God's Lavish Grace: Reigning in life

Terry and Wendy Virgo in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

Reigning in life:

Romans 5:17 “For if by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.”

Introduction:
The promise to ‘reign in life’ is a wonderful promise. It does not stand alone. There are similar promises, namely that we shall be:-
a) More than conquerors through His love
b) Always be led in His triumph
Often we feel that we are failing to fulfil that lifestyle.

1. The sense of failure can lead Christians to embrace a legalistic approach: The Bible says clearly in Romans 6:14 “Sin will have no dominion over you since you are not under law but under grace.” Galatians 5:4 “You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.” And Romans 10:4 “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”
2. Are Christians under the law? A review of Romans 7:1 – 6. We were made to die to the law. We died to the law through the body of Christ. We are married to another – to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. Galatians 3:21 shows that the law is impotent. Jesus is potent. If we abide in Him the spirit will give us life. Jesus is a life imparting husband.
3. The purpose of the law (it tells man this is where the line is) It reveals sin – Romans 3:20 “Through the law comes the knowledge of sin…” (Sin is against God) and Romans 7:7 “…. I would not have known sin apart from the law…”, It provokes sin – V8 sin took opportunity, V9 sin came alive,
4. The free gift of righteousness (He changes us from the inside radically) Christians battle with condemnation. They try to remove condemnation through sanctification but sanctification cannot remove condemnation. God removes condemnation through justification. He gives us the very righteousness of Christ and makes us completely acceptable! It’s not my performance but my position in Christ. Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.”
Romans 5:14 “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.” (It’s comparing Adams sin to Jesus righteousness) Adam is a type of Him who is to come. When he sinned, it affected the whole human race. We also see it in Moses, David, Noah’s ark and Joseph.

Stay tuned for Terry Virgo on “Overcoming sin’s power” from Romans 6