This section is the hinge on which the door of Romans swings.
It looks back at what has been said, and looks forward to what will be said.
Many people do not like to study doctrine.
People would rather study about love, comfort, and supposedly more practical things for everyday life. Things that are immediately more interesting, and more gratifying.
The study of Christian doctrine is the most important thing we can do.
If we do not understand the truths of God, then we will not know how to apply them to our lives.
EXAMPLE…
A man may want to buy a house because of its location, nice neighborhood, and efficient design.
But he is a fool if he doesn’t get under the house and inspect the foundation.
The study of Adam’s sin is vitally important for everyone who wants to follow Jesus.
If Jesus came to save us from our sins, and to forgive us of our sins, and to pay for our sins, we do well to understand the origin of sin, and how One Man’s sin affected the entire human race
Romans 5:12-21 will teach us about two men, Adam, and Jesus.
Adam is called the First Man. The name “Adam”, means “the man”.
That is easy to understand, b/c chronologically, he was the first man created by God
Jesus is called the 2nd Man.
Not b/c He was the 2nd man to be chronologically born, but b/c Adam and Jesus are presented as the two important Heads of humanity.
1 Cor. 15:47 Adam, the first man, was made from the dust of the earth, while Christ, the second man, came from heaven.
Adam is presented as the one who sinfully affected all of humanity.
Jesus is presented as the head of a forgiven humanity.
Adam caused all men to sin.
Jesus came to die for the sins of all men.
Adam’s sin caused death to reign to all men.
Jesus’ righteous act of dying for our sins brings life to as many who will receive Him as their savior.
Adam made men sinners.
Jesus makes men righteous.
Romans 5:12-21
Adam Versus Jesus
I. Adam Versus Jesus: The Big Picture
A. Adam’s Sin And The Results Vs. 12, 18a, 19a
1. V. 12– Adam’s decision in the Garden brought sin into the world.
a. The effects of Adam’s sin extended far beyond himself; it affected all humanity.
b. Every act of violence, every war, every mugging, every rape, all bullying, extortion, kidnapping, domestic violence, drunkenness, promiscuity, etc., has come forth because Adam sinned, and passed that sin nature on to us.
c. V. 12- “All sinned” in Adam.
i. This statement is hotly debated among theologians and pastors.
ii. Possibility #1– I am guilty for Adam’s sin, as if I were there and did it myself, for I was in the loins of Adam, connected to him by birth, and under His federal headship. What Adam did affects me in every way; his guilt is imputed to me.
iii. Possibility #2– Adam’s sin tainted and infected all of mankind by giving them a sin nature, and passing physical death to all mankind. The children of Adam prove they have that sin nature when they sin. We are not sinners because we sin, but we sin because we are sinners, and that nature was passed on to us.
iv. I believe thought #2. We didn’t eat the apple, but we choose to give in to that sin nature passed on to me by Adam, and by that choice, we deserve God’s judgment. The sin nature rules and reigns over unregenerate man.
d. V. 19- Adam’s disobedience made all men sinners. (Not by imputed guilt, but by choosing to follow that sin nature which we received from Adam)
i. Ephesians 2:3 “…by nature children of wrath…”.
2. V. 12– Adam’s sin brought death into the world for all people.
a. I believe that the emphasis of the word death here speaks primarily of physical death, though spiritual death is certainly a part of that statement.
b. The fact that Adam’s sin brought death to all mankind is obvious. Millions of graves
c. 1 Corinthians 15:47-49 47 The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.
3. V. 18a– Adam’s one offence brought judgment/condemnation.
B. Jesus’ Act And The Results Vs. 18b, 19b
1. V. 18b- Jesus’ righteous act ushered in God’s offer of the free gift of salvation
2. V. 18b- Salvation results on justification of life.
3. V. 19b- Through Jesus’ obedience (to die on the cross) many can be made righteous.
II. Adam Versus Jesus: Details And Questions
A. People Die Because Of Adam Vs. 13, 14
1. Hypothetical Question- I understand suffering judgment for committing my own sins, but is Paul saying that mankind died physically because of Adam’s sin, and not because they were guilty of disobeying the Law of