“For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation; and yet the free gift following many trespasses brings [true] Freedom.” ~ Paul (Romans 5:16)

 

First of all, it is helpful to note that the over-arching context of Romans 5 has Paul effusively reminding his listeners of his gospel – namely, the anti-Christian belief that worshiping Jesus Christ is necessary for human redemption, and that Jesus himself will inevitably rescue the Souls of those who do so with the appropriate subservience (see Romans 5:1-11 – in comparison with Romans 10:9, and in stark contrast with the Gospel of Christ as presented in Matthew 10:7 & Matthew 24:12-14) … Thereafter, Paul goes on at some length about the innate sinfulness of humankind (Romans 5:12-14) before exclaiming that there is no need for worry, as Jesus would provide salvation for all those who chose to “receive the abundance of [his] grace” (Romans 5:15-17).

 

Second, within this context, it is incredibly important to realize that this chapter perfectly harmonizes with Paul’s patently dysfunctional belief that the “free gift” of the ascended spirit of Jesus Christ must be accepted by humans in order to count as being received by them – when in actuality (as Jesus’ ministry clearly showed) the Divine Gift of Grace is constantly given to all sentient beings in every moment of our lives – from the first moment of Awakening in the womb all the way through our last conscious breath.

Indeed this is the “grace upon grace” of “the Word” mentioned in the very beginning of the Gospel of John (see John 1:1-8+16, also John 14:20-26 & John 15:26 et al) and this is the Grace that becomes full-fledged and real the moment any Follower of The Way of Christ extends selfless Love to another – and this, regardless of what happens immediately thereafter (see Matthew 10:13-14 – “If the house is harmonious [to your message – see the Greek axia, Strong’s #514], then let your peace come upon it; but if it is not accepting [of your message – also axia], then let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or attend [the Greek akouse, meaning “to comprehend by respectfully listening” – see Strong’s #191] to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town”).

 

Third, note as well that Paul believed in Divine “condemnation” for unrepentant sins and that freedom therefrom must be obtained “on one’s knees” as an “undeserved gift from above” (see Romans 7:4, 1 Corinthians 2:11, 2 Corinthians 1:10, 1 Corinthians 15:23-25, 2 Corinthians 9:10-11, Philippians 4:6 & Philippians 4:19 et al), whereas Jesus expressed a diametrically opposed view – noting quite clearly & quite vehemently that neither God (John 5:22) nor himself (John 8:15 & John 12:47) would ever judge anyone; and that neither are we to do so (Matthew 7:1-2).

 

Fourth, note that Paul speaks here quite arrogantly about his supposed knowledge (“I thank you, Father, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them instead to infants. Yes, Father, for such was your gracious will” ~ Jesus in Luke 10:21) – an arrogance he exhibited quite frequently (see Acts 13:10, Romans 16:17-18, 1 Corinthians 5:9-13, 1 Corinthians 9:24, 1 Corinthians 10:21, 1 Corinthians 11:19, 2 Corinthians 11:4-5, Galatians 1:9, Philippians 1:28 & Philippians 3:2), and an arrogance that actually kept him out of Jesus’ “Kingdom of Heaven” for as long as he remained determined to cherish the same (see Matthew 18:3-4 & Matthew 23:12 et al).

 

Fifth, feel free to contrast this verse with Jesus’ belief that every sin was its own condemnation in the moment it was committed (i.e. a lost moment when Love could have otherwise been enlivened), and that every act of selfless Love was its own rebirth (John 3:3-8) into his “Kingdom of God” (Luke 17:20-21) – namely, that every act of selfless Love was a renewed freeing of the Soul from the confines of dogmatic arrogance & instinctual selfishness – that every act of Love was indeed itself a “free gift” that did indeed “bring true Freedom” (see John 13:15-17, along with Matthew 13:18:23, Matthew 24:12-14, and – quite ironically – Galatians 5:1 – “For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and submit never again to any yoke of slavery”).

 

Amen … Let it be so.

 

Filed under: My Favorite Verses by Scaughdt