Text: Romans 5:12-21
History records several personalities that represent truths affecting everyone in the world.
- Abraham is the figurehead of justification by faith. He believed in the Father’s ability to bring about the Son who is the heir of all things.
- Adam is the figurehead of death. He invites sin into the world and with it comes death. Adam opened the door to sin but didn’t realize death was its companion. And so death entered along with sin.
- Jesus Christ is the figurehead of eternal life. His life is contrary to the corrupted biology in Adam. His nature is spiritual, not carnal, because He originates from the Father, not Adam. Adam and Jesus Christ are representatives of humanity
Adam brings sin and death (vs 12)
- Adam represents humanity in bringing sin and death into humanity.
- 1 Corinthians 15:22
- What are some of the consequences in Adam’s representation?
- One sin would lead to the death of all. Death is king.
- Adam brings condemnation to humanity. Everyone is under a death sentence.
- Hebrews 2:15 the fear of death rules
- One sin would lead to many offenses.
- Adam’s disobedience made men sinners.
- Death is the final and unbeatable enemy.
Comparison of Adam and Christ
- Obedience brought life, disobedience brought death
- Righteousness vs the transgression
- Free gift vs the offence
- Justification vs condemnation
- 1 Corinthians 15:42-45 explains first the resurrection of Jesus Christ. His body died as every other man died. That’s the natural end of the body. But He comes out of the tomb. That’s not a physical thing, that’s a spiritual thing. His body is still physical, but the life that re-enters His body is a spiritual matter. It could not be accomplished by physical means. Keep reading. 1 Corinthians 15:46-49
- Then you might as well read 1 Corinthians 15:50-58!
Sin and death reign regardless of the written law (vss 13-19)
- Verse 13 is tough if you’re trying to make this about how God treats people. If you think sin wasn’t held against people before Moses’ law, then you need a refresher on the flood in Genesis 6, Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19, Cain killing Abel in Genesis 4, and so on. The LORD definitely held man responsible for sin. But I don’t fully understand the way this is worded and why it’s in here, other than a general statement about any law defining what a criminal is or isn’t.
- Verse 14 means not everyone did what Adam did, but everyone was represented in Adam and would suffer the consequences of Adam’s sin in their biology. And as Adam represented humanity, so Jesus Christ would represent humanity.
- The written law was to highlight the transgression (vss 20-21)
- 1 John 3:4 sin is the transgression of the law.
- Galatians 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. And the law was a schoolmaster to bring Israel to Christ. This is where grace would abound.
- In the same nation that God would record His law, He would also look forward to the day when His grace would be poured out on the same nation. So where the offense abounded in the nation of Israel, grace would be even more evident in that nation.
- Verse 21 is an amazing blessing!
