An empire is a group of nations or peoples ruled by an emperor, empress, or other powerful sovereign or government. What if I were to tell you that you were being ruled and governed by a power that you did not elect or choose? Forget for a moment the current government in power wherever you may reside. That is inconsequential at the moment. For there is a power you are currently being subjected to. An empire reigns in your life, and you will be subservient to it. It is my intention to reveal to you the Reign of Empires.
The Empire of Sin
“That as sin hath reigned unto death” (Rom. 5:21)
We find man’s plight beginning in Genesis, the book of origins. Here we are introduced to Adam, the first man. Created from the dust of the ground, God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (Gen. 2:7). Next, man is given authority to be the sovereign over creation (Gen. 1:28-30). As the federal head of creation, Adam was given the responsibility to oversee this God-given empire. However, Adam and his wife, Eve, relinquished their power when they succumbed to the temptation of the serpent in the garden. Adam and Eve failed to believe in the sufficiency of God’s Word and commands (Gen. 3:1-2). The serpent vanquished the kingdom from Adam’s reign as he usurped Adam’s authority.
Instead of Adam having dominion over the earth, he would now be subservient to another ruler – sin. By this abdication, sin came into the world through this one man (Rom. 5:12). One trespass led to condemnation to all men, and by one man’s disobedience, the many were made sinners (Rom. 5:18). Sin began its tyrannical rule with Adam’s disobedience. Man became subjugated to sinful desires and temptations.
This wasn’t how it was designed. Man was made in the image of God (Gen. 1:26). As God’s image-bearer, man had been given dominion. Now, his authority was relinquished and he became a bondman to sin.
Sin’s Empire is built upon lies. The law by which sin rules is to deceive its captives. This empire questions God’s commands and lures you to do the opposite. Sin’s empire is built with imaginary scenery offering you life’s pleasures and indulgences. Its provinces and terrains are depicted as paradise, but it is only disguising its hell. Its grand allurements are delightful to the eye, giving the impression of wisdom and riches (Gen. 2:6). The appeal is that you can be your own king and queen and do whatever you please answering to no one. Here in this evil empire is the lie that you can be like God, and that God is keeping you from satisfaction (Gen. 3:5).
Sin’s Empire looks attractive and appealing. Your eyes and affections are captivated by its enticements. But you fail to recognize that the salesman is a serpent. Once you take a bite of the fruit that he offers, your eyes are opened (Gen. 3:7). The fruit hasn’t even reached your digestive system and you realize you have been seduced. The seduction has become your master, and the sounds of chains and shackles have become the constant white noise in your conscience.
Sin’s economy is to make you believe that everything is free. Deception is its currency. Lies like, “You can take what you want and do what you want without a price.” Sin’s entrapments cost you all. Sin offers you wealth and you lose everything that you once had. Sin offers you lust, and you lose your purity. Sin offers you status and yet it takes your reputation. Sin offers you freedom and yet you are enslaved.
The empire of sin’s economy is booming. Because sin will always have its merchants, and it never gives what it promises. How can sin always come out ahead with such obvious fraud? Because it’s patrons are not free, they are enslaved.
You may be thinking to yourself that you are not under the reign of sin. But Jesus says whoever sins, is a slave to sin (John 8:34). There are no citizens in Sin’s Empire, only slaves, and captives. You may believe that you have not sinned but you are deceiving yourself only making yourself a liar (1 John 1:8). All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). You may not have sinned exactly like Adam, but sin and death reign over you because you were in Adam when he sinned. The condemnation of Sin’s Empire has come upon all men (Rom. 5:14-21).
The Empire of Death
“Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses” (Rom. 5:14a)
The Empire of Sin has a neighboring kingdom known as the Empire of Death. Sin has reigned in death. The Empire of Death resides in the dark shadows of Sin’s Empire. Sin doesn’t want to show you this part of its domain. This is the dark part of Sin’s realm that is littered with the graves of sin’s victims. People surely would not migrate to Sin’s Empire if they knew this part of its domain. You must realize that the wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23). This was promised to Adam in the paradise of Eden. God said, “The day that you eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall surely die” (Gen. 2:16-17). Adam and Eve didn’t believe God and instead believed the serpent. Once they ate the forbidden fruit death began to work in their soul and body. Death seized them before they realized it.
