10. Reigning in LifeRomans 5: 12-21

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1. Reigning in Lifev 17. “for if death reigned through the

trespass of the one, much more the receivers of the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ.

8 Two parallel parts:, “death reigned through the trespass of the

one”Expect:, “life reigned through the one, Jesus Christ”BUT . . .

1. Reigning in Life . . .

8 What does Paul say? , “death reigned through the trespass of the

one”BUT . . . “much more”, “the receivers of the super-abundance of

grace and the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ.

i.e., “ Christians will reign in life through the

one . . .”Understand – to take hold of it for ourselves!

1. Reigning in Life . . .

8 “We will reign in life”, Has a future element – full coming of the

eternal age, Present reality – reigning in life through

Christ

8 We not only have life: We reign in life., When you wake up – “Today I will reign in

life”, When tempted – “sin has no dominion, I

reign in life”, Part of being new creations in Christ., Not a chore or duty – a divine right!

" We no longer serve or fear sin and death.

2. Only two possible ways to live

8 All born as children of Adam, A world governed by death and sin (v 14,

21), Mitochondrial Eve

" All living humans descend from one ancestral female

, Y-Chromosomal Adam" All living men descend from one ancestral male

, Theologically important: we all have a common male and female ancestor.

8 We confirm our link to their sin

2. Only two possible ways to live . . .

8 Reign of death is UNIVERSAL and INESCAPABLE, A hopeless situation.

8 God intervened – we now have a choice:, We are born under the First Adam to be under

the reign of death, We can be re-born under the Second Adam to be

those who reign in Life

8 Paul’s point – , Confirm that Christ has secured these benefits

for us

3. Security in Abundance8 Unshakable security in what God has

doneIF . . . The many died by the

trespass of the one man …

By the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man …

HOW MUCH MORE . . . God’s grace and the gift that

came by the grace of one man … overflowed to the many

Those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man … …

3. Security in Abundance . . .

8 What Jesus did is greater because (v 16), RESULT – condemnation -vs- Justification, NUMBER OF SINS – one -vs- many

v 18 . . . one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people

v 19 . . . through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners

v 21 . . . sin reigned in death

. . . one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all. . . through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. . . grace might reign through righteousness

8 Presented as completed action

Reigning in Life

Learning how to live in the fullness of our salvation

Having God present with us in every daily moment

changes everything about that moment