Devotion #5: Through One Man

Through one man, sin entered, and through one man, sin was defeated. Romans 5:19 (NIV) says, “For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.” 

Imagine someone knocking over the first domino in a long line. That one little nudge causes all the other dominoes to fall, one after another. That is kind of what happened when Adam disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden. His one choice to go against God’s command did not just affect him; it affected everyone. Through that one man, sin entered the world, and ever since then, humanity has been living with the consequences. Sin became a part of our lives, and with sin came things like guilt, shame, and separation from God.  

However, here is the amazing part: God did not leave us in that fallen state. Just like sin entered the world through one man, God planned to defeat sin through one man. He is Jesus. Where Adam brought disobedience, Jesus brought perfect obedience. Where Adam’s sin led to death, Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross brought life. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus broke the power of sin and made a way for us to be reconciled with God. Sin was defeated once and for all through the obedience of Jesus!  

Think about that for a moment: Adam’s one act of disobedience caused a ripple effect of sin for all humanity. Jesus’ one act of obedience caused an even greater ripple effect of grace, forgiveness, and life. Because of Jesus, we do not have to live under the weight of sin anymore. The power that sin once had over us was destroyed when Jesus died on the cross and rose again. That is an incredible victory!  

It is easy to feel like sin is too big to overcome or that our mistakes have too much of a hold on us. However, the truth is Jesus has already won the battle. Sin was defeated the moment He gave His life for us. All we have to do is trust in that victory and accept the grace that Jesus freely offers by believing He is God.  

So, today, remember that while sin came into the world through Adam, it was defeated through Jesus. His obedience, sacrifice, and love for us have made a way to save us from our sins. We do not have to live in guilt or shame anymore; Jesus has already set us free. All we have to do is put our faith in Him.  

Prayer: Lord, thank You for sending Jesus to defeat sin and set me free. I am so grateful that I no longer have to live under the weight of my mistakes. Help me to walk in the freedom and victory that You have already won for me in Jesus’ name, Amen.