“The Law came in
so that the transgression would increase”
[Romans 5:12-21]
Look at Romans 5:20-21: “The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
First, let us consider the phrase, “The Law came in so that the transgression would increase” (v. 20). Why did the Law that God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai come in? The reason is to increase the transgression. Here, the word ‘increasing the transgression’ means that there are many sins, very many sins, and the sins are tight. It means that sin is tense as if a balloon bursts when the air is full. What it means by saying that the Law came in so that the transgression would increase is that the Law came in not to increase or inflate our sins, but to make us aware of our transgressions. Look at Romans 3:20b – “… for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.” For example, if it's dark, we can't see anything. That doesn't mean there isn't anything. However, when the light shines on it, it starts to be visible from the large objects. Then, the brighter the light, the more small objects can be seen, even dust. Likewise, before the Law there was sin, but sin was not considered a sin. And when the Law came, sin was known.
Therefore, we must know the Law. We must diligently study the Bible. In order to know our sins, we must know the Word of God. For example, look at Matthew 5:21-22: “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.” The more we get to know these words of the Bible, the more Moses' law says, “Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.” Jesus said, ‘He who is angry with his brother without cause will be judged.’ It is said that we are angry with our brothers in Christ, that we will be judged. Therefore, we who are learning these words must realize that being angry with brothers in Christ is a sin so great that it deserves judgment, and we must strive not to get angry but to be temperate. Look at Matthew 5:27-28: “You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” The more we get to know these words of the Bible, the more the Mosaic Law says, “Do not commit adultery,” but Jesus said, ‘Anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.’ When we look at ourselves in these words, when we look at the opposite sex with the eyes of lust, we realize that we have already committed adultery with her in our hearts. In this way, since the Word of God tells us about sin, we should diligently know His Word. And we must make up our minds and make an effort not to sin so that we don’t fall into sin. We must be filled with the Word in order not to sin without knowing that it is sin any more.
Look at Romans 5:20b-21a: “… but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, ….” This mighty sin reigned in death (and not reigned outside death) “where sin increased,” that is when sin was so full that we could no longer sin. Look at Genesis 6:5 – “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” In the end, God judged with a flood. Everyone was all dead because of sin (physical death). However, Noah received God's grace and did not die in the flood (v. 8). In his case he was saved in the flesh. But where sin increased, grace abounded even more. In other words, when we were so full of sin that we could no longer sin, grace abounded infinitely more and more abundantly [(Jn.1:16) “… and grace upon grace”]. What is this “grace”? Look at Romans 5:16 – “… the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification.” The “many transgressions” here include the original sins of all of us, sinners, past sins, current sins, and future sins. Through one act of righteousness, Jesus died on the cross, not only as a substitute for all our sins, but also the penalty (punishment) for each sin, many were justified and came to life (v. 18). How abundant and overflowing is God's grace. We cannot describe this great grace of God in words. Even if we use the sky as a scroll and the sea as our food, we cannot write down all of God's infinite grace.
Look at Romans 5:21b – “… even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” In the saying that this grace would reign through righteousness, the word “righteousness” refers to the infinite righteousness of Christ (Park). Believers who possess infinite righteousness through faith will live forever under the throne of grace (Park). Through the one act of Jesus Christ on the cross, we have been justified to enjoy eternal life (v. 18). How infinite is this grace of God. This is the hymn “The Mercy of God is an Ocean Divine”: (v. 1) The mercy of God is an ocean divine, A boundless and fathomless flood; Launch out in the deep, cut away the shoreline, And be lost in the fullness of God. (v. 2) But mercy, alas! Only stand on the shore And gaze on the ocean so wide; They never have ventured its depths to explore, Or to launch on the fathomless tide. (v. 3) And others just venture away from the land, And linger so near to the shore, That the surf and the slime that beat over the strand, Dash o'er them in floods ever-more. (v. 4) O, let us launch out on this ocean so broad, Where floods of salvation o'er flow; O, let us be lost in the mercy of God, Till the depths of His fullness we know. (chorus) Launch out into the deep, O, let the shoreline go, Launch out, launch out in the ocean divine, Out where the full tides flow. What is “eternal life” in Romans 5:21? Here, “eternal life” is the eternal life of John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” The gift of grace that God has given us through Jesus Christ is eternal life, which is not the salvation of the flesh, but eternal life. This eternal life refers to our glorification (8:30). In a word, eternal life means salvation. Eternal life is something that will happen in the future. It is a reality of the future that is 100% certain without any doubt. And the reality of the future is that we, who have been justified by believing in Jesus, will attain eternal life (5:18), and we will all enter the kingdom of heaven. This is the future salvation, which means that we will enter the kingdom of heaven entirely by the grace of God and enjoy eternal life. Eternal life is also the past. In other words, we have already obtained eternal life by believing in Jesus by God's exclusive grace (Jn. 3:16) (past salvation). Eternal life begins with rebirth (regeneration), advances day by day, and will eventually reach the stage of perfection. Our faith in Jesus is the evidence of regeneration, and regeneration is not the body being regenerated, but the renewal of the soul (because of the new creation). Before being regenerated, fellowship with God was cut off. But after being regenerated, we are connected with God and have fellowship with Him.
