Now we find that the law keeps slipping into the picture to point [out] the vast extent of sin. Yet, though sin is shown to be wide and deep, thank God His grace is wider and deeper still! The whole outlook changes - sin used to be the master of men and in the end handed them over to death; now grace is the ruling factor, with its purpose making men right with God and its end the bringing of them to eternal life through Jesus Christ . . .
   Now what is our response to be? Shall we sin to our heart's content and see how far we can exploit the grace of God? What a terrible thought! We, who have died to sin - how could we live in sin a moment longer? God gave you the honor of both believing in Christ and suffering for Christ. Both these things bring glory to Christ. But whatever happens, make sure that your everyday life is worthy of the gospel of Christ.
   So we must be more careful to follow what we were taught. Then we will not be pulled away from the truth. The teaching that God spoke through angels was shown to be true. And anyone who did not follow it or obey it received the punishment he earned. The salvation that was given to us is very great. So surely we also will be punished if we live as if this salvation were not important. It was the Lord Himself Who first told about this salvation. And those who heard Him proved to us that this salvation is true. God also proved it by using wonders, great signs, and many kinds of miracles . . .
   But God's act of grace is out of all proportion to Adam's wrongdoing. For if the wrongdoing of that one man brought death upon so many, its effect is vastly exceeded by the grace of God and the gift that came to so many by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ. And again, the gift of God is not to be compared in its effect with that one man's sin; for the judicial action, following upon the one offense, issued in a verdict of condemnation, but the act of grace, following upon so many misdeeds, issued in a verdict of acquittal. For if by the wrongdoing of that one man death established its reign, through a single sinner, much more shall those who receive in far greater measure God's grace, and His gift of righteousness, live and reign through the one Man, Jesus Christ.

Taken from Phil. 1, Rom. 5, 6, Heb. 2, The Phillips Translation, The New English Bible
and The Everyday Bible. For free Lifescope book, write to Box 1575,
Carlsbad, NM 88221. Please send $1.00 for postage and handling.