ROMANS 5:12-21

Romans 5:12-21 (New Living Translation)

  ¹² When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. ¹³ Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law to break. ¹⁴ Still, everyone died—from the time of Adam to the time of Moses—even those who did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. Now Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come. ¹⁵ But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. ¹⁶ And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. ¹⁷ For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. ¹⁹ Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.
 ²⁰ God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. ²¹ So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Man's sin...guilt. GOD's gift...grace.

So, it seems we have a choice to make. We can run from GOD, hide in our shame and guilt,or...we can turn to GOD and receive HIS wonderful grace. It's a free gift that some people choose not to except. If that is your choice then death will be your end. Not only death in this lifetime but you will be separated from GOD for all eternity. To me it seems the obvious choice to make would be grace...life.

Like many others out there that was not always my choice. For years I choose guilt. Sometimes because of our bad choices we are filled with guilt and shame. Only GOD can help us to get rid of those feelings about ourselves. Once we let GOD cover our guilt with HIS grace we have to let those feelings go. Then we need to move on and make grace our choice from then on. Admit to HIM when you sin and ask for HIS forgiveness. HE will give you HIS grace and you have to receive it through faith. As long as you have the grace of GOD that will be all you need.

2 Corinthians 12:9 (New Living Translation)
⁹ Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.  

 

Ephesians 2:8 (New Living Translation)
⁸ God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.

To me it all ties back into our relationship with GOD. The more we build our relationship with GOD the more faith and trust we have in HIM. Then we aren't afraid to go to HIM and ask for HIS grace when we have done something we should not have done. Don't fall back into your old habits of denial and rebellion. Receive HIS forgiveness and forget the guilt. Go on living the life you were born to live!

ROMANS 5:1-11

Romans 5:1-11

  ^1-2By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us—set us right with him, make us fit for him—we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that's not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.  ^3-5There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!
 ^6-8Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He didn't, and doesn't, wait for us to get ready. He presented himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready. And even if we hadn't been so weak, we wouldn't have known what to do anyway. We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him.
 ^9-11Now that we are set right with God by means of this sacrificial death, the consummate blood sacrifice, there is no longer a question of being at odds with God in any way. If, when we were at our worst, we were put on friendly terms with God by the sacrificial death of his Son, now that we're at our best, just think of how our lives will expand and deepen by means of his resurrection life! Now that we have actually received this amazing friendship with God, we are no longer content to simply say it in plodding prose. We sing and shout our praises to God through Jesus, the Messiah!

Once we, through faith, receive the free gift of GOD...which is salvation...we can then know "peace with GOD". We can know that GOD has forgiven our past and HE no longer will hold it against us. That's a good feeling!  But not only that. You have to understand that from here on out...life as you once knew it is gone. A thing of the past! It's a whole "new ballgame" so to speak. Instead of being scared that you will go to hell you can know for sure that you will be going to Heaven. You will spend eternity with GOD!! Before becoming a Christian I always hoped that I would somehow be able to find GOD and reach heaven. Now, that is a reality. Because of the grace of GOD we have been set free! That is something to praise and thank GOD for daily. 

Before we get there we have to realize that "life" still happens for us here on earth. Within that life there can sometimes be a lot of trials for us...Life problems. But that's okay now. We have help to get through them. GOD is there with us through all of them. In fact, in the midst of our problems we "expectantly" wait to see just exactly what HE will do! HE gives us strength to go through life, good or bad. The stuff we go through helps us to build a GODLY character. GOD pours HIS love in to us, and helps us, through HIS HOLY SPIRIT. We learn to rely more on HIM and less on us.

We need to remember that before we ever knew HIM, CHRIST died for us. HE didn't wait for us to realize our need for HIM. HE knew that we were going to need GOD's grace and mercy. We are helpless to help ourselves.

Now that we have been redeemed, and made righteous, we have an exciting new life. We are friends with GOD!! We can live with joyful confidence that one day soon the LORD is going to come back and make everything right. GOOD is going to triumph over evil!!

PSALM 22:3

Psalm 22:3

 ³But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

This scripture tells us something very important. When you praise GOD, it takes you into the presence of GOD. GOD dwells where there is praise. HE wants our praise and worship. If we do this we draw close to HIM.
When we worship and praise HIM, GOD responds by coming to us. HE dwells in the praises of HIS people...HIS kids...you and I. HE longs for your praise as much as you long for HIM. If you don't feel close to HIM...start praising HIM.

We need to incorporate praise into our daily lives. Don't just save it for church on Sunday. Use your time driving to and from work to thank and praise HIM. Get up a little early and spend time with GOD before work. I know I have to work on that. At night before you go to sleep put on some praise music and worship GOD for a while. You might sleep better...even if you don't you might feel more rested in the morning just because you spent time in HIS presence.

Find a time and a place that works best for you and make praise and worship to GOD part of your daily life.