ESOCS Devotional 31 May 2024 – The Devastating Power of Sin
MEMORY VERSE: “The Gentiles do not have the Law of Moses; they sin and are lost apart from the Law. The Jews have the Law; they sin and are judged by the Law. For it is not by hearing the law that people are put right with God, but by doing what the Law commands.” Romans 2:12-13 GNB
TEXT: ROMANS 2:1-16
Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. 2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.
12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law 13 (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; 14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) 16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
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The power of sin over humanity transcends across all social strata and classes of people. Its influence is such that no man can claim to be free from transgressing the Law of God (Romans 5:12). From the days of Adam, the tide of sin has continued to flow with ceaseless abandon. Hence, no one can say he or she is wholly free from iniquity (Mark 10:17). In verse 12 of our text, Saint Paul stressed the universality of sin. It cuts across both the Gentile world and the Jewish nation. Funny enough, the Jews who knew God better, and what He required of them through the Mosaic Law, tend to fall victim of transgression even more than the Gentiles. In all totality, sin has enslaved all of humanity, and has brought with it death as its wages (Romans 6:23). In other words, unforgiven sin subjects the sinner to the anger and punishment of God. Ironically, moreover, even in the heart of the forgiven believer, sin can create intense personal struggle.
Who is the originator of sin? Sin came into the world through the wicked one – Satan the devil. John 10:10a describes the devil as a thief, whose sole aim is to steal, kill and to destroy mankind, through the instrumentality of sin. But in part ‘b’ of John 10:10, we happily discover that Christ has come to set us free from sin and Satan. He has come to restore us to a full life of joy and happiness, including the forgiveness of sin, and to qualify us for eternal glory in God’s Kingdom.
In Romans 1:18, we see that God’s anger is revealed against all sinful acts and evil of people. His tendency is to punish sinners because the truth about God, and God’s desire for righteousness is known to mankind. It follows therefore that both the Gentiles and the Jews are meritoriously undeserving of the grace of God that was revealed on the cross (Titus 2:11-12; Romans 3:20). Glory be to God in the highest, who has not counted believers unworthy, and undeserving of His free grace. Hence, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).
How do we activate this free grace? It is by receiving the Son into our hearts, so we can receive power to be called “sons of God” (John 1:12). It is by living in obedient faith in Christ’s atoning sacrifice (Romans 1:19, 3:22, 25). The influence of sin over humanity is very weighty. But the love of Christ is weightier. Praise God.
- All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Are we then all doomed?
- Lord Jesus, I will worship you forever, as long as I have my being.
Further Reading: Exodus 13:9-22; 2 Kings 4:1-17, Revelation 4:1-1
ESOCS Devotional 31 May 2024
