“11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.
Adam and Christ Contrasted 12 When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. 13 Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law to break. 14 Still, everyone died—from the time of Adam to the time of Moses—even those who did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. Now Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come. 15 But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. 16 And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. 17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.
18 Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. 19 Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.
20 God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. 21 So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
ENCOURAGEMENT
job 10
“Job Frames His Plea to God “I am disgusted with my life. Let me complain freely. My bitter soul must complain. 2 I will say to God, ‘Don’t simply condemn me— tell me the charge you are bringing against me. 3 What do you gain by oppressing me? Why do you reject me, the work of your own hands, while smiling on the schemes of the wicked? 4 Are your eyes like those of a human? Do you see things only as people see them? 5 Is your lifetime only as long as ours? Is your life so short 6 that you must quickly probe for my guilt and search for my sin? 7 Although you know I am not guilty, no one can rescue me from your hands.
8 “‘You formed me with your hands; you made me, yet now you completely destroy me. 9 Remember that you made me from dust— will you turn me back to dust so soon? 10 You guided my conception and formed me in the womb.[a] 11 You clothed me with skin and flesh, and you knit my bones and sinews together. 12 You gave me life and showed me your unfailing love. My life was preserved by your care.
13 “‘Yet your real motive— your true intent— 14 was to watch me, and if I sinned, you would not forgive my guilt. 15 If I am guilty, too bad for me; and even if I’m innocent, I can’t hold my head high, because I am filled with shame and misery. 16 And if I hold my head high, you hunt me like a lion and display your awesome power against me. 17 Again and again you witness against me. You pour out your growing anger on me and bring fresh armies against me.
18 “‘Why, then, did you deliver me from my mother’s womb? Why didn’t you let me die at birth? 19 It would be as though I had never existed, going directly from the womb to the grave. 20 I have only a few days left, so leave me alone, that I may have a moment of comfort 21 before I leave—never to return— for the land of darkness and utter gloom. 22 It is a land as dark as midnight, a land of gloom and confusion, where even the light is dark as midnight.”
