The amplification of the concept of justification.
The earlier blogs presented Paul’s forceful assertion that the justification of sinful humankind was because of God’s love and the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. God loves humankind so much that he delayed the punishment for sin in the garden of Eden. He delayed his wrath against sin to demonstrate his righteousness in the promised Savior, the Messiah. At the right time, God poured out his wrath on sin and sinful human life (the sinful human spirit), but he saved the sinners. God himself accomplished the justification of humankind through the body of Jesus Christ on the cross at Golgotha. In Romans 5:12 – 21, Paul amplifies his assertion that our justification is undeserved and non-participatory. Our justification was a unilateral and gracious act by God, who loves us selflessly. Paul shows that the difference between justification by the faithfulness of Jesus and corporate sin is so great that human language cannot express it.
Because of sin in the first Adam, humankind became utterly helpless to do anything about its sinful condition. God only had the power to liberate humankind from slavery to sin. He accomplished it through the body of Jesus Christ on the cross at Golgotha. God did not cover our filthy sin garment with a clean white garment of his righteousness. Instead, God removed our filthy sin garment from us and replaced it with the clean garment of his righteousness, Jesus Christ. Therefore, God reconciled his enemy, the sinful humankind, to him and made all people his children in Jesus Christ. Accordingly, Paul concludes the first part of Romans chapter five: “Not only this, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.” Romans 5:11, NET.
Paul then presents the contrast between Transgression and grace. The gift of grace to helpless sinners is beyond comprehension. “But the gracious gift is not like the transgression. For if the many died through the transgression of one man, how much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one man Jesus Christ multiply to the many.” Romans 5:15, NET. The condemnation of humankind was by the transgression of one man Adam. However, the gift of justification through one man Jesus Christ came after many transgressions and failures. The gift of justification and righteousness by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ is irrevocable. “so that just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:21, NET.
The yielded believers are free from sin’s dominion, an overview. Read the next blog.
