By: Arnie Cole and Michael Ross
Today's passage
Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man they many will be made righteous.
Reflect
-Through Christ I've found and will keep finding real life, real answers, real faith. Am I ready to stop stressing and start celebrating?
-Have I ever tried to blame someone else and not taken responsibility for my own sin?
-Do I choose to live by Adam ... or by Christ?
We may read these verses and feel frustrated and resentful of the fact that the sins of one couple--Adam and Eve--led to our downfall. "Not fair!" we're tempted to complain. "Why do I have to pay for their sins?" But read on. The beauty is that Jesus redeems us, every single one of us, whether we deserve it or not. That's grace, isn't it? An undeserved gift. The fact is, one sin may have condemned us all, but a single act of righteousness--Jesus' death on the cross--saves every one of us and redeems every single one of our sins. God forgives the fact that we sin over and over and over. God overlooks the fact we don't deserve such grace.
Respond
Ask for Change: Lord, I am ready. I know I can't do this on my own. I need Your forgiveness.
Consider what's real: Meditate on the overwhelming gift of God's grace as you read these verses from The Message:"Sin didn't, and doesn't, have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace. When it's sin versus grace, grace wins hands down. All sin can do is threaten us with death, and that's the end of it. Grace, because God is putting everything together again through the Messiah, invites us into life--a life that goes on and on and on, world without end" (Romans 5:20-21).
Additional verses to consider: 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Ephesians 2:1-10
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