much more will those receive God’s abundant provisions in grace and of the gift of righteousness in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man that many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

Romans 5:12-19 NIV

 

In the movie, A Few Good Men, one of the privates stationed at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba had a problem keeping up with the other members of his squad. When they were out on a training run, he always fell behind. When it came time for inspections, his gear and room were never up to Marine standards. When something like this happens in the military or on a football team or in the business world, it reflects on the whole squad or team. Often everyone on the team pays the price for the failure of the one. On a football team everyone might have to run laps because a single member of the team breaks an established rule. In the Military, this might mean that the whole squad has to do extra physical exercise or do K.P.

In Romans 5:12-19, Paul is talking about how the failure of one man – Adam – caused sin to come into the world. Because of the one everyone else has to suffer the consequences. In this case it is not just getting bad marks on a report, it is eternal death. The price of sin is death and because one man sinned, we all have to pay the price.

Paul doesn’t stop with this rather sobering news, though. He goes on to say that just as one man brought death to everyone through his sin, so one man – Jesus Christ – brought the free gift of the grace of God through his sacrifice. This gift brings justification to all who proclaim Jesus Christ is Lord of their lives. It is because of the willingness of Jesus to die for our sin that the price of sin – death – has been paid once and for all. We are set free by the judge in spite of the fact that we are guilty.

We have been given a gift – a marvelous one –the free gift of the God’s grace so that we no longer have to pay the price for what one man – Adam – did. And the good news is that this gift is available to everyone who accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. One man fouled us up and we all had to pay the price. One man paid the price and we all are able to be set free.

Father, cause me never to forget the incredible price that you paid for my forgiveness. Cause me to be ever mindful when you said, “The wages of sin is death, you knew that I had no hope of life without the sacrificial gift of your son, but you made that stipulation knowing the cost to your own self! I thank you for Good Friday and for my eternal life purchased that day. I praise you for Easter – that death will never win! Amen

Hallelujah! He is Risen!
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Spring 2011
compiled by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator
reproduced and edited by Patience Fort