Reign

Reign

“For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:17
Did you know that as a child of God you have kingly power and influence in this life? Now before you go find some people to boss around, the first person we must reign over is ourselves! We must bring our thoughts, attitudes, actions, and will under the Divine influence of the Holy Spirit. He will begin to transform us into the image of our big brother, and supreme King, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:17 says that we “reign in life” through Jesus Christ. We reign in life through His life.
Jesus said that he came that we might have life (John 10:10). This life he refers to is God-life. It’s life inherent in God (John 1:4). Life as God has it, that which the Father has in Himself, and which He gave to the Incarnate Son to have in Himself (John 5:26). It is life that is not subject to death. It is a gift of God given to us through faith in Jesus Christ. “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life” (John 3:36). It’s not just living forever, but it’s living forever in the presence of God. It involves the impartation of a new nature.
Because of Adam’s sin, death, and all its miseries ruled the lives of men. If man’s mistake was the end of the story we’d have a sorrowful existence. “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)” (Ephesians 2:4-5).
Listen, if you’ve made mistakes in life you don’t have to live under the dominant influence of past failures. As a child of God our life is hid in Christ (Colossians 3:3). You have been placed in right-standing with God. This righteousness means you don’t have to live under the power of sin, death, or judgment. God has given you the ability to enjoy life! By of the power of God’s abounding grace break free of whatever is dominating you today, and choose to reign as a blood-washed child of God!