Advent Day 10 Romans 5:15-17

“But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:15-17 ESV)

Every writing of Paul’s holds a cornucopia of doctrine and the application of that doctrine to our everyday lives. Unlike the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, which provide the birth narratives of Jesus and his adult ministry, Paul’s writings include his testimony about his life-changing experience with Jesus and the intense details of the Gospel of Jesus imparted to him by God.

This Advent, we delve into Romans 5 and explore the “free” gift of salvation by grace through faith in Christ. Our sin nature came from the sin of Adam in the Garden of Eden. His sin is widespread and was ingrained in the nature of every human being at birth. As Paul writes, “ many died” through Adam’s sin. We too died in the sins of Adam and are unable to save ourselves from our sins.

However, as Paul writes, “much more had the grace of God through the grace of Jesus Christ. In keeping with the Advent tradition of celebrating Christ’s birth, the birth of Christ marked the culmination of God’s plan of redemption for humanity. Jesus, the living Word of God, was sent by the Father from heaven as the incarnate Son of God. This means that the Word became flesh. Jesus was born as a man yet still God beneath the flesh to bear the sins of the many, offering the free gift of salvation through faith in Him.

Jesus had to be human because only a human could have paid for human sin. While 100% human, Jesus was also 100% God. He remained God because while only a human could pay for human sin, only God could withstand the wrath of God against that very sin. He essentially emptied Himself (Philippians 2:7) of His deity by adding to Himself and taking on the form of man. He did not change or lose His deity, as many false teachers claim, but clothed His divinity in flesh. We know this to be true because he revealed that divinity on Mt. Tabor in his transfiguration before Peter, John, and James. (Matthew 17)

Despite being sinless, Jesus took on our sin. He imputed, or gave us His righteousness, and carried our sins upon Himself in exchange for that righteousness we did not deserve. Jesus did this out of love. This Advent, give the love of Christ to others, those our brothers and sisters in Christ, and in the form of the gospel to those who do not yet know Jesus as their Savior. Soli Deo Gloria!

Advent Prayer Day 10

Father God,

Thank You for sending Your only Son to die in our place for our rebellion against You.

We worship and glorify You for Your everlasting love and mercy.

Lord Jesus, we thank You for Your willingness to step down from heaven in human form.

Thank You for Your sacrifice of love, that while You were and are sinless, You bore our sins on the cross, bearing our punishment for our sins against God.

We worship and praise You for Your eternal love and mercy for Your children.

In all things let us be pleasing to You, for You God alone should be glorified.

In and for the sake of Christ, we pray, Amen.