Paul was a master at the use
of comparisons and contrasts in declaring the glorious truth
of the gospel. This is nowhere more clearly
displayed than in Romans 5.21, which says that as sin hath reigned
unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto
eternal life by Jesus Christ. As the Lord prophetically declared
unto Adam, In the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely
die. This soon came to pass. We know
that Adam's physical body did not cease to function on that
day, but we do know that death entered into him and his corruption
began gnawing at his vitals. Nine hundred and thirty years
later came the ultimate triumph of that corruption which was
first ushered in by his initial obedience. The death of the physical
body is the manifestation of a triumphal enemy insofar as
its power over this mortal flesh is concerned. The introduction
of death to the human race serves a twofold purpose. One is to
demonstrate the Lord's hatred of sin and its insidious nature,
along with His determination to pass judgment on all who violate
His holy law. Secondly, and more importantly,
He would use it to demonstrate His glory in the redemption of
sinners from the condemnation of the law and its resulting
curse of death. The reign of sin unto death is
a testament to the power and purpose of God. It is a force
over which he has complete control at all times. As he said, See
now that I, even I, am he, and there is no God with me. I kill,
and I make alive. I wound, and I heal. Neither
is there any that can deliver out of my hand. He alone assigns
the time, place, and circumstance of death. He is death's soul
master before whom the earth must tremble. And fear not them
which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul, but
rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body
in hell. He that holds the keys of death
and hell is an absolute potentate whose will shall be done in the
earth as it is in the heavens. Just as the Lord designed death
and appointed it to accomplish His purpose, so too has He already
marked out its utter demise when that purpose is fulfilled. The
last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. John saw this from
afar, as he tells us in the book of the Revelation, and death
and hell were cast into the lake of fire. And God shall wipe away
all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death,
for the former things are passed away. In the same fashion as
sin hath reigned unto death, so too does His grace triumph
over it, as He demonstrates His mastery in bringing glory to
His matchless name by manifesting the righteousness of Christ unto
eternal life. Just as He ordained the reign
of sin unto death in the whole human race, so too has He ordained
the imputation of Christ's righteousness upon those who are called according
to His purpose. This is the means and basis whereby
He would bestow eternal life upon them who are dead in trespasses
and sins by nature. Thus we can compare the reign
of sin unto death with the reign of grace through righteousness.
They are both ordained of God. They both have their chief manifestation
in the sons of men. They both redound to the glory
of God. Yet it is in the contrast of
these two principles wherein we see the fullness of His glory
in the manifestation of His mercy, telling Moses, I will show mercy
on whom I will show mercy. The purpose of death is to set
a stage for the unveiling of His glory in the bestowal of
mercy upon unworthy wretches. Mercy and not condemnation is
that which the Lord would showcase in the revelation of His purpose
and in the creation of the world in bringing glory. to his name.
It is this revealed mercy and grace which is set forth in the
declaration of the gospel, even as the angels first proclaimed
to those shepherds on the hills of Judea. He has not sent his
messengers into the world for the purpose of declaring threats
of hell and destruction to the inhabitants of the earth, but
rather to declare the opening of the prison for those that
are bound, and a sweet message of hope to those who find themselves
in a hopeless condition. In this we see the reign of grace
displayed as the gospel is preached to sinners. Are you a sinner?