This great sacrifice, the Lamb slain—2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “him… who knew no sin”; 1 Peter 2:22 says, “Who did no sin”; Hebrews 4:15 says He “…was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin”; 1 John 3:5, “…in him is no sin”—our sacrifice was perfect, praise God, and we now abide in Him and are seen by God as perfect because we are living and identifying in Him, praise God.  Hence, the Father loves us as He did Jesus.  “…even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.  For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one…”—that’s not you.  Aren’t you glad that we are not depending on you?  “…shall many be made righteous.  Moreover, the law entered, that the offence might abound…” (Romans 5:18-20).

See, all the Law did was convince men that they were sinners and reminded them continually that they were sinners, so therefore every year on the day of atonement, thank God that our sins were atoned for, but you’re still a sinner.  And you go through the whole next year, and you’re bringing pigeons, and you’re bringing lambs, and you’re bringing oxen.  You see, nothing that was offered under the old covenant could bring deliverance from our conscience that kept telling us we’re sinners, “You are sinners, you’re not right yet.”  This is atonement; this is covering; there is a better day coming; we are going to be saved in the seed of Abraham; amen?  So, remain faithful, but the Law convinces us of sin.

He came that the offence might abound, but where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.  As bad as Adam’s sin was grace did much more abound that as sin used to reign unto death, and still does in the unregenerated person, even so might grace rule, reign, dominate through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ, our Lord.  One hundred and fifty times, the New Testament tells us our identifying to God is in Him. A hundred and fifty times, “in Him.”  We are accepted by God almighty because we abide in Him and in that finished work.  

Father, we thank You for Your Word, for Your love, for Your grace.  Help us to be a people that delight constantly and boast in this finished work.  There’s nothing we can do to add to it, but because of that new life, because of that new man, we live according to Romans 8 in that Law of spiritual life in Christ Jesus.  Make it be a reality, make it be our boast, we ask.  In Jesus’ name, amen.