Win Over Sin
Romans 5:12-21 shows us how sin came to mankind and how we can beat it. Let’s look at it verse-by-verse.
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Because one man sinned, it brought sin to us all, and the result of sin is death. Adam’s sin brought a death sentence upon everyone.
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 to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
Because sin and death reigned over man, Jesus came to defeat sin and death. Adam, one man, brought death, and Jesus, one Man, brought life.
16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
Sin brought judgment and condemnation, but the free gift from Jesus brought us justification, or righteousness. We can have right standing with God by the shed blood of Jesus., with no sense of condemnation. Think of that- all condemnation rolls away when we are born-again.
17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
Through Adam death reigned. But, think of how much more those of us who receive grace and righteousness shall reign in life- over sin, death, and defeat!Righteousness brings life through Christ. Death doesn’t reign over us- we reign over it.
19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
Adam’s sin made us all sinners. By Christ, we are made the righteousness of God! Our very identity has been changed.
20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
The law showed men what sin was and brought sin-consciousness. But, where sin abounds, grace abounds more; grace to overcome sin. When we accepted Christ we were made righteous, and we received grace, which is power over sin.
21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Christ has restored all we lost in Adam, and more! No matter how bad the sin, we can win over it. These verses have shown us that Jesus made it possible for us to be victorious over sin and all it brings. We win over sin by accepting Christ and all He’s done for us, By Him, we receive grace and we walk in righteousness, which produces obedience. The end result is victory over sin.
Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ… II Corinthians 2:14 (KJV)
