Romans 5:17 says, “17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the Gift of Righteousness Reign in life through the One man, Jesus Christ!”
Romans 5:17 talks about. This verse goes on to say that you shall reign by Jesus Christ. Now where are you to reign?
Many unfortunately have a limited belief system and as a result they can’t expect much in this life.
They believe You can be saved, but you have to continue to be ruled by the devil—by sin, sickness, poverty, fear, and bondage. You have to go through life this way until you finally barely make it into Heaven. But that’s not what the Bible teaches.
Romans 5:17 says we can reign in life—in this life—by Christ Jesus. Weymouth’s translation says, “For if by the trespasses of the one, death reigned as king through the one, much more shall they who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign as kings in the realm of life.” We are to reign in the here-and-now!
The King James Version doesn’t use the word “kings” as Weymouth’s does, but the very idea of reigning brings the thought of “kings” to mind.
The very notion of reigning carries with it the idea of ruling, of dominion, and of having authority.
Paul said we “reign in life.” We have the authority to rule and reign and have dominion in our life—in the life we have here and now!
Someone might say, “Well, I don’t see very many people ruling and reigning in life.”
One reason is that this truth hasn’t been taught as it should be.
Hosea 4:6 says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge . . . .” Notice this verse doesn’t say sinners are destroyed for lack of knowledge. It says God’s people are destroyed because of their lack of knowledge.
This infers that if God’s people had knowledge of who they really are in Christ, of who God is, and of the rights and privileges of their dominion—they wouldn’t be destroyed.
One reason Satan is often able to reign, or rule, in the life of Christians is because those Christians do not realize the authority that has been given to them.
Many times Christians think Jesus is going to do everything for them; they do not realize they have a part to play.
Notice that Romans 5:17 doesn’t say, “Jesus Christ will reign through you.”
No! It says, “…They (that’s us) which receive Abundance of Grace and of the Gift of Righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.”
This verse says that You and I will reign. Of course, it’s by, or because of, Jesus Christ that we have this authority, but He has given us the authority to Rule and Reign!
Many times people say, “I’ve left it up to the Lord; He’s going to do it.” But, no, the real truth about the matter is, He has left it up to you!
Let’s find out our job and position. Let’s find out what we’re supposed to do!
Romans 5:17 mentions two things we have received: “Abundance of Grace and The Gift of Righteousness”. It’s receiving the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness that enables you to Reign. (See Revelation 1:6 & 1 Peter 2:9)
If you don’t know what you’ve received, you’ll be hindered in Reigning.
I’ve taught you a lot about grace, and thank God for His grace.
But not only have we received abundance of grace; we’ve also received the “Gift of Righteousness.”
What does the “gift of righteousness” mean?
First, it’s a gift, which means we didn’t do anything to earn or deserve it.
Second, it means we have been made right with God.
It means we have right-standing with God!
If you’re in right-standing with God, there is nothing coming between you and Him.
If you’re in right-standing with God, you can’t be in any better standing with Him. That is a truth you need to learn and get firmly settled in your heart and mind.
The Bible never talks about growing in righteousness. The Bible does talk about growing as newborn babes, desiring the sincere milk of the Word that you may grow thereby (1 Pet. 2:2). And Paul talks about faith that can grow exceedingly (2 Thess. 1:3). But nowhere does the New Testament ever talk about growing in righteousness.
The truth is, you can’t grow in righteousness. In other words, you can’t have any more right-standing with God than you have right now.
Even when you get to Heaven, you won’t have any better standing with God than you have right now.
You will never be any more righteous—or any less righteous—than you are right now!
Did you know that a newborn believer has the same standing with God as the person who has been a believer for 50 years? How is that possible?
It’s all through Jesus and what He did for us!
Unlike the sacrificial blood in the Old Covenant , the blood of Jesus Christ does not cover our sins.
The blood of Jesus of the New Covenant (Read Hebrews Chapter 8) washes away our sins (Rev. 1:5). We’re not a “covered creature”; we’re a new creature! Second Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
God doesn’t make any unrighteous new creatures. We have been made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 5:21)!
As new creatures, we don’t want to practice sin living in our old nature, and God doesn’t want us to either. We are Now Living a New Life in a New Nature. But if we do miss it, provision has been made for us.
First John 2:1 says, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” The Greek word translated “advocate” means lawyer or one who pleads our case. We’ve got a lawyer in the “Supreme Court” of Heaven pleading our case. Who is it? Jesus Christ the Righteous!
If I chose to walk in my old nature and lose my sense of righteousness, I quickly turn to God and say, “ Lord, I missed it, thank you that I’m forgiven.”
God sees what Jesus did to wash away sin, and He counts me righteous because of Jesus!
What does John say regarding this? He reminds us that when we fail as believers, we have an Advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ.
Because of our Lord Jesus and what He has accomplished at the cross, we have forgiveness and we still stand righteous before God even when we’ve missed it.
As the apostle Paul reminded the Corinthian believers who had failed that they were still the temple of the Holy Spirit, John reminds us of who we are in Christ and who we have representing us at God’s right hand.
Can you see that the Bible’s answer to overcoming sin is always to remind believers of Their Righteous identity in Christ? The Gift of Righteousness!
This is not to encourage us to sin but to encourage us to look to Our Lord Jesus and Live In The Victory Of our new Nature- to see our sins punished at the Cross and to Live Victoriously and Gloriously for Him.
That is what true repentance is all about—turning to the cross and returning to His Grace!
When you fail, know that you can talk to God honestly about your failing, but do it with a Revelation of the Cross of our Lord Jesus. See your sins punished in His Body and Yourself Washed, Cleansed and receive His forgiveness (once and for all Hebrews 10:10) and His unmerited favor to Reign over your sins.
That means You can stand in the Presence of God without a sense of spiritual inferiority or condemnation. It also means that instead of being ruled by Satan and all of his works, (hate, un-forgiveness bitterness, resentment, slander, accusations and no peace) you can now Rule and Reign over him!
Walking in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22) and the guarantee of Our New Covenant.
When you realize this truth and it fully registers in your spirit, you’re going to rise up as a giant in spiritual Victory set free to run the race set before you.
Love in His Grace and His Gift Of Righteousness,
Pastor Joe.