And there is a difference between God’s gift and the sin of one man. After the one sin, came the judgment of "Guilty"; but after so many sins, comes the undeserved gift of "Not Guilty!" It is true that through the sin of one man death began to rule because of that one man. But how much greater is the result of what was done by the one man, Jesus Christ! All who receive God’s abundant grace and are freely put right with him will rule in life through Christ.

So then, as the one sin condemned all mankind, in the same way the one righteous act sets all mankind free and gives them life. And just as all people were made sinners as the result of the disobedience of one man, in the same way they will all be put right with God as the result of the obedience of the one man.

Law was introduced in order to increase wrongdoing; but where sin increased, God’s grace increased much more. So then, just as sin ruled by means of death, so also God’s grace rules by means of righteousness, leading us to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 5:16-21

Jesus bought our souls with His death, and He offers us salvation that is free and paid for. We can’t earn it, no matter what we do. All we can do is reach out to Jesus by repenting of our sin and receiving His free gift of eternal life. Have you accepted the salvation Jesus offers? Please do. Reach out and take it. It’s free.

Our salvation was costly to God, but it is free to us.

Our Daily Bread – August 2, 2002