20 Now the law came in [came in alongside] to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,
grace abounded [super abounded] all the more,
Grace has greater abundance than the law. No matter how great human sin may be, God’s grace super abounds beyond it. Where sin multiplied by the law, grace abundantly overwhelmed the effects of sin. Paul used the superlative “abounded” only one other time (2 Co 7:4).
The words “increased” and “abounded” are from the same Greek word except that “abounded” is a more intense term. “Abounded” adds the word “super” to the idea. It is possible to measure sin by the standard of Scripture, but it is not possible to measure grace because it multiplies by an infinite God. Sin was finite but grace is infinite.
God never measures His grace in proportion to our deeds. He provides His grace without regard to our past or present life. God reaches out to any man in any situation. God cannot go beyond the grace He gives because it is the infinite provision of His person. He forever demolished all that sin can do. This does not mean that God condones sin, no matter how slight it may be.
2 Co 12:9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
The cross reveals human good for what it is in God’s sight. Man’s righteousness (not his sin in this case) is filthy rags (Is 64:6). From God’s point of view, man is helpless, hopeless, and His enemy. Man wants to trust in his own righteousness and capacity to please God. There is no credit in personal righteousness before God. Nevertheless, God pursues man with His grace and offers him salvation freely through the cross.
We glorify the grace of God. Notice other passages which speak of abundant grace:
Jn 1:16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.
2 Co 4:15 For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
2 Co 9:14 and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you.
PRINCIPLE:
The principle here is the greater the sin, the greater the grace.
APPLICATION:
The law was never at the core of God’s plan for man. It could never provide salvation for man. Its purpose was to make sin exceedingly sinful. God’s grace super-abounded above the debasing influence of sin. No personal sins of man could diminish the grace of God.
Sin evokes a natural antagonism to God. It, therefore, stimulates disobedience. As disobedience multiplies, grace super-multiplies.
Where sin multiplied, grace exceeded it immeasurably. Grace triumphs over sin completely, utterly, finally. God never withholds His grace because of sin. On the contrary, the greater the sin the greater the grace. There is no limit of God providing grace for us. He does not dole out His grace depending on how much we merit it.
Many Christians deem themselves as second-class Christians because they sinned miserably at some point in their lives. This idea violates God’s super-abundant grace.
