25. Grace Abounding
Romans 5:15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
Romans 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.
Grace is BIG, really big; Grace Abounds. Grace is bigger than the offense. Offense is a big deal, bigger and more offensive than we usually think. The offense is The Sin against God: the original sin of Adam and the original sin in every human being. The Offense is big because we have offended a big God; the sin is infinite because it offends an infinite God. Nothing can defeat it, overcome it, cover it, remove it or surround it, nothing except God Himself, who is even bigger. When the Law of God enters human history The Sin abounds even more, and death comes to all without exception for all have sinned.
God is, by definition, Big, and His Big Grace is bigger than Big Sin. Offense abounds, grows, destroys and kills; Grace abounds even more, grows, builds up and gives life. Nothing, even death, is too big for Grace. Grace overwhelms every sin, even the biggest sins; Grace especially overcomes Original Sin and Offense.
Abounding Grace is the promise earned by Jesus Christ. He has earned the grace and favor and mercy of God, and God justly, rightly, uncontestably and most certifiably grants it freely and abundantly. The promise is that Grace abounds for every need and problem we have, most of which are caused by the Offense, by our sin, and by the sins of the world around us. There is no problem or trouble that we can experience that Grace cannot cover, that God cannot handle. Sin abounds, and our everyday experience affirms that; but Grace abounds much more, and our everyday faith affirms that. Faith receives the promises contained in the glorious Gospel.