There
is a repeated term in the KJV that provides valuable truth. It appears
five times in Romans chapter 5, and verse 20b reads, "But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound",
or in the Message paraphrase, "When it's sin versus grace, grace wins
hands down." The Concordant Literal NT read "grace superexceeds", which
is an excellent rendering of the word. "Much more" is not a matter of
quantity but a figure of speech emphasizing something beyond the
superlative.
I was thinking of this when I read the newsletter of a minister, who, as one does, had borrowed the term "Radical Grace" from a prominent television preacher. Yet grace has always been radical... that's why its grace. I recall the title of John Bunyan's 1666 book, "Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, or The Brief Relation of the Exceeding Mercy of God in Christ to his Poor Servant." Let's briefly look at the five usages in Romans 5 in the KJV.
"Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him" (verse 9). Verse 1 says we are justified by faith, and this verse gives the result of our faith, justified by his blood. Of course it is right to start with salvation. The "being" is actually past tense, "having been justified by his blood"; it is a done deal. Thank you, Father.
"For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life" (verse 10). Now we are talking about our walk in Christ, "saved by his life." We cannot live a Christian life; we can only let Christ live through us, and that is why we "joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (verse 11). Paul reminded us of this in Galatians 2:20, "yet not I, but Christ liveth in me."
"But not as the offense, so also is the free gift. For if through the offense 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" (verse 15). Grace is always a gift. You cannot earn it and you do not have to work to keep it. Yet you should enjoy the gift every day of your life.
"For if by one man's offense 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" (verse 17). This verse discounts the "only a sinner saved by grace" error that comes out of Augustine's teaching of two natures in the child of God. Yes, I was a sinner but now I'm a saint, now I have God's gift of grace. We are to "reign in life by one, Jesus Christ", to live like a king with authority over our circumstances because we are the righteousness of God in Christ. In verse 21 we see "grace reigning through righteousness."
"Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound" (verse 20). The word "offense" is also used five times in this passage, and refers to Adam's sin (verse 14). Robertson says, "The flood of grace surpassed the flood of sin, great as that was (and is)." Sin still abounds in the world, and the last days according to Jesus will be like the days before the Flood. Yet "grace wins hands down."
I was thinking of this when I read the newsletter of a minister, who, as one does, had borrowed the term "Radical Grace" from a prominent television preacher. Yet grace has always been radical... that's why its grace. I recall the title of John Bunyan's 1666 book, "Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, or The Brief Relation of the Exceeding Mercy of God in Christ to his Poor Servant." Let's briefly look at the five usages in Romans 5 in the KJV.
"Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him" (verse 9). Verse 1 says we are justified by faith, and this verse gives the result of our faith, justified by his blood. Of course it is right to start with salvation. The "being" is actually past tense, "having been justified by his blood"; it is a done deal. Thank you, Father.
"For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life" (verse 10). Now we are talking about our walk in Christ, "saved by his life." We cannot live a Christian life; we can only let Christ live through us, and that is why we "joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (verse 11). Paul reminded us of this in Galatians 2:20, "yet not I, but Christ liveth in me."
"But not as the offense, so also is the free gift. For if through the offense 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" (verse 15). Grace is always a gift. You cannot earn it and you do not have to work to keep it. Yet you should enjoy the gift every day of your life.
"For if by one man's offense 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" (verse 17). This verse discounts the "only a sinner saved by grace" error that comes out of Augustine's teaching of two natures in the child of God. Yes, I was a sinner but now I'm a saint, now I have God's gift of grace. We are to "reign in life by one, Jesus Christ", to live like a king with authority over our circumstances because we are the righteousness of God in Christ. In verse 21 we see "grace reigning through righteousness."
"Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound" (verse 20). The word "offense" is also used five times in this passage, and refers to Adam's sin (verse 14). Robertson says, "The flood of grace surpassed the flood of sin, great as that was (and is)." Sin still abounds in the world, and the last days according to Jesus will be like the days before the Flood. Yet "grace wins hands down."
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