37 lines
4.5 KiB
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37 lines
4.5 KiB
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<title>Blue Letter Bible: Day By Day By Grace — Bob Hoekstra</title>
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Day By Day By Grace
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Bob Hoekstra
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November 21
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<h1>Sin Abounding, Grace Abounding "Much More"</h1>
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<div class="block"><i>Moreover the <b>law</b> entered that the <b>offense</b> might <b>abound</b>. But where <b>sin</b> abounded, <b>grace</b> abounded <b>much more</b>, so that as <b>sin reigned</b> in <b>death</b>, even so <b>grace</b> might <b>reign</b> through <b>righteousness</b> to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Rom', 5, '20-21');">Romans 5:20-21</a>)</div>
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<p>Sin can overflow lives until there seems to be no hope. Yet, the Scriptures boldly declare that the grace of God is greater than the most terrible, aggravated sin of man. Yes, even when <b>sin</b> is <b>abounding</b>, <b>grace</b> can eventually <b>abound</b> "<b>much more</b>."</p>
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<p>The Lord uses His law to teach us of sin and of our need for His grace. <i>"Moreover the <b>law</b> entered that the <b>offense</b> might <b>abound</b>."</i> The law provokes the rebellious hearts of man, revealing the desires of sin within them. <i>"For when we were in the flesh, the <b>passions</b> of <b>sins</b> which were <b>aroused</b> by the <b>law</b> were at work in our members to bear fruit to death…I would <b>not</b> have <b>known sin</b> except through the <b>law</b>. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, 'You shall not covet'"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Rom', 7, '5-5');">Romans 7:5</a>, <a onClick="return mV('Rom', 7, '7-7');">7</a>). Also, the law of God convinces us of the awful nature of sin: <i>"that <b>sin</b> through the <b>commandment</b> might become <b>exceedingly sinful</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Rom', 7, '13-13');">Romans 7:13</a>). Part of the awful impact of sin is the death it produces in lives: <i>"<b>sin reigned</b> in <b>death</b>."</i> Sin brings spiritual death. <i>"The <b>wages</b> of <b>sin</b> is <b>death</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Rom', 6, '23-23');">Romans 6:23</a>). Sin left unattended exhibits increasing evidences of its spiritual deadness: hatred, selfishness, cruelty, emptiness, despair, and the like. It is as though great waves of sin roll over lives, inundating them in bondage and hopelessness. Nevertheless, there is always hope in the grace of God. <i>"But where <b>sin</b> abounded, <b>grace</b> abounded <b>much more</b>."</i> No matter how high the waves of sin have flooded in, the waves of God's grace can roll in higher, if we humbly seek after Him.</p>
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<p>The grace of God is not only able to forgive sin and cleanse it away, but it can also set up a new reign of godliness in those forgiven lives. <i>"As <b>sin reigned</b> in <b>death</b>, even so <b>grace</b> might <b>reign</b> through <b>righteousness</b>."</i> Sin once ruled our lives, bringing spiritual deadness, which increased with each day. Now, if grace is embraced to work in our lives, practical righteousness grows day by day bringing love, selflessness, kindness, fullness, hope, and the like. All of this is the qualitative aspect of the everlasting life that comes by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: <i>"even so <b>grace</b> might <b>reign</b> through <b>righteousness</b> to <b>eternal life</b> through <b>Jesus Christ</b> our <b>Lord</b>."</i></p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Dear Lord, what a great encouragement these verses bring to my heart. The waves of past sin in my life, and the lives of others I minister to, can be dealt with by greater waves of Your life-giving grace. Lord, please flood my life with tidal waves of grace, producing righteousness in my life. Also, help me to point others in this direction of abundant hope, through Jesus Christ, Amen.</div>
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