Where Sin Abounded, Grace Abounded Much More

Alba 9-12-2021

Where Sin Abounded, Grace Abounded Much More

Romans 5:12-21

Jeff Strite tells the story how in the 14th century, in the land we now call Belgium, there was a duke by the name of Raynald III. Raynald was grossly overweight, and was commonly called by his Latin nickname, Crassus, which means "Fat."

Now, it seems that Raynald had a violent quarrel with his younger brother Edward, and Edward was so angry he led a successful revolt against him.

But Edward did not kill Raynald. Instead, he built a room around Raynald in the Nieuwkerk Castle, and he promised his brother he could regain his title and property as soon as he was able to leave the room.

This would not have been difficult for most people since the room had several windows and a door of near normal size, and none was locked or barred. The problem was Raynald’s size. To regain his freedom, he needed to lose weight.

But Edward knew his older brother, and each day he sent a variety of delicious foods. Instead of dieting his way out of prison, Raynald grew fatter. When Duke Edward was accused of cruelty, he had a ready answer: "My brother is not a prisoner. He may leave when he so wills."

Raynald stayed in that room for 10 years and wasn’t released until after Edward died in battle. By then his health was so ruined that he died within a year... a prisoner to his own appetite.

(Thomas Costain’s history, "The Three Edwards," cited in Leadership, Spring 84, p. 44)

Raynald III was a prisoner. It’s what he ate that imprisoned him. And though he could have left his prison whenever he wished, the actions of another… and his own weakness kept him imprisoned.

Romans 5 tells us that mankind has been imprisoned as well. And just as Raynald was imprisoned by the actions of his relative… so have we. We have been imprisoned by the actions of a relative named Adam.

Turn to Romans 5:12-21 as I read: 12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— 13 (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

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.

15 But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.

16 And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification.

17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)

18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.

19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

These verses and many more in the New Testament make it clear that Adam and Eve were real people.

Their lives and their actions have changed the course of creation from very good to very bad. Think of the trouble that would have been spared if they had just obeyed.

Here we are told that sin entered into the world when Adam and Eve chose to disobey God's commandment. So, when they sinned, they caused a change in this world that affects every one of their descendants, including you and me.

That decision not only changed them, but it changed the world around them so that death, disease, and decay began to occur to the entire world in which we live.

One way to look at this is that Adam became infected with sin's fatal disease...and that disease spread to all of us. And the end result is death and hell.

There are some who will read these verses and will object by saying, “Why should I suffer, why should I burn in hell for Adam’s mistake and his disobedience to God’s command?”