What does Romans 5:20 say about sin and grace and how does it apply to the genealogy?
Romans 5:20 teaches that sin is shown in all its awfulness, yet where sin abounded, grace abounded much more. Applied to the genealogy, even the four women who stood in direct opposition to God's instruction were brought into renown by His mercy and grace.
Les teaches that Romans 5:20, written by Paul, declares that sin is seen for all its awfulness, but where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. Turning to the genealogy, he says that even as low as some of these people may have fallen, God's grace was able to go beyond it. Though we are not under the program of grace, God's grace has always been evident. He illustrates this with Adam and Eve, who did not run to God but were sought by God on the basis of grace, and with Israel, who repeatedly turned away yet was restored by grace. Likewise, the four women in the genealogy were in direct opposition to everything God had instructed, yet His mercy and grace brought them into a place of renown by being included in the genealogy.
Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
More Questions
Why does the speaker appeal to Romans 5:20 when discussing Jesus' genealogy?
Les says Romans 5:20 best explains the surprising inclusion of these people in Jesus' genealogy, because even though this is back in the Jewish economy under the Law, it is still the same God.
Why did the law enter according to Romans 5:20?
Most people think the law entered so that God or people could get control of sin, but Romans 5:20 says it entered for the opposite purpose: so that the offense would abound.