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"Grace abounded much more..."

Text: Romans 5:20

APPRECIATION OF GOD GIVING MAN HIS LAW

There were many reasons why God gave Israel His laws. The following reasons may be highlighted:-

1. To teach man about God.

a) Man learned about the glorious attributes of God through the law.

b) Man learned how to relate to God through the teaching of the law.

2. To teach man how to relate to each other

a) The law taught man how to uphold justice.

b) It provided for the enforcement of these laws (misdeeds were punishable).

THE FAILURE OF MAN

Paul lamented that when the law came, the sinfulness of man became even more obvious.

“Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound.
But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.”
Romans 5:20

1. The word “offense”

It is best to see this word in the light of the literary context. It is a reference to man’s transgression of God’s law.

2. Offense might abound

a) The law does not in itself cause sin to abound.

b) The law highlights the nature of sin.

c) Mankind continued to “abound” in sin notwithstanding the entrance of the law.

3. Grace abounded much more

a) The answer to sin is not more laws!

b) The answer to sin is grace.

c) And God provided such that where “sin abounded, grace abounded much more”!