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
