Your Love Set Us Free

Your Love Set Us Free:

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

What incredible love. The Lord over all the heavens, earth, and all created things laid down His life for a bunch of rebellious sinners. Death reigned through sinfulness. None can achieve righteousness through works. Therefore, before the atonement of our sins, we were headed straight into condemnation and death. Where is the hope?

Our hope is found in love, God's love. God's love, so pure and unfailing, has ransomed us who are feeble and weak.

"But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!" (Romans 5:15)

In the original Greek, the word "gift" in this verse is the word "charisma". This is the word for an "undeserved benefit" or a "gracious blessing". The suffix of this word tells you that this is the "result of grace". Charisma can also be used to depict Salvation through Christ.

"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!" (Romans 5:17)

Ah! So you see? By the one man (Adam) we were condemned and sentenced to death by the penalty of sin. However, God, by His abounding provision of grace and unending love, sent the One Man who could set the record straight once and for all (Jesus).

Jesus took the condemnation for our sins, but more than just that He took the agonising death and pain brought by those sins. Jesus completely bore all of our sins on the Cross, and He did it all for our freedom.

"Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous." (Romans 5:18-19)

Okay, just so we're clear, Adam's disobedience made us all sinners and brought condemnation for all people. Jesus came and made all things right. Jesus, through selfless obedience, exchanged the condemnation that once hung over our heads with a crown of righteousness. Taking our sinful past and completely erasing it, therefore making us in right standing with God!

"so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5:21)

Once we were imprisoned in shame, sinfulness, and condemnation. But now, by the unfathomable, unfailing, and never ending love of God, we've been transformed out of that darkness. We're now wrapped in His righteousness, crowned with eternal life, and blessed with everlasting joy. 

No longer are we slaves to sin, but rather children of the living God. We serve the Lord in humble adoration, and oh how He cares for His children with gentleness. There is no more need to fear, because God's perfect love has done away with that.

"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." (1 John 4:18)

No more punishment, because we have been reconciled, ransomed, and redeemed. We're fully freed in the love of Jesus Christ our true Lord and Saviour!

-The Introverted Evangelist