ANCHOR DEVOTIONS (OCTOBER 24, 2011)

Christ's Obedience by Grace
Romans 5:12-20



"Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men."
(Romans 5:18)
When asked, "How much money is enough?" John D Rockefeller famously quipped, "Just a little bit more." Never satisfied...seems to be the human condition, doesn't it? We are always imperfect, lacking, and in need of fixing in some way. It's no wonder even mature followers of Jesus Christ often ask, how much is enough to gain heaven? Perfect obedience - nothing more - is required. Do you have that?
What we need is what Christ has done for us. We would like to live perfect, sinless lives, but cannot. Jesus has provided exactly that for you. He died to pay for your sins, and He lived to impute to you His totally righteous conduct. When you live (and therefore sin), what the Father sees is the righteous conduct of Jesus. Can it be? Yes, it is!
For all who believe the gospel, God, by His grace and with no effort on your part, has put the righteous obedience of Christ in your account. We have been made the righteousness of God in Christ. The deal is complete. Not even a "little bit more" could have been done.
INSIGHT
Blessed are they who know they are spiritually bankrupt and rely solely on the righteous obedience of Christ in their place.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Jeremiah 13-14
Psalm 110
Romans 11-12
Romans 5:12-20
Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ
12 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—
13 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. 14 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.
15 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! 16 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. 17 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!
18 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. 19 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.
20 The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more,