September 11, 2002 Reading: Romans 5: 6-21
“Much more then” (9)
When the Queen of Sheba visited Solomon, she came with preconceived ideas as to his wisdom and worldly wealth. Once she had spoken to him and seen for herself the greatness of his kingdom, she said, “I came and saw with my own eyes, and indeed the half was not told me” 1 Kings 10:7.
So it is with us, believers who are recipients of God’s grace. As wonderful as our salvation is, there is much more. The Christian life should be one of discovery – discovering the many elements of grace God has bestowed on us. We have been blessed with “every spiritual blessing” in Christ, but do we know what this really means?
Romans 5 makes it clear that all of mankind is either in Adam or in Christ. Eleven times the word “one” appears in our reading, and verse 15 makes it clear that if we are in Adam we are dead spiritually, but if in Christ we enjoy life (17). The very core of the gospel is “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (8). Praise God! But there is “much more.” Paul reminds us of 5 much mores:
1. The redeeming blood of Christ (8-9). “Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.” Three words come together at the cross where Jesus shed His blood for us – justice, mercy and grace. Justice is when God gives us what we deserve. Because of our sins we deserve His wrath, but our sins were laid on Christ and He suffered His Father’s wrath so we will not have to. Mercy is when God does not give us what we deserve – His wrath. His justice was satisfied when Christ bore our sins, therefore He can show us mercy. Grace is when we receive that which we do not deserve – His love. All of this is represented in the redeeming blood of Christ.
2. The reconciling death of Christ (10). When Adam sinned he ran from God, but in Christ we are reconciled to Him. In Adam there is death and distance from God, but in Christ there is much more - life and reconciliation.
3. The justifying gift of grace (15-16). When Adam sinned he received his wages – spiritual death, but when Jesus died He gave a gift. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” Rom 6:23. The free gift of grace is just that – free. It is unearned and underserved – “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God” Eph 2:8.
4. The reign in life through Christ (17). Not only is Jesus Christ reigning over all, but we reign with Him because we are in Him. We are “seated together with Him in heavenly places – Eph 2:6. We do not have to wait until we get to heaven, we reign in life – now. Yes, we shall judge angels, but now, in Christ, we reign far above all principalities and powers – Eph 1:21. Adam had a kingdom on earth, but in Christ we have a kingdom in the heavenlies.
5. The abounding grace of God (20). Sin abounded and was out of control, but the grace of God abounded much more.
No person has ever lost more than they had because he or she trusted Christ. Rather they gained much more. When the Queen of Sheba saw “the house Solomon had built, the food on his table, the seating of his servants, the service of his waiters and their apparel, his cup bearers, and his entryway,” she realized it was much more than she had ever envisioned. So it is with we who are in Christ Jesus – there is so much more.