Our Daily Elder Devotional
We claim no originality for these devotions. One of our elders searches various sources and finds a daily devotion. Consider this a gift from Clinton Avenue Reformed Church: www.clintonave.org.

Today’s devotional is from my heart to you.

Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ

Romans 5:12 New International Version (NIV)

12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—

Romans 5:18-21 New International Version (NIV)

18 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. 19 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.

20 The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:50-58 New International Version (NIV)

50 I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”[b]

55 “Where, O death, is your victory?
    Where, O death, is your sting?”[c]

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord,because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Footnotes:

1. 1 Corinthians 15:49 Some early manuscripts so let us
2. 1 Corinthians 15:54 Isaiah 25:8
3. 1 Corinthians 15:55 Hosea 13:14

A larger set of passages today.All weave together to explain the way that sin entered the world through the disobedience of Adam and Eve.  Both were responsible for their actions.  Don’t blame Satan and his lies, don’t blame God for allowing it.  It is God’s will that we intentionally choose Him, that we choose good over evil.  That we have the freedom of free will and are not robots doing what we are ordained to do.  But God had a plan for our salvation from the beginning of time, knowing that Adam and Eve would choose the way that they did, because He is all knowing.  He and His Son and the Spirit of God together planned how the Christ would come and save us froim our sins.  Praise God for His mercy and love for us!

 

Psalm 103 New International Version (NIV)

Of David.

1 Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.