Not all gifts are free. Some you might buy for yourself. Some might come with no cost up front but have an “easy payment plan” attached to them. Some might be given to you, free of any initial cost, but the expense and effort to maintain them makes you wonder if they are your possession or, if in fact, they possess you. And some might come with strings attached . . . free as long as you meet a condition or two . . . but gone if you mess up. This morning, as I savor the last part of Romans 5, I’m repeatedly reminded of a gift which is truly a free gift.

. . . For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many . . . For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification . . . much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.   (Romans 5:15-17 ESV)

The free gift brings justification . . . declaring the recipients “justified” . . . “just-as-if-I’d” . . . “just-as-if-I’d” never sinned. The case heard in the highest courts of heaven . . . the evidence presented . . . the verdict declared, “Guilty” . . . but the payment rendered . . . the blood of Jesus shed for the sins of many . . . atonement for sin made, once for all, for “whosoever believes” . . . the sentence commuted . . . no, more than that, the sinner declared just . . . the transgressor set apart and made holy . . . those once far off, brought near.

The free gift brings righteousness. A righteousness not of our own making . . . a righteousness not as a result of our own goodness and discipline . . . but a righteousness bound up in the Person of His spotless Son . . . a righteousness gifted freely to all who come to the cross and, by faith, receive the the abundance of His grace.

This gift is sourced in the grace of God . . . it is through the grace of His blessed Son, the man Jesus Christ . . . and it abounds for many . . . it overflows those who willing place themselves in its path . . . washing away all sin — past, present, future . . . exceeding what we could think or imagine as it raises us to sit with the King of Kings in heavenly places . . . conferring on us the rights of adopted children . . . heirs and joint heirs with Christ.

And that might be the most amazing aspect of it all . . . that, for those who receive the free gift, they will “reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.” What an interesting phrase, “reign in life”. It’s the terminology of royalty. We recipients of the free gift gain far more than escaping judgment . . . we are elevated far beyond just “getting by” . . . but are, in glorious reality, declared to be royals. Members of the King’s court beyond just the spans of this life, but carrying forward into the next . . . the gift exceeding the things of this earth, but extending to the new earth, as well. Think of it . . . we will reign with Him!

And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the scroll and to open its seals, for You were slain, and by Your blood You ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and You have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”
(Revelation 5:9-10 ESV)

A free gift that not only rescues . . . that not only renews . . . that not only reforms . . . but that repositions us to reign in life — now and forevermore.

Can I really grasp that? Do I really appreciate the full extent of the free gift?

O’ Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift! Amen?