New Life through One

Written by Dorothy Brown

by Lydia Harris

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“For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous” (Rom. 5:19).

Please read: Romans 5:18 – 6:4

Separate studies of two families reveal a shocking difference between their impacts on society. The lineage of one family was traced over a 130-year period in studies done a century ago. Of the 2,820 descendants of this family, 1,096 were criminals or indigents that cost the state millions in relief or institutional confinement.

In sharp contrast are the progeny of Jonathan Edwards, married to Sarah Pierrepoint in 1727. A well-known study in 1900 showed the results of raising 11 children to fear God. Their descendants included 13 college presidents, 65 professors, 30 judges, 100 lawyers, a law school dean, 80 public office holders, almost 100 missionaries, three mayors, three governors, three U.S. Senators, one comptroller of the U.S.Treasury, and one Vice-President of the United States.

Today’s Scripture speaks of the impact of godly and ungodly lives on subsequent generations. Through Adam, our passage says, many were made sinners, but through Christ many will be made righteous. The sin and disobedience of Adam resulted in condemnation and death, but the obedience and righteousness of Christ brings justification and life.

I am grateful for my godly heritage passed down from my German Mennonite ancestors. Without this legacy, my life would be much different. In turn, I want to pass my Christian faith to our children and grandchildren.

Regardless of your past, because of Christ, generations to come may live new, redeemed lives (6:4) as you pass on your Christian values

~Thank you, Lord, for Your obedience that allows many to be made righteous through faith in Christ. Today, may my living faith be an example for those around me and those who follow.

Questions: Who has passed a legacy of faith on to you? How can you pass your faith on to others?

About the Author: http://talk.thelife.com/experience/devotionalforwomen/authors/lydia-e-harris/

Tags: descendants, disobedience, generations, Jonathan Edwards, justification, missionaries

5 Responses to “New Life through One”

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sharon says:

August 9, 2008 at 2:24 pm

i am passing my faith on to my grandchildren
sharon
Linda R says:

August 9, 2008 at 10:58 am

Hi Dianne, I have to enter my e-mail address every time I post, Have a Great Day!
I Was Blessed to be born & raised in a Christian Home, I have been married to a wonderful Christian Man for 33yrs this month and I pray that we have been a good example to our Children and we have raised them in a loving Christian Home. Both my son are serving the Lord and my daughter is with The Lord Right Now and I know that beyond a shadow of a doubt because of the way she lived her life and the way Jesus Shinned through her life! Lee-Anna had a habit of every single time she would leave us a note, wrote a letter what ever and to whom ever the last thing she would say was always “KEEP SMILING FOR JESUS” and that is what we put on her grave stone “KEEP SMILING FOR JESUS” I will NEVER forget those words as long as I live. Lee-Anna put those words into practice every day of her life. Even my 2yrs old grandson looks at Lee-Anna’s picture and one day all by himself said to me grandma Anna Happy (because she has such a big smile on her face) and I said yes Jakin and then I said Jakin where is Lee-Anna and he said Heaven. On that same table are pictures of his dad and uncle and they are both smiling but he never mentions there smile, never just Lee-Anna’s. So they are never too young to learn about Jesus. Hugs, Linda !!!
Dianne:-} says:

August 9, 2008 at 10:03 am

Romans:

Let us not forget, the gift of justification is available for anyone who wants it:

5:…18 …so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for ALL men.

5:20 The law was added so that the trespass might increase.

I could be wrong, but I take this to mean that the law was given to raise the awareness of those who otherwise would not know better. If one knows better, then an offense is that much more wrong.

6:1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means!

This is another one of those times when Paul seems to split hairs, but not really; he knew human nature, and our tendency to make excuses and take advantage of loop-holes. We can spiritualize just about anything to make it sound good.

I, for one, am grateful that this verse is included in the Bible; it kind of draws me up short inside, because I know that I have made up good or noble sounding excuses (at least within myself) to cover up self-centered motives many times.

We have been given grace. Let’s not abuse it. That’s what I get from this passage.

As for the family studies–very interesting. We have both kinds of streams in our family histories. Right now, we are at a “messed-up bunch of Christians” point.

P.S. Does everyone have to enter their e-mail address every time they post now, or am I unusual in this?
Lydia says:

August 9, 2008 at 9:23 am

Thank you, Lord, for bringing Anita to America and allowing her to raise her children with new opportunities here. We ask for your hand of healing on her son and also on the friends she mentions. Thank you for her caring heart for others. Thank you, too, for the new life we have in Jesus. Help us all grow in our faith and share it with others. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Anita says:

August 9, 2008 at 6:23 am

I haven’t been a privilege person as I was born in poverty not a choice.
But through coming to America I had the chance of raising three children
who had at least graduated high school. I had high aspiration for them.
The eldest I want to become a doctor but he instead is a minister of the
gospel and quite happy with his calling. Now he is recuperating from an
scooter accident. He has to have hydro therapy twice a day and taking
heavy dose of pain killer. On Monday he will be going to the big hospital.
In the town they live in they only have a small hospital. When he has skin
graph on his elbows and knees he can’t move for 5days. The 2nd child a boy is an insurance billing personal. The girl is a shadow person for
challenge folks. My prayer goes to my sister in Christ Jan for comfort in her
coming surgery to get an earlier date as well. Andi’s friend chemo that this friend chemo will be succesful. And my personal friend sister for her
chemo on her breast will help alleviate her cancer too. For Celia’s own
business to thrive and give her the ingenuity to make her business to
to successful. Thank you for Linda R ministry of prayer that lost love ones.
Her empathy for peoples’ emotional struggles through prayer is a tremendous support for that are hurting. I know that I’m part of the
receiving end my life is so much better because you all my friend had prayed for me my constant net-working with you all help me that give me
another family that I had never had when I was young I was from a broken family.