Romans 5:12-21 – One in Adam
Week 5 - March 23-29
“Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.
But the free gift is not like the trespass. 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. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, 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.
Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. ”
We will take two weeks to look at this one passage together. It focuses our attention on two men: Adam and Christ. Both are representatives for us. Both set our trajectories in life and death. This week we will focus on Adam. What does it mean that many die through one man’s trespass?
Adam served as a representative for all of humanity. The choice he made to reject God’s good Word and commands forever changed human history. We are all born sinners by nature, bent internally away from God’s holiness and goodness. And we all carry out that nature in our choices so that each one of us is without excuse. Just as children reflect their parents – the way they look, their mannerisms, personality quirks, tastes – so we reflect our ultimate parents who rebelled against God in Eden. And that reflection impacts every aspect of our lives.
Questions to Ponder:
What characteristics of your parents can you see in your own life?
What issues and sins have you struggled with throughout your life?
How does it shape your understanding of your own struggles to see the connection to Adam?