Victory

Romans 5:12-21 NASB

(12)  Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned--

(13)  for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

(14)  Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.

(15)  But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many.

(16)  The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification.

(17)  For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

(18)  So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.

(19)  For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.

(20)  The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,

(21)  so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Paul is explaining how death entered into the world.  Even before the law, man was inclined to sin.  Through Adam, it is man’s nature to sin.  All humanity stands guilty before God.  The result of Adams sin caused a separation between God and man. 

Many people say, “I did not commit the sin in the Garden of Eden how can I be held accountable?”  Sin is not an individual act it is a state of being.  Let’s look at this example - There was a King and his friend who had a disagreement.  The disagreement was so bad the King sentenced the man to exile.  The man left.  He later had children and they had children.  Since they are separated how is the King going to have a relationship with these children.  The King had a son.  He sent his son to find these children and provide a way for them to come back to meet the King. The children believed the Son and through Him they could have a relationship with the King.  

 
How can you expect God to know you when you have been separated from him since the exile of Adam?  Only through Jesus can we believe and have a relationship with God.

 Adam’s disobedience lead to judgment and unrighteous living.  Jesus’ act of obedience lead to justification and righteous living.  The Law only exposes sin and the incredible need for God’s grace.

 The law is like a mirror.  Speaking of mirrors, you should see me when I first wake up in the morning.  My hair seems to have a mind of its own and the mirror shows me the awful mess.  However, it does not do anything to fix the mess my hair is in.  The law shows your condition but it does not change how things are.  Only the blood of Christ can restore us to God.

 There is nothing we can do to justify ourselves before God.  How could we?  What could we ever do within ourselves that would make God say “oh I see, you are worthy”.  See God gave His Son and if we do not accept the sacrifice that His Son made for us we are essentially telling God his Son isn’t good enough for us.  What would you do if you were in God’s place and someone rejected your son?  God provided the necessary sacrifice to save the world and all we must do is believe.

WOW, WE WIN WITH JESUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tell two people this week what Jesus has done for you.

The Shadow of Doubt

Genesis 3:1-13 NASB

(1)  Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Indeed, has God said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?"

(2)  The woman said to the serpent, "From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat;

(3)  but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.'"

(4)  The serpent said to the woman, "You surely will not die!

(5)  "For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

(6)  When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.

(7)  Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.

(8)  They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

(9)  Then the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, "Where are you?"

(10)  He said, "I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself."

(11)  And He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?"

(12)  The man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate."

(13)  Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" And the woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."

Satan’s strategy was to distort God’s Word and sow a seed of doubt in Eve. He knows that any lie is better when it is seasoned with a little truth.  Notice that he asked Eve, has God forbidden you to eat from all the trees.  As Satan played on Eve’s need for pity, it is easy to see that she is taking the bait.  She replies God said we could eat from every tree except the tree of life.  We cannot even touch that tree or we will die.  Well this is the opening that Satan needed to reel Eve in.  He replies you will not surely die!  Satan had overstated God’s Word and Eve overstated God’s Word.  God did not say what they said He did.  How many times does this happen in our lives today?  Now when Eve touched the fruit and nothing happened it caused her to doubt if anything would happen if she went further.  We all know the results.

Satan is still doing the same thing today; he places that small seed of doubt in our minds and uses a little bit of God’s Word to season his lies.  The good news for Christians is we never have to doubt God’s Word.  If we learn this lesson we will have a great weapon to use against Satan when he tries to cause of us to doubt what God says.  Put these verses to memory and use them against Satan.

Romans 8:38-39 NASB

(38)  For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,

(39)  nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God is good, all the time and all the time God is Good.

Tell someone about Jesus.