“Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him.”

(15-29 Apr 2012)

The power of baptism lies in two mysteries – in union with Christ’s death and participation in His resurrection. When through our faith we unite with the power of Christ’s death which overcame sin, death and the devil, Christ lives in us.

“We were buried with Him through baptism into death,

that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father,

even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

(1-15 Apr 2012)

The verse speaks not only of Christ’s death but also resurrection. Again, it draws our attention to baptism, saying that we are buried with Christ through baptism into death, which means renunciation of our own will at the present moment.

“Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus

were baptized into His death?”

(18 Mar – 1 Apr 2012)

To the question whether we do not know we can reply that really we do not know the nature of sin, Christ’s death or baptism. The question “Or do you not know…” encourages us to appreciate a certain mystery revealed to us in God’s Word in the context of liberation from sin, i.e. death to sin (cf. v.2), the death of Christ and baptism.

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?

Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?”

(4-18 Mar 2012)

These two questions respond to verse 20 which says: “Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.” We cannot sin and say: grace will abound much more! That’s wrong!

“…so that as sin reigned in death,

even so grace might reign through righteousness

to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

“Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound.

But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.”

(5-19 Feb 2012)

The law does not have the power to overcome sin, but rather convicts of sin and causes sin to abound. Today sin is excessively abundant, but God gives all the more grace to those who resist the system of evil and sin.

“For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners,

so also through the obedience of the one Man the many will be made righteous.”

“Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.” (NKJ)

(8-22 Jan 2012)

As a result of the sin of Adam, all his descendants are born condemned to death. No man can deliver himself from the power of death with his own strength. Dying, Jesus made satisfaction for us to God’s justice and triumphed over death. Therefore, the free gift resulting in justification of life comes to all who received Him.

“For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one,

much more those who receive abundance of grace

and of the gift of righteousness will reign

in life through the One, Jesus Christ.”

(Rom 5:17 NKJ)

“And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned.

For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation,

but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification.”

(11-25 Dec 2011)

The judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation…

If you commit one sin only, it merits God’s condemnation. Sin is a manifestation of rebellion against God and must be punished, because God is a just judge. But at the same time God is merciful. His mercy is poured out on those who receive God’s gift of justification through faith in Christ. However, from our sinful root proceed new and new sins. Death of the Lord Jesus does not justify us from one sin only, but through faith it justifies us from all our sins.

“But the free gift is not like the offense.
For if by the one man’s offense many died,
much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace
of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.”

(27 Nov-11 Dec)...

“Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned

according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.”

(Rom 5:14 NKJ)

(13-27 Nov 2011)

Death reigned not only from Adam to Moses, but it reigns until today. Death will reign over all mankind until the Second Coming of Christ – until the end of the world and the Last Judgement. God gave His law – the Decalogue – through Moses. God’s law convicts us of sin, but it cannot remove sin or death, nor does it give us the strength to keep the law. We need God’s grace which is given to us in Christ.

“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned…”

(Rom 5:12 NKJ)

(30 Oct – 13 Nov 2011)

God put the first man to the test of obedience. Adam did not obey God but he obeyed the devil through his wife Eve, whereby he brought down sin, a curse and death on himself and on the whole human race. No one can doubt the reality of death. It touches not only the people around us but each of us without exception.

“But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”

(Rom 5:11 NRS /New Revised Standard Version 1989/)

(from 16 to 30 October 2011)

One can boast about good or bad things. If one boasts about bad things, this boast is in opposition not only to God but also to one’s neighbour. If one boasts about good things, it can be a show of pride and it can be misused for humiliation of a neighbour.

“For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” (Rom 5:10 NKJ)

(2-16 Oct 2011)

What is emphasized?

Reconciliation and salvation in Jesus.

When were we enemies of God? Before our conversion, before we received Jesus as our Saviour and Lord. But if someone commits a grave sin, he is an enemy of God again and the wrath of God abides on him.

“Much more then, having now been justified by His blood,
we shall be saved from wrath through Him.” (Rom 5:9 NKJ)...