Christmas Reflections from Romans 5:12-21

"Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned...Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men (Romans 5:12,18)."

Joy to the world! The Lord is come...Joy to the earth! The Savior reigns...Repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy...No more let sins and sorrows grow nor thorns infest the ground; he (Jesus) comes to make his blessings flow far as the curse is found...Let earth receive her King. Let every heart prepare in room...Let men their songs employ...And heaven and nature sing...He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories of his righteousness, and wonders of his love, and wonders of his love (Isaac Watts, Joy to the World! The Lord is Come).

"If, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, 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 5:17)."

Hail the heaven born Prince of Peace! Hail the Son of righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in his wings. Mild he lays his glory by, born that man no more may die. Born to raise the sons of earth. Born to give them second birth (Wesley & Whitefield, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing).

"...but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 5:20b-21)."

Tell out my soul, the greatness of the Lord: Unnumbered blessings give my spirit voice; tender to me the promise of his word; In God my Savior shall my heart rejoice...Tell out, my soul, the greatness of His name: Make known his might, the deeds his arm has done; his mercy sure, from age to age the same; his holy name, the Lord, the Mighty One...Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his might: Powers and dominions lay their glory by...(Timothy Dudley-Smith, Tell Out, My Soul, the Greatness).