ROMANS 5:17

“For if by the offense of the one, death reigned through the one, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.”

Are you aware that as a follower of Christ you will reign with Christ one day? We are told in 2 Timothy 2:12, “If we endure, we will also reign with Him;” But I’ve got good news. Our reign doesn’t start in heaven. It starts here. What? Yes! Look at our verse again. If we “receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness,” we “will…reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” Woohoo! I am royalty! You are royalty!

Now, don’t get this picture in your head of sitting on a golden throne, holding a golden scepter and giving commands. That’s not what it means. Albert Barnes says, “It means that they shall be exalted to a glorious state of happiness in heaven; that they shall be triumphant over all their enemies; shall gain an ultimate victory; and shall partake with the Captain of their salvation in the splendors of his dominion above.”

APPLICATION

But what about here and now. When we receive these gifts from our Savior, we will finally experience real life. We will overcome all the griefs and sorrows because of the cross. We will rule over depression and despair because of Jesus. We will establish our boundaries through the blood of the Lamb. That’s reigning in life. That’s being of royal blood.

You see the moment we come to Christ and lay down our life in exchange for His, the blood of the Lamb envelopes us and protects us. Yes, we still have to deal with sin, but it has no power over us anymore. We can rule over sin in our lives. Yes, sickness may come, but it does not take away anything that we will willingly lay down.

Freedom in Christ is the power of our reign. Freedom in Christ dispels all our enemies. So, are you reigning with Christ today over the sins and evils that surround you or are cowering in fear like a slave of the evil one? It’s your choice. If you belong to Jesus, act like it. Rule like it. If you aren’t His child yet, come to Him today so that you may have the freedom that allows you to rule and reign in life.

Father God, I praise You for giving me the power to reign through Your Son, Jesus Christ.

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