Romans 5:12-19 (NRSV)
Read Romans 5:12-19 on biblegateway.com
Verse 12Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned- Verse 13sin was indeed in the world before the law, but sin is not reckoned when there is no law. Verse 14Yet death exercised dominion from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who is a type of the one who was to come. Verse 15But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one man's trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many. Verse 16And the free gift is not like the effect of the one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification. Verse 17If, because of the one man's trespass, death exercised dominion through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness exercise dominion in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. Verse 18Therefore just as one man's trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man's act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all. Verse 19For just as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.
Devotion
We don't have to understand Paul's reasoning to appreciate his central truth and the difference it makes for our lives. Even though we daily observe humankind's failure to live out relationships of love and justice, our failure is not God's final verdict. Condemnation is not what God metes out. Our propensity to turn away from God and be deceived about who we are is in our DNA. But God's grace, inexplicable and magnanimous, is more than enough to bring us into right relationship with God. Restored repeatedly by God's great love, just as the psalmist prayed we would be (Psalm 51:10-12), we are bold to engage this tear-filled world with hope for justice and peace.
Prayer
Faithful Lord, thank you for loving us more than we could imagine. May profound gratitude for your generous gifts shape our relationships with your people and all creation. Amen.