“For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness shall reign by one, Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:17
Dear Ones:
It is very unusual in Scripture to find the phrase, “…much more,” mentioned five times in one chapter. It is true that in the original Greek, there are no “chapters” or “verses,” but what we see here is that in a short span of Scripture, there is this repeated phrase. Why? It was certainly to draw a contrast in our minds concerning spiritual reality, especially in regard to the difference between the power and effects of sin, as opposed to the blessing and salvation of God in Christ. That being said, the words “much more” take us beyond just “our” concepts of the blessing of God, those we would be normally have, to realms and heights of spiritual reality, that only God could conceive of, for the blessing of mankind. When the Lord Jesus spoke the words in John’s gospel, “….I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly,” (10:10) He was speaking of that which was “much more” than we could ask or think. All through Scripture we see illustration after illustration of the concept of “fullness,” whether it be in reference to the glory of the Lord filling the earth, or the tree being filled with sap. He even speaks of streams that are filled with water. In speaking of eternal life, the Lord Jesus speaks of abundance of life, fullness of life. It is the fullness of HIS life, flowing like a river in all of its power and strength, and yet, at the same time being like an endless well, or spring of water, springing up unto eternal life. In all of these illustrations, there is the concept of abundance of Life, the “much more,” as opposed to all that man could ever conceive of. So, in light of great possibilities, and fullness of blessing, what are we to do?
In the book of Haggai, we find the Lord speaking to the people concerning their aspirations, and the actual realization of what He intended His blessing to be in and through them. He told the people through Haggai: “You have sown much, and bring in little; you eat, but you have not enough.” (1:6) His point is that the people are living on a vastly inferior plain than that which He intended. God’s answer to the matter was His instruction for the people to “consider your ways.” (1.5) It must be said at this point that in the history of Israel, a good many of the people had returned from captivity in Babylon, and had begun the work of rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. They knew blessing and victory. However, there was resistance and opposition to the blessing of God, and the people turned aside from the primary objective of the worship of God, that being symbolized by the building of the temple. The work had ceased, and the people had settled down to accept the status quo in believing that the time had NOT come to rebuild the temple. By their faithlessness, the blessing of the Lord was limited. The people ceased to know the “much more” of the blessing of God, that abundance of life, because they had allowed themselves to be turned aside from that which was primary in the eyes of God, the worship of God in Spirit and truth. How then were the people to find their way back to that place of blessing? It was first to remember. This was true also of Christ’s dealing with the Ephesian church in the book of Revelation: “Remember therefore from whence you are fallen, and repent, and do the first works.” (2:5) What were the first works? Certainly, they were those acts of worship, born out of “first love” for Christ. Love for God is the highest form and expression of faith. Worship is the key, and means, to love Christ.
Dear Father, Restore us to Thyself, to this love for Thee and the Lord Jesus. Give us to know the “much more” of Your blessing, born out of true worship. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad