“Moreover, the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 5:20-21).
Adam and Christ introduced two different spiritual kingdoms to the human race. Through Adam’s transgression, the reign of sin and death came to power in human history and has exercised a tyrannical reign ever since. Through His obedience, Jesus offers the reign of grace, righteousness, and eternal life.
The hint of this glorious kingdom came in John’s and Jesus’ earthly ministries. John proclaimed that “the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:1-2); Jesus declared that “the kingdom of God is at hand” (Mark 1:15). That kingdom, Paul would later state in Romans, is of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).
To become a member of the kingdom of God—Christ’s reign of grace, righteousness, and eternal life—Jesus most emphatically stated to Nicodemus that “unless one is born again”/“born of water and the Spirit”, he cannot see or enter the kingdom of God (John 3:3, 5).
Morality will not deliver anyone from the reign of sin and death. Neither will psychology, philosophy, nor sociology.
Only Jesus does.
