It Costs Us Dearly

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! Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 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 the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! (Romans 5:15-17)

         One of the complaints I’ve heard from atheists and agnostics is that it’s not fair that Adam’s sin resulted in everyone’s death – especially theirs. They also complain that it’s not fair that everyone must choose to accept salvation as individuals. Let that sink in.
         Adam’s sin doesn’t condemn us. Our own sin does, but the inclination to sin, or the sin nature, is something we have whether we want it or not. I don’t know of anyone who hasn’t or doesn’t want it. We don’t want the consequences, but we treasure our presumed independence and we don’t tend to like the fact that we have to give up that fantasy in order to accept the gift of salvation.
          If we have to give up our presumed independence to get salvation, doesn’t that mean salvation’s not a gift? It costs us. It costs us dearly. Yes, well, hold out your hand. I’m putting rubies and diamonds into it. They have cost me dearly. What, there’s nothing in your hand? Our independence is no more real than the rubies and diamonds that I put into you hand. We are willing to pay for it with our lives, but it doesn’t exist. Jesus Christ was willing to pay the price it costs us, and grant us the reconciliation I described the other day, if we will accept it.