There comes a place where you are so transformed by the goodness of God that nothing else matters. It’s just about too good to be true because —
But where sin abounded, GRACE ABOUNDED MUCH MORE, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:20-21)1
The word “abounded” is “pleonazo”2 and means increased or abounded. “Where sin ‘pleonazo’ (increased), grace abounded much more.” But here is something very interesting: the second time we see the word “abounded” in that verse, it is a completely different Greek word! “Abounded much more” is “hyperperisseuo,”3 and it means “to abound beyond measure, abound exceedingly, to overflow, to enjoy abundantly.” Grace abounded “with much more added to that.”4
Can you see the difference? God’s grace completely outruns sin. Sin can never keep up with His grace! His grace is outrageous!
(from page 127 of Unveiling Jesus)
Want more from Tricia Gunn? Check out excerpts from the Unveiling Jesus 20-part series!
1Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
2G4121 (pleonazō), Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, website: http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G4121&t=KJV, accessed 5-22-14
3G5248 (hyperperisseuō), Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, website: http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G5248&t=KJV, accessed 5-22-14
4Kenneth S. Wuest, The New Testament, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1961, p. 360″
