This passage is rendered variously, though not all with the same nuance. The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) translates it: "But law came in, with the result that the trespass multiplied; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more." In both the God's Word Translation and the NRSV, the sense of the passage is that God gave the Law of Moses for a purpose; namely, to help us to understand how very much we need Christ, His grace, and His kindness.

Contrary to popular belief, High Church traditions (like Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy) do not believe in "works-based" salvation. Yes, they see their respective sacraments as vehicles of God's grace, but the sacraments themselves do not save us. The grace of Christ does. Thus, even those who worship in the oldest of denominations are taught to trust in Christ for their salvation, rather than in their own works.

Today's Bible verse suggests that commandments, covenants, and sacraments are not bad, but we all unfortunately fail at perfectly keeping them. Thus, any form of God's "law"-whether that's the 10 commandments of the Old Testament or Jesus' commandments in the New Testament-is something you will never fully or adequately keep. Thus, salvation can never be found in YOU. You'll never be able to do enough, because you're never fully obedient to those "laws" or "commandments." However, that's okay, because Jesus is "enough." He was perfectly obedient. He fulfilled the Law. So, our daily failings, as bad as they make us feel, are simply an invitation to remember that "Jesus has more grace and mercy than you and I have sins," and that (because of our failings) "God's kindness is increased even more!"