Thursday, March 6, 2014

Lent 1 A - Romans 5:12-19

Romans 5:12-19
“But the free gift is not like the trespass.” If we take that statement and run with it then the trespass is not nearly as universal as is the free gift of grace. That is not explicitly stated, but (and granted this is a big but) if the free gift is greater than the one trespass by which “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) then “how much more” must mean just that. The effect of the “one act obedience” means the free gift is greater than the trespass as God in Christ was “reconciling the world to himself not counting people’s sins against them…” (2 Corinthians 5:19) Of course some argue that the one act of obedience only makes up for the one act of disobedience (original sin) and that everything else that you or I have done or left undone still has a “payment due” attached to it. That’s not such a free gift good deal if you ask me and so I going to trust that in the end God is going to pick up my tab. Does that mean we party hardy and order a round of sin for everyone? Of course not. Have you ever received a free gift you know you didn't deserve and couldn't possibly pay for even if you wanted to? The only thing you can do when that happens is hug the one who gave you the free gift and say thank you, thank you, thank you and then try to live in the light of such an act of unconditional love. Oh, yes, and there’s usually crying involved but it’s not required. 

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