For as by one man's sin we became sinners, so by the one who obeyed God perfectly - we can be made righteous.
“For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.” Romans 5:19 NASB.
Paul here speaks the truth that many do not realize. Because of the obedience of Jesus to God’s will, He will make those who believe in Him righteous. Jesus is well able to help those who believe in Him live a righteous life. This is because He lived a life of obedience to His Father and lived the perfect life that we were unable to live. Jesus has been given all power and authority, since He won the victory over sin and died for your sins and mine. Matthew 28:18 KJV & NASB. It is because of this that Paul stated that it is through the obedience of the One that many will be made righteous.
The Obedience of Jesus:
Jesus declared: ‘But so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me.’ John 14:31 NASB. Jesus said, “For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me commandment, what to say, and what to speak. And I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me." John 12:49-50 NASB. “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.” John 14:10 NASB. Jesus said, “I glorified You [the Father] on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do.” John 17:4 NASB. His life was given as an offering to His Father, because His Father desired the salvation of the world. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 KJV. Jesus obeyed His Father’s commandment to die on the cross for our sins and live the perfect life we had no way of living. (Until He provided the way for us to live a righteous life through His power.) Jesus said, “For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.” John 10:17 NASB. And: “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” John 10:11 NASB. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” John 15:13-14 KJV.
“So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but He [God] that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. * * * Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;” Hebrews 5:5-9 KJV.
The Obedience of Jesus’ Disciples:
Jesus declared, “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” John 15:14 KJV. Yes, we repeated this again. “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in His love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” John 15:9-11 KJV. If you want to have joy, and have your joy made completely full, then abide in Jesus’ love, and keep His commandments, as Jesus kept His Father’s commandments.
If you wish to have eternal life, obey Jesus. Hebrews 5:9. He wants to make you perfect. How do we know this? Jesus declared that you are to love your enemies and to do good to those who hate you. Matthew 5:43-47. And He said, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:48 KJV. How are you to be perfect? As your Heavenly Father is perfect. If you want to be perfect, get to know God, and He will help you to keep His law of love. John says this in the negative way here: “The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” 1 John 4:8 NASB. Why is it that many find it so hard to be good? Because they need to get to know God. The secret to being good is to get to know God! It’s that simple! If you spend much time with Him – studying His word the Bible, praying, confessing your sins, humbling yourself before Him, asking for His help to obey Him - you will be getting to know God. His love will surround you and change you and love will be the principle in your life. If God is dwelling in you, He will help you not give into temptation, do wrong or hurt others. This is a beautiful promise!
Jesus declared, “I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.” John 17:6 KJV. The disciples of Jesus keep His word. This is not just for the disciples of Jesus who walked and talked with Him when He was on this earth, but is for you too. If you give yourself to Jesus, He will help you to keep God’s word.
The Scriptures will help you to be perfect:
Paul declared that through the inspiration of the Scriptures, God will help you to be perfect and perform good works. “That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:17 KJV. Just believe the testimony of Paul, who was inspired by God. God gave you His word in order that you may be perfect and do good to others. No matter how bad you may have been, He has provided a way for you to be made righteous – through the perfect life of obedience of Jesus and His death on the cross for your sins. This is why He died for you, so that you may become righteous and have eternal life.
From all of this you know that in order to have your joy made full, always obey Jesus’ commandments, and abide in His love. Even though you were made a sinner through inheritance, through the sin of Adam and Eve transmitted to your parents, through Jesus you can be made righteous because of His obedience. Just believe it! His life of perfect obedience for your life of sin. You exchange your body of sin and death for eternal life through Him. Paul asks this question: “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Romans 7:24 KJV. What is the answer to this question? Paul gives it next: ‘I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.’ Romans 7:25 KJV. It is our Lord, Jesus Christ, who will deliver you from this body of death (if you let Him). This righteousness is not just an accounting change in the books of Heaven, but is a literal change that can help you be righteous! If you allow Jesus to help you, He will make you righteous! Amen. This is the power of the Gospel!
Be like Paul, who declared, ‘For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth***’ Romans 1:16 KJV.
Beloved - may the grace of God be with you! Amen.
© 2022 By John Foll 11-29-2016, 01/15/2022
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