There is something we need to keep in mind. It is none other than that when we say that we receive eternal life if we believe in Jesus, we should not think of eternal life merely as eternal life in the world to come. It is because eternal life is partly enjoyed by us now in Jesus Christ. It is in the Gospel of John where the word “eternal life” appears intensively. In the original Greek, "eternal life" means “zoe” “aionios”. It is a combination of the words "zoe" (life) and "aionios" (eternal). In other words, the word "eternal life" literally has two meanings (Internet): (1) It means, firstly, ‘a life that lasts without end’ in terms of time, and (2) qualitatively, it means ‘a divine life different from human life’. Therefore, the word eternal life includes both the meaning of eternal life in time and the qualitative meaning of a divine life enjoyed in God. In particular, in the Gospel of John, "eternal life" means ‘eternal blessings to be enjoyed in the hereafter’ like the synoptic Gospels (Matthew / Mark / Luke), but rather emphasizes the blessings enjoyed in ‘the present’. The Gospel of John says that those who believe in the Lord already have eternal life and can enjoy that blessing in the Lord even in the present. What are the blessings of eternal life that we enjoy in the present? The blessings of the hereafter that come from the sharing of intimate personal fellowship with the Eternal Father God and His Son Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit (Jn. 17:3). A typical example is participation in God's divine nature (2 Pet.1:4). In other words, the blessing of eternal life that we partly enjoy in Jesus Christ while we live on this earth is to become like Jesus in the sanctification of the Holy Spirit. Another blessing of eternal life that we partially enjoy now is love. When we love God and love our neighbor with the love of God that has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, we experience, at least in part, the joy of heaven. The blessing of eternal life that we can partially enjoy now is peace. Although we are living in a world without peace now, those who believe in Jesus are partially enjoying the peace of God, the blessing of eternal life, while living on this earth. This is the hymn “Lately the Life of Christ”:
(v. 1) Lately the life of Christ burst out alive in me!
Old things have passed away, even myself is new.
His life floods through me, like rivers towards the sea,
His love shines on me like sun shining on the dew.
(v. 2) Life hid in Him makes my glad-ness of heart increase,
I set no price on what pleas'd me in other days.
I'm tasting heaven's incredible joy and peace,
My life the Lord's for an anthem of pray'r and praise.
(v. 3) Hill, stream and woodland and all that I see is new,
Sinner and foeman are turned into friends I know.
This is eternal life tasted before it's due,
Life with the Lord is a new heaven here below!
(v. 4) Rough though and long His way, All set about with strife,
With hymns I'll follow on exuberant with praise.
I'll be with Christ my Lord unto eternal life,
Daily I'll walk with Him beyond the length of days.
(Chorus)
With Christ I'll savor life Unending ev-'ry day;
Now and forever I'll walk with Him all the way.
By the grace of God, we have received eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. No matter how difficult there are on this earth, we who have been regenerated by God's grace can enjoy eternal life. God's abundant grace, which overflows more and more, shall reign through righteousness, and we should enjoy eternal life through the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, we thank, rejoice, and praise, and pray that we may partly enjoy our heavenly life on this earth as well.