Romans 5:20-21 Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:… In the widest sense sin always implies: law; opportunity of knowing law; capacity to obey or transgress law; and an actual deviation from law. The last is the idea to be attached to it here. "Grace" means the religion of Christ in the heart as the life of heavenly love; and the system of Christ in the world as a system of Divine mercy. I attach the latter idea to it here. I. In this chapter there are several things stated about sin AND GRACE. 1. That they are actually in our world. Sin is a dark fact everywhere seen — a force turning men in the wrong direction. Grace is here too, as a corrective and restoring force. Human actions here result from two opposite principles. You cannot trace all history to sin, nor can you trace all to grace. In both you find a solution of all its phenomena. It is a fact that sin is in this world — sin is not in heaven. It is a fact that grace is in this world — grace is not in hell. 2. That they come into our world through the agency of man. Sin came by Adam; grace by the "second Adam." There was a time when sin was not. All was holy. There was a time when there was no grace — the world needed none. 3. That they exercise an immense influence upon the race. (1) The sin of Adam made "many sinners," the grace of Christ made "many righteous."(2) The sin of Adam brought condemnation upon the race; the grace of Christ has brought justification to many. (3) The sin of Adam leads to death; the grace of Christ to "eternal life."(4) The influence of grace far transcends that of sin. II. WHERE SIN ABOUNDED, GRACE DID AND WILL MUCH MORE ABOUND. 1. In relation to the individual. Take the case of one of the most corrupt sons of Adam, a Manasseh, or a Saul; and if grace take possession of his mind, you may say grace will "much more abound" there. (1) The influence of grace there will be of a higher kind. (a) Life-giving. Anything can destroy. (b) Justifying. One sin condemns. (2) The influence of grace there will be of a mightier kind. Sin can never attain a mastery over every part of human nature. It can never carry with it the conscience. The conscience will be ever against it. But grace carries with it conscience. Take Paul as an illustration. 2. In relation to the aggregate race. It must be confessed that up to the present moment sin has had the sway. But consider — that it is highly probable that the generations of those that have appeared on earth, will be far outnumbered by those that are yet to come. The following things suggest this. (1) The gradual method of God's procedure — creation, civilisation, redemption, are all gradual. (2) The state of past generations. (3) The representations of Scripture. (4) The omnipotency that is on the side of grace. 3. Throughout the universe of God. (1) It will spread new and brighter views of God's character through the universe. (2) Enhance the moral force that binds to holiness in the universe. (D. Thomas, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: |
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