The Ultimate Trump Card

"Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned...But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!...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. Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."--Romans 5:12, 15, 17-21

This passage testifies beautifully to the awesome power of the grace of God. It shows us just how great His grace is and how desperate we are for it. Now, look at what the passage says if we take Christ and His grace out of it:

"...sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned...many died by the trespass of the one man...by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man...the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men...through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners...The law was added so that the trespass might increase...sin increased..."

Ouch! Look at that: sin, death, trespasses, condemnation. Hopelessness. But bring Christ in and He wipes it all out.

"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."

"The result of one trespass was condemnation for all men." "The result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men."

"Through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners." "Through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous."

"Sin increased." "GRACE INCREASED ALL THE MORE."

"Sin reigned in death." "Grace [reigns] through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Condemnation trumped with justification.
Disobedience trumped with obedience.
Sin trumped with grace.
Death trumped with life.

If you've ever played spades, you know the almost all-powerful sensation you get when you pick up your hand and you see the ace of spades. You might have a terrible hand overall, but that doesn't take away from the effectiveness of the ace or the feeling of power you get from having it. Regardless of the condition of the rest of your hand, you have complete assurance of getting at least one trick. Here's a little secret about life: It doesn't really matter what the rest of your hand looks like, as long as you have The Ace!

Jesus is our Ace of spades, only a gazillion times better! He is our Ultimate Trump Card. Nothing can stand against Him. It doesn't matter how much sin increases, grace will increase all the more. Our sin will never outlast His grace. Thank you, Jesus!