You are currently racing against time, and death is nipping at your heels. It is appointed unto men once to die but after this the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). Death is the inevitable consequence of sin. There is a way that seems right unto man, but its end is death (Pro. 14:12). Death in all of its finality is not the worst part. It will be the second death, the condemnation and judgment of those to an eternal damnation (Rev. 20:14; 21:8).
The Empire of Grace
“even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 5:21b)
Adam was the first man. Made in the image of God, he was unable to keep God’s commands. His failure led to humanity’s demise. Man fell into the trappings of temptation and sin and death began their awful reign. There seemed to be little hope for humanity to overthrow Sin and Death’s reign.
Due to Adam’s transgression humanity became an enemy of God. In our weakened condition, and under the power of sin and death we had no hope (Rom. 5:6-10). It would take the Second Adam, Jesus Christ, to liberate humanity (1 Cor. 15:22; 47). It would take the unmerited favor of God to reverse our contentious relationship with God.
A new empire was on the horizon with the coming of Jesus Christ. Jesus was the Word of God made flesh. The word that was rejected in Eden was going to become flesh and dwell among His creation. He was the glory of God full of grace and truth (John 1:14). Adam failed to obey and trust God’s Word and succumbed to the temptations of the serpent in the garden. Jesus would conquer the temptations of the devil using the Word of God (Matt. 4:1-11). Jesus would accomplish what Adam and humanity couldn’t.
The only way for humanity to be free from the Empires of Sin and Death was not going to be through the Law of Moses, or through the work and effort of humanity. Rather, grace would be freely given. God showed His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. While we were sinners, Jesus would take the condemnation of death for us, to give us what we didn’t deserve.
This is the Empire of Grace. Grace reigns through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Consequently, the free gift of Jesus Christ is not like the trespass of Adam. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many (Rom. 5:15). If death reigned through Adam, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:17).
The Empire of Jesus
“much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:17b)
Whereas the captives of Sin and Death’s Empire are in bondage, the citizens of Jesus’ Empire reign in life through Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:17). Sin and Death’s Empire brings condemnation, judgment, and death. On the other hand, Jesus brings reconciliation, justification, righteousness, and life.
Adam was made from the earth, but Jesus, the Second Adam, came from heaven (1 Cor. 15:47). The first Adam was king over the first creation. While Jesus is the King-Priest over the New Creation (Gen. 1:26-27; 2 Cor. 5:17). Adam’s disobedience brought sin, death, condemnation, and judgment. However, Jesus’ life brings the free gift of reconciliation between God and men, justification, sanctification, and righteousness. Death reigned as emperor because of Adam, but believers reign in abundant life (presently and in the future) through Jesus Christ. Adam’s sin plunged humanity into condemnation and made us enemies of God. Christ’s death brings right standing with God. Adam hid from God because of his trespass, now we have free access to God in Christ. Adam disobeyed God and made us sinners. Christ obeyed, and now through faith, we are made righteous. The Law wasn’t given to save humanity, but to reveal humanity’s sinfulness. The abounding grace of God met the demands of the Law when Jesus Christ died and supplied what the Law couldn’t- salvation from sin.
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when He delivers the Kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death (1 Cor. 15:20-26).
Let me ask you, which empire do you want to reign in your life? Will you continue to be enslaved to the reign of sin and death? Or will you choose to believe in Jesus Christ and be free from your sin? If you will have the Son of God, then you will be free indeed (Jn. 8:35-37). And if you will believe in the Son of God, repent of the sins in your heart, be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins, and receive the free gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38), you will have a new Empire that will reign in your life. It is the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. No longer subject to sin and death, you will be free from the condemnation and judgment (Rom. 8:1-2).