Solomon, the wise king, said, “Vanity of vanities;
Solomon, the wise king, said, "Vanity of vanities; all is vanity" (Eccl. 1:2). In the words of the Apos tle Paul, all things apart from Christ are dung (Phil. 3:8). Our unique portion is God Himself, and grace is God as our portion for our partici pation, experience, and enjoyment.
If we consider John 1:1 and 1:14 in context, we shall see that grace is God coming to us to be dispensed into us for our enjoyment. John 1:16 says, "For of His fullness we all received, and grace upon grace." In Romans 5:17 Paul speaks of receiving not only grace, but the abundance of grace. Because grace is living and growing, it abounds. This abounding grace also reigns. Grace is not a lifeless element; it is a living Per son, even God Himself.
TWO KINGS
In Romans 5 both sin and grace are personi fied. As verse 21 indicates, either sin or grace may reign, grace positively or sin negatively. Sin is the embodiment of the evil nature of Satan in our flesh, and grace is God in Christ embodied in our spirit. Therefore, we have two kings—sin and grace—within us. In our flesh we have the king of sin, and in our spirit we have the king of