The epistle for Lent 1 in Year A is Romans 5.12–19. Paul draws a series of striking contrasts between what it means to be ‘in Adam’, as fallen humanity under the power of Sin and Death, and what it means to be ‘in Christ’, given the gift of life and under the power of Grace.
How does Paul make these contrasts, and how should we interpret them? And what does this mean practically and pastorally as we think about our discipleship?
The gospel reading is Matthew 4.1–11, Jesus’ temptations in the wilderness. For the written commentary, see here,
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Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ
I think here that Paul is showing us how to preach the Gospel
that some of us wish it preached today.
To preach the law of sin and death, for without that
what is the point of Grace?
God hates sin for the fact that it robs us of life
Sin, disfigures, dis-eases, demeans, destroys, dis- orientates,
deceives and denies the Glory of God. It disses God.
The law defines sin, yet as one young chap said of it
“What would it be like if everyone lived according to this law of love”
Grace is what Jesus is, and a graciousness that attracted people
to Him. He did not lift up His voice or cry aloud in the street.
He walked humbly with God, He was meek and lowly,
He suffered without repining, He submitted to God’s Sovereignty.
He was a model of Graciousness
psychologytoday.com has
A gracious person is a graceful person, someone who at least attempts to not hurt others’ feelings with clumsy words or thoughtless deeds. To live in grace is to walk lightly and leave the world blessed by your presence.
If a saint walks as Jesus walked then there is an evidence
of grace received and working in that one.
Grace may be trammelled and dismissed but in the end it
produces the fruits of righteousness which are by Christ Jesus to the Glory of God
Sin means we have fallen short of the Glory of God.
Grace is the glory of God gifted to us and is received by the obedience of Faith.
Shalom.