Grace Reigns through Righteousness unto Eternal Life
That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:21, KJV)
Understanding the kingdom of God is often challenging for many, but God has used different perspectives to explain various facets of the kingdom to us in the scriptures. One surprising twist to understanding the kingdom of God is the antithesis of the reign of death and grace discussed by the Apostle Paul in Romans 5.
He presents the kingdom of God as the reign of grace through righteousness unto eternal life. The key word here is “reign,” and Paul gives us an easy way to understand its inner workings by comparing it to another kingdom—the kingdom of darkness, the reign of sin unto death.
What does it mean for sin to reign? The term reign means to rule as a king. A king exercises supreme dominion or control over everything in his kingdom, unlike a president with limited authority. In Romans 5, Paul uses an easy-to-understand example of reigning—the reign of death. From Adam until Christ, death has reigned over humanity with absolute control and impunity (Romans 5:14). No human being could challenge its dominion until God’s Law came.
So, through death, sin reigned over humanity. Everyone who sinned died without exception, illustrating its absolute control or dominion over people. Paul says that just as sin has reigned unto death, so grace will reign through righteousness unto eternal life. Note that he did not just say grace gives eternal life through righteousness, which would be correct, but that grace reigns. It will exercise absolute, supreme dominion and inevitably produce life in anyone who believes in Christ.
In other words, because of the gift of righteousness you have received through grace, eternal life must dominate every form of sin, death, and darkness in your life. For instance, sin shall not have dominion over you (Romans 6:14), just as disease, fear, demons, poverty, etc., must not have dominion over you because you are under grace—you reign in life!
Meditate
Ponder the words of Romans 5:21 above and mutter them as you meditate upon every word.
Apply the Word
You are either reigning, or something is reigning over you spiritually. God’s kingdom manifests in you through the reign of grace. Exercise your dominion, rule in life, and release the kingdom!
Pray
Ask the Spirit to open your understanding to this truth and help you put it to work.
Recommended Read
- The Kingdom of God is not in meat and drink
- Three Common Misunderstandings of the Kingdom of God
- Born to Reign
- What it Means to Seek First the Kingdom of God
- Your Tool to Reign in Life
Free Mini E-book: From Spiritual Dryness to Flourishing
