But the free gift is
not like the offense,
for if by the on
man’s offense many died,
much more the grace
of God and the gift
by the grace of the
one Man, Jesus Christ,
abounded to many. And
the gift is not like
that which came
through the one who sinned.
For the judgment
which came from one offense
resulted in
condemnation, but the free gift which
came from many
offenses resulted in justification.
Romans 5:15–16
An
immediate question that comes to mind is. What is this "free" gift?
It certainly is different from any gift that was given, if you can call it a
gift, offenses that caused many to die, and do die even in our present age.
This “gift” man gave, is death. Therefore, it is not a gift at all, but it is
that which entered into the world created by God because of one man’s sin. This
offense of Adam’s was so horrific, so sinful, so prideful, and is the cause for
judgment not only upon him, but also to all men. The judgment? DEATH! Death to
all for the justice of God required payment for the offense and the only
payment that would satisfy the justice of God is: DEATH! Some have pointed out
that God could have just started over earlier when Lucifer fell from God. God
could have killed off man, even to destroy His creation and start over. So why
not! First: Satan, Lucifer, did not oppose God’s power. Satan opposed God’s
authority. Is this not we do when we sin? We oppose God’s authority, for Him to
have authority over our lives? Lucifer, one of many angels in the service of
God and the onlookers of this battle of Satan, and of those who took the side
of Satan and opposed the authority of God also, would have no problem if the
opposition to God was over power and God destroyed Satan and his hordes of
demonic angels. The battle was over authority, and who has the right over God’s
creation, therefore God would be condemned if He used His power to destroy
Satan over this offense. God has allowed Satan all the room necessary for him
to usurp the authority of God. Man formed in the image of God (Genesis 1:26),
and was in a world in which he had no sin within himself and even knew God in
an intimate manner, for he walked and talked with God in the garden. Man needed
nothing to survive, and had a life that was good in every manner. Adam was to
extend the garden over the earth, to care for the goodness of God given to him.
We too, have the goodness of God extended to us and we are to do the work of
God, as was Adam, to be His ambassadors, to live according to the revelation
from Him. We are to extend the Gospel to all, whether at home, at work, or
play, or even in special service to God as leaders, pastors, and missionaries.
We are to allow the authority of God to have full sway in our lives. Man, not
as some robot, had the right to choose, to have absolute free–will and had no
other influence against his choice influencing him to oppose God, and God’s
authority. Adam failed, and this failure was so horrific an offense that all of
his progeny, now had a bad gift given to them, sin, death, and this death was
the judgment of God. God is more than just, just, He is Love, His is full of
grace, and this grace of God is the Free–Gift given to man, and this gift: “For
if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who
receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will reign in life
through the One, Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:17). This gift of righteousness,
even though we do not deserve this righteousness, is Jesus Christ and this gift
is grace given to those who receive this grace, and this grace is not given by
what you do or say, it is a free gift of God to those He gives it too. Some
very great news! The gift of righteousness is for those who receive this gift
is to reign in life, and this when we are converted to the gift giver, Jesus
Christ: “Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men,
resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free
gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life” (Romans 5:18). What
was this righteous act of the one Man, Jesus Christ? It was his death upon the
cross, not due to some sinful life, rather dying without sin, and by His
sinless life His death on the cross was a righteous act. This righteous act
brought propitiation for sin, and then God in His grace gave this propitiation
for sin to those He chose before the foundation of the world. You were chosen
before time to receive this righteousness, this justification, this free gift.
Live for God, for God has chosen you. You can choose to live under His
authority, and be blessed, or you can choose not to live under His authority
and all this evil work, evil because it does not recognize the authority of
God, will be saved but as: “If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss;
but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire” (1Corinthians 3:15). Yes, some will enter heaven with smoke on
their clothes and on themselves, saved? Yes! Don’t be misled by those who so
clamorously acclaimed: “I will be in heaven so it doesn’t really matter what I
do, I am of the elect therefore I am going to heaven.” Oh! Foolish person; “Do
you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells
in you” (1Corinthians 3:16)? Are you playing with God and His grace? “If
anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God
is holy, which the temple you are” (1Corinthians 3:17). Can it be said any
plainer? God will destroy those who are so foolish to defile His temple, which
you are. All that this foolish person is doing is deceiving himself: “Let no
one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him
become a fool that he may become wise” (1Corinthians 3:18). God is giving
to you this free gift; use it, use in all that you do by living under the
authority of God and being all that God has called you to be for if you are of
the elect, the chosen ones of God before the foundation of the world what is
stopping you from being a child of God? Is it you choice to ignore God, and His
authority? Is it to “spit” upon this free gift? The choice is yours. God has
spoken!
You have wearied the LORD
With your
words;
Yet you say, “In what way
Have we
wearied Him?”
In that you say, “Everyone who
Does evil
is good in the
Sight of the Lord, and He delights
In them,” or,
“Where is the
God of justice?”
Malachi 2:17
Today: Choose God: Live For Him
Richard L. Crumb
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