Devotion 6.12.26

Romans 5:6 - 15

"10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Death in Adam, Life in Christ

12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. 15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many."

Sin entered the world through Adam's transgression, and sin was later made clear through the law. Christ's grace is a gift from God for all that overcomes all the sin starting with one man and extending through generations since.

We have learned in our household the value of Dawn Dishwashing Liquid...... for our clothes. Yes, we both get into tasks and chores that get grit and grime on my cargo shorts or jeans, depending on the weather outside and the activity. We also use "heart healthy" olive oil on a considerable amount of food (and it drips), so that it is hard to wear anything that can guard against it. Any form of oil or grease meets its match with one drop of Dawn. 

This isn't a commercial, but I think my wife's observation came from an oil-covered baby duck Dawn commercial. Well, I'm here to say it works. It gets it out and clean.

Mankind had a problem after Adam messed up. Our world, as a result of one sin (not adhering to God's one command), got dirty fast. One generation later and we have murder. Several generations in and the sin got so great, we had a flood that wiped out all but one family, to start over. God's plan ultimately was to restore us, through Israel, to no longer be slaves to sin but instead to be servants to Christ.

Christ came after God had given us the law to help us see our sin and know the steps to take to follow that law. The law pointed us to Christ. In all, the law, the weight of the world's sin, and the continuing sin, was cleansed by one man's blood, Jesus Christ. He was and is our only hope.  

My silly analogy is meant to tell of Christ's love for us, that the drops of his blood sacrificed during Holy Week, have taken care of the entire lot of sinful behavior since the world fell until today. Paul concludes by saying this: "15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many."

We lift praise to God for his salvation for us. Amen.

Hope Men's Ministry is a ministry in service to Hope Lutheran Church and School. Our purpose is to grow, unite, and share God's Word to all men through meaningful activities. These activities center on fellowship, service, conversation, prayer, study and devotion as we seek to become men of God as He created us to be.