Have I mentioned recently how good it is to be back in Kirksville? My heart is overwhelmingly full here. I am more able to see and feel the Lord in His love, grace, and power. But it's not just the happy feelings. This morning during communion I faced genuine conviction that I haven't felt in months. I felt dirty and ashamed as I sat naked before the Lord, but in that place I was reminded of the power of Christ on a cross. I was reminded of the righteousness that has somehow been imputed to me. I can never comprehend it, but I feel the weight of its truth. I am amazed.
"Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned--
To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone's account where there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come.
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! Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 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!
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.
The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 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 5:12-21]
Dang. This is so good. I am learning daily what it means to follow Christ. To be saved by his blood. To be seen as blameless and righteous before a Holy God. How is this possible? How and why was the God of the universe able and willing to come to earth to die for humanity? We are disgusting and lowly creatures. Yet he came near, and he became one of us. What great love is this...
"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit--fruit that will last--and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other."
[John 15: 12-17]
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