Grace Shall Reign

“So that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. 5:21. Death is the fruit of sin; it reigns by the fruit of its work. We read of those who are dead in trespasses and sins, that they have deadened their consciences and that sin reigns over them. Just as sin reigns in death, grace shall reign through righteousness. Righteousness is the fruit of the work of grace, and by it, grace reigns. “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.

We can see that the power of sin and death is active, and people are suffering as a result. The Fall is great; in fact, it is so great that very, very few ever come to faith in a complete recovery. Yet, should the Fall, which came by the first Adam, be greater than the salvation that is in Jesus Christ? Did He not say, “It is finished!” before He breathed His last? What was finished was complete deliverance from the Fall. Now we can live and reign all the more over sin and death, because we have received abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness.

Those who do not believe in victory over sin do not believe that the work is finished either; they do not believe that the grace that is in Christ is sufficient. “And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.” John 1:16. We have received forgiveness for the time we lived without God under the dominion of sin. He nailed the handwriting of requirements that was against us to the cross. That is grace. And He has given us power to reign over sin in the time yet to come. That is grace for grace!