Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Romans 5:18-21.

 

“¹⁸  So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.

 

¹⁹  For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.

 

²⁰  The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,

 

²¹  so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Romans 5:18-21. 

 

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Regarding Adam, we read about God’s command and warning to Adam in Genesis 2:15-16:  “Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.  The LORD God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely;  but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.”

 

Satan’s temptation and this “one transgression” or “one man’s disobedience” (as stated in today’s Scripture) is recorded in Genesis 3:4-6:  “The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die!  For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”  When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate;  and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.”

 

Here is what The Westminister Larger Catechism states about this “one transgression” or “one man’s disobedience”:

 

Question 22:  Did all mankind fall in that first transgression ?

                                        

Answer:  The covenant being made with Adam as a public person, not for himself only, but for his posterity, all mankind descending from him by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him in that first transgression.

Question 23:  Into what estate did the fall bring mankind?

Answer:  The fall brought mankind into an estate of sin and misery.

Question 24:  What is sin?

Answer:  Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, any law of God, given as a rule to the reasonable creature.

Question 25:  Wherein consists the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell?

Answer:  The sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell, consists in the guilt of Adam’s first sin, the want of that righteousness wherein he was created, and the corruption of his nature, whereby he is utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite unto all that is spiritually good, and wholly inclined to all evil, and that continually; which is commonly called original sin, and from which do proceed all actual transgressions.

Question 26:  How is original sin conveyed from our first parents unto their posterity?

Answer:  Original sin is conveyed from our first parents unto their posterity by natural generation, so as all that proceed from them in that way are conceived and born in sin.

Question 27:  What misery did the fall bring upon mankind?

Answer:  The fall brought upon mankind the loss of communion with God, his displeasure and curse; so as we are by nature children of wrath, bond slaves to Satan, and justly liable to all punishments in this world, and that which is to come.

 

Regarding Christ, and His “one act of righteousness” or “the obedience of the One”  (as stated in today’s Scripture) is recorded in Philippians 2:8:  “Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

 

Through Christ’s obedience, Hebrews 5:8-10 teaches us that Christ became the source of eternal salvation.  “Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.  And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.”  Hebrews 5:8-10.  

 

 

Regarding today’s Scripture that “The Law came in so that the transgression would increase”, Galatians 3:21-22 states:  “Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God?  May it never be!  For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law.  But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.”

 

 

In conclusion, God’s purpose is not that righteousness and eternal life would be given through man’s obedience to the Law as if man could earn righteousness and eternal life:  “so that no man may boast before God.”  1 Corinthians 1:29. 

 

Rather, God’s purpose is that righteousness and eternal life would be given through God’s promise as a gift:  “by Christ alone, by grace alone, by faith alone, to God alone be the glory” (four of the Five Solas).  “But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.”  1 Corinthians 1:30-31.  “… so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Romans 5:21.