The Law and Abounding Grace (Romans 5:20-21, Isaiah 30:8-22)
Rev. David Huffman, February 16, 2025Part of the Series On Romans series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
As we have seen, sin entered through one man, Adam. The Lord commanded him to fill and rule the earth. He also issued a negative command, not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If Adam disobeyed, he would be separated from communion with God, and later suffer physical death. Adam was our representative, our federal head. When he sinned, we sinned. How extraordinary is the grace of God in a world of sin. The full extent of sin is our sin nature that expresses itself as actual sins. In this, grace by Jesus Christ abounds to many as a free gift.
Because Jesus is the God/Man, we are certain of the effectiveness of the promised union with Him. His justification of believers could not fail.
How does the law fit in? To “...increase our trespass” (vs. 20) refers to the law given through Moses at Sinai. The purpose—to show the people that they couldn’t be saved by observing the law. Moses actually spoke about Christ, the Redeemer. The Jews rejected both Moses and Christ; they didn’t understand the law. The violation of the Ten Commandments multiplied Adam’s sin. The more explicit the law, the more heinous the violation. This understanding leads us to Christ, showing us how short of God’s glory we are and how great our need is. At the same time, we see the exceeding magnificence of God’s grace. There is no comparison between our heinous sin and the magnitude of God’s grace. God’s grace triumphs. No one should say, “My sin is to great for me to be saved.” As Paul said, we think we are the worst of sinners. Paul is an example of grace for the vilest offender. Paul received mercy; abounding grace shows mercy. Sin never has the last word. Sin reigned in death; grace reigned through righteousness, leading to eternal life through Christ.
Does grace captivate you as much as it did Paul?
| Earlier: | Same day: | Later: |
|---|---|---|
| « Two Representatives, Two Different Results | None | United to Christ, Dead to Sin » |
Romans 5:20–21 (Listen)
20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(ESV)
Isaiah 30:8–22 (Listen)
8 And now, go, write it before them on a tablet
and inscribe it in a book,
that it may be for the time to come
as a witness forever.
9 For they are a rebellious people,
lying children,
children unwilling to hear
the instruction of the LORD;
10 who say to the seers, “Do not see,”
and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us what is right;
speak to us smooth things,
prophesy illusions,
11 leave the way, turn aside from the path,
let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel.”
12 Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel,
“Because you despise this word
and trust in oppression and perverseness
and rely on them,
13 therefore this iniquity shall be to you
like a breach in a high wall, bulging out and about to collapse,
whose breaking comes suddenly, in an instant;
14 and its breaking is like that of a potter’s vessel
that is smashed so ruthlessly
that among its fragments not a shard is found
with which to take fire from the hearth,
or to dip up water out of the cistern.”
15 For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel,
“In returning and rest you shall be saved;
in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”
But you were unwilling, 16 and you said,
“No! We will flee upon horses”;
therefore you shall flee away;
and, “We will ride upon swift steeds”;
therefore your pursuers shall be swift.
17 A thousand shall flee at the threat of one;
at the threat of five you shall flee,
till you are left
like a flagstaff on the top of a mountain,
like a signal on a hill.
18 Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you,
and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you.
For the LORD is a God of justice;
blessed are all those who wait for him.
19 For a people shall dwell in Zion, in Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you. 20 And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. 21 And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. 22 Then you will defile your carved idols overlaid with silver and your gold-plated metal images. You will scatter them as unclean things. You will say to them, “Be gone!”
(ESV)