"Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5:20-21)
In the book of Romans, Paul speaks extensively about the relationship between the Law and grace, using biblical examples such as Abraham and David to illustrate his point (Romans 4). Abraham was saved before the Law was ever given—he had no Ten Commandments to keep, as they wouldn’t come for another 450 years after his death. Yet, righteousness was imputed to him by faith, even before he was circumcised. Then Paul points to David, who was made righteous despite living under the Law. He knew it, broke it severely—committing both murder and adultery—yet, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he wrote in Psalm 32:
"Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile." (Psalm 32:1-2)
When we arrive at Romans 5, Paul addresses an important question: What was the purpose of the Law if not to save us from sin? He answers, “The law entered that the offence might abound”—meaning the Law was given to reveal just how exceedingly sinful we are. The moral aspects of the Law show us our sinfulness, and the ceremonial aspects demonstrate the high price required for atonement. Instead of producing righteousness, the Law caused sin to abound, especially when men mistakenly believed that keeping it to the best of their ability would make them righteous. This remains a common belief even today.
I once asked my four-year-old how we get to heaven. Despite all the Sunday school lessons and bedtime devotions he’s heard, he answered, “Be good.” This thinking is ingrained in us from birth. We naturally believe that if we are good enough, we will be accepted. But this comes from a lack of knowledge of God's Law. The more we see what God truly requires and the penalty for sin, the more we are brought to a place of spiritual bankruptcy—where we cease striving for self-justification and begin to seek grace.
When the Law brings us to that place of brokenness, sin is no longer something we merely acknowledge—it becomes horrifying in our eyes. Before I trusted Christ, I had never committed any heinous sin by the world’s standard, but I could see within myself every lie I had told, every piece of candy I had stolen, every curse word I had spoken. As the Law of God was preached and read to me, I began to see how exceedingly sinful I was. The Law had done its work: "The law entered that the offence might abound."
But praise God, the story doesn’t end there! When the Law has left us suffering under its weight, grace enters at God’s appointed time—just as Christ came preaching grace after Israel had labored under the Law for nearly 2,000 years. Do you remember when you felt the crushing weight of your sin and then suddenly, Christ appeared? Oh, I do. He came like flashes of light on the horizon of my life. At first, I saw His light touching others, but I could not yet feel its warmth. Then, on a Thursday night in August 1998, His full light touched my soul. Where sin had abounded, where darkness had enveloped me, grace abounded much more! The Light had come, and the darkness was gone!
And let me tell you, the peace I felt in that moment was far greater than the dread I had suffered under. I now thank God for the abounding sin that led me to the abounding grace of Christ!
But our passage doesn’t just talk about the knowledge of sin and grace—it speaks of their power over us. “Sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ.” Sin reigns—it controls its subjects. We are bound to it by chains that no human power can break. Sin drags us where it will—down the avenue of lust and pride, into the dungeons of debauchery, and finally into hell. Never forget that truth: Sin reigns unto death. Many have played games with sin, thinking they could control their lust or greed, but they always end up being controlled by their sin instead.
As dreadful as sin’s reign is, there is a far greater truth: Grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord! Grace does not merely free us from sin—it rules over us in righteousness. A man under the lordship of Christ is no longer enslaved to sin, but led by grace into a life of holiness, forgiveness, mercy, and love. The same grace that saves us continues to transform us until the day of Jesus Christ.
So, let me ask you: What power is ruling your life? Is sin dragging you into shame and destruction? Or is grace abounding in you unto good works? Are you living by self-righteousness and the Law, or by His righteousness and grace?
Let me echo the words of this passage and plead with you—come to the grace of God! The righteousness you need is a gift, not something you can earn. You will never break free on your own, but grace can break the ties that bind. Light will always overcome darkness. Sin may abound, but grace much more abounds!
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