Camping made many memories for us as we raised our children. Some of those memories were around a campfire singing hymns together, visiting with new friends, oh, yes! and enjoying tasty treats. We’d wait till everybody went back to their tents and it was just our little family. Sidney would bring out the sticks he’d cut that afternoon, and Angie headed to the camper for the marshmallows. Nancy opened the box of graham crackers and package of Hershey’s chocolate bars. What a great combination these made with the help of those glowing embers.
You might know this recipe. First the graham cracker, then the chocolate bar, then a hot roasted marshmallow on top so that it melts down into the chocolate. They call them S’mores. Easy name to remember since after you’ve had your first taste you can hardly wait for s’more!
Few things are like that in life. Most things get old, wear out, break, or become routine. In a sweet way, the gospel is like those S’mores. In fact, there is s’more to the gospel than I ever imagined. So much more than I ever dreamed possible. That’s what I love about the apostle Paul’s reminders in Romans 5. Five times over he mentions that we have a “much more” salvation in our Lord Jesus Christ! Scan Romans 5 and rejoice to know that:
Much more…we’re saved from wrath (Rom. 5:9)
Much more…we’re saved by His life (Rom. 5:10)
Much more…we’re saved to proclaim (Rom. 5:15)
Much more…we’re saved to reign (Rom. 5:17)
How is it possible that sinners could receive such good news of this wonderful salvation? Well, Romans 5:20 tells us how.
Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more!
When I was first saved I was so thrilled to know the joy of sins forgiven and a home in heaven. Just as we’re reminded in Romans 5:6-8, “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” That’s the gospel, and that’s salvation.
A little way down the road I found out about the judgment coming on this world, and after judgment the lake of fire. I was so glad to be saved by the Lord Jesus through the gospel. It was more than I had realized, much more than I could have ever imagined. I was saved from wrath!
I know that God’s wrath is sure by the Old Testament examples, like the flood of Noah’s day and the fire that fell in the days of Lot. Then the New Testament opens with John the Baptist warning Pharisees and Sadducees, saying, “Who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” (Mt. 3:7). And the Lord Jesus taught from the Mount of Olives that “Then shall be great tribulation, such as was not been since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Mt. 24:21). Even the epistles warn, mentioning the reason that “the wrath of God comes upon the children of disobedience” (Eph. 5:6). Finally, the last book of our Bible explains the threefold complete judgment of seven seals broken, seven trumpets blown, and seven bowls poured out. The wrath of God is sure, and I’m sure glad that I’m saved from His wrath!
The wrath of God is also stored up. Think of the things that people collect. From sea shells to china, love letters to baseball cards, bottle caps to Hummells. But who would ever think of collecting God’s wrath? Yet Romans 2:5 states that those who don’t know the Lord are treasuring up–storing up for themselves–wrath for the revelation of the righteous judgment of God. Even the heavens and earth are kept in store for judgment (2 Pet. 3:7).
I also believe the wrath of God is soon! Though not profound, it’s still true, His coming is closer today than yesterday. Peter warns us that the Lord is not slack concerning His promise. He is coming quickly and will not tarry! (Heb. 10:37). But, thanks be to God, through the good news of the gospel we have a salvation that is much more and saves us from the wrath to come.
Can we be sure of this? Well, we have two-sided protection. “Jesus which delivered us from the wrath to come” (1 Thess. 1:10) and “God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess. 5:9). That’s a much more salvation that saves us from the sure wrath of God which is being stored up, and coming soon!
The strength of the gospel of Christ, which is the power of God to salvation, is seen in Romans 5:10. “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” Saved by His life? Which life? His life here when He went about doing good? Healing the sick? Preaching around Galilee’s shores? No, that could not save us. He had to go to Calvary. There He laid down His life and that He might take it back again. Now He ever lives, to save us from the guttermost to the uttermost!
Here’s the way it is: we have been saved from sin’s penalties because Christ died for us. It is a complete work. Done! Now we’re being saved from sin’s power because Christ lives for us. It is His continuing work. Going on! One day we will be saved from sin’s presence forever because Christ is coming for us. Gone! It’s a wonderfully full salvation we have! It’s more than we could have imagined, much more than we ever dreamed possible. We’re much more saved by His life.
You know, such a gospel as this ought to be shared with others. Just look at the comparisons in Romans 5:15, that death came from one man and life came from one Man. Those men are the first Adam and the Last Adam, Jesus Christ.
Both the offense of one and grace of One have effected many. Important comparisons, but note the contrasts. A free gift and an offense. Death and life. Adam and Christ. Judgment and justification (Rom. 5:16).
Then there is the fact that this good news of the grace of God abounded to many. That’s the commission to you and me. How? Just as those faithful believers of Paul’s day went everywhere preaching Christ, we should too.
Here was Paul’s perspective according to Romans 1:14-16, I am a debtor to pay, I am ready to preach, I am not ashamed to proclaim. We’re much more saved to proclaim. Normal, ordinary folk who are saved by God’s grace have the honor of telling the gospel! As one has said, “God has chosen a nobody to tell everybody about Somebody who cares for anybody.”
This much more salvation just gets better and better. Look at Romans 5:17. It tells us that, “much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” Can you imagine that? We’re much more saved to reign! Now in life; then in light (Rom. 8:19).
Given the name, Rex, has had its difficulties. Like the neighbor child who spoke with me out in the driveway one day. After a bit of conversation, he asked, “Man, what’s your name?” “Rex,” I replied. He contemplated that as much as a little boy could, and then responded, “I knew a dog one time named Rex.” I told him I heard his mother calling him to come home!
After I came to know the Lord, someone explained that my name means king! That’s right. Oh, I know I won’t be a king, but I do belong to a kingdom of priests, and one day I’ll reign with the King of kings! Why? Because of the much more salvation in our Lord Jesus Christ. We’re much more saved to reign.
It really is a much more salvation that saves us from wrath, saves us by His life, saves us to proclaim, and saves us to reign with Him. It’s more than anyone could have ever imagined, much more than anybody could have dreamed possible. But how could sinners like us, so undeserving, ever have such a salvation?
That’s the beauty of the gospel. Romans 5:20 makes it clear, “Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.”
So, wouldn’t you like to have S’more? Oh, yes, tell me s’more! Tell me much more of Christ, my Saviour, and of His glorious gospel.