30th September 2026

30th September 2026 


Pray (ACts) 


Read (Romans 5:12-21 –– focussing on vv.15-17) 


Message (Stuart McKimm) 
I absolutely love this quote from John Owen, possibly the greatest British theologian to date. In His book ‘The Death of Death in the Death of Christ’, he says: 


“…the way of salvation which [the Gospel] declares is wide enough for all to walk in. There is enough in the remedy it brings to light to heal all their diseases, to deliver them from all their evils. If there were a thousand worlds, the gospel of Christ [could] be preached to them all, [because there is] enough in Christ for the salvation of them all, if…they will derive virtue from him by touching him in faith.”  


Enough salvation in Jesus for the salvation of a thousand worlds. That’s how much grace there is in the Lord Jesus. That is the strength of grace & righteousness that’s in Him. 


And it’s my experience that pretty much every problem I have in my Christian life, or dear brothers and sisters have in theirs, is failing to see that. That is, we have far, far, far too small, stingy, inaccurate views of God. And my periods of low assurance that I’m saved; my coldness and deadness in prayer; my ‘couldn’t be bothered’ attitude towards serving the LORD at Church, etc.; all of these are at their root springing from those small, stingy thoughts of my Lord.  


In Romans 5:15-17, Paul’s out to smash those small, stingy thoughts, to obliterate the heart of so many of our sins and weaknesses in the Christian life. In vv.15-17, he contrasts Adam and Christ –– the only two representatives humanity have ever had before God –– and in the process of doing so, he wants to obliterate any notion in us that God struggles to be gracious to us, struggles to forgive us, or struggles to want to give us eternal life.  


Through Adam as our representative, our status before God became condemned (“condemnation”, v.16). That brought “death” upon all he represented (“many died by the trespass of the one man”, v.15). All this, to the point where it has to be said that “death reigned through that one man” (v.17) –– that is, physical and spiritual death dominates every single human’s experience as the clear indicator that we are, through Adam, God’s enemies. By nature, God’s holy hatred rests upon us. And we behave as such: “All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one” (Romans 3:12). It’s hard to express the severity of our sinfulness.  


Perhaps the clearest way we see how depraved we are is the scale of grace that Christ’s shown us. To rescue us from the hopeless horror of being left to death’s vast power & the wrath of God, that’s swallowed up countless billions of sinners who had Adam as their representative, Christ has shown “much more…grace” (v.15, 17) –– grace that “super-abounds”, the Greek says in v.20 –– that “overflow[s] to the many” (v.15). How many? Genesis 15:5: “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” That’s how many. To what end? So that we may “reign in life” (v.17).  


All that to say: if death looks like it’s strong in this world, sweeping away masses into Hell, the strength of grace that’s stored in God’s heart… the graciousness of His character displayed in Christ’s life & death… is boundlessly greater. Its no contest between death and Christ’s grace. “One sin” opened the floodgate of sin & death that’s ravaged this world –– the work to redeem the world that Christ has done hasn’t just been to undo “one sin”, but “many trespasses”… all our countless daily sins added on top of Adam’s sin (v.17). And yet He still endured it & still accomplished it –– a whole new humanity, rescued from condemnation and death. The strength of grace in Christ is greater than the strength of sin and death in us or this world. Enough strength to save a thousand worlds of those who are willing to trust in Him. 


Hopefully this gives you a sense of strength of grace in God. Remind yourself of what God says His name is: “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness…” (Exodus 34:6). Look how fully He’s proven it! 


Let this obliterate any stingy thoughts of God in your heart, & any absence of assurance that He is not able or willing to forgive you, even you, even that sin, & even that sin again. If the sin, condemnation, & death that swallowed this whole world & all of humanity wasn’t too much for Christ to suffer for & forgive, your sin won’t be. He invites you to Himself & His grace, all over again. You cannot ‘out-sin’ His commitment to your good. Be filled with joy and assurance that you too will “reign in life” (v.17). 


And be filled with confidence and encouragement by this for your evangelism! If this is the strength and scale of grace there is in the heart of Christ, how can we not plead confidently and expectantly for many people we know to find life in Christ, too? How can we not speak to them about Christ, too, if this is true? Do so, confidently and expectantly.   


Pray (acTS) 


Sing 


WSC 
Q. 79 Which is the tenth commandment?
A. The tenth commandment is, Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor’s.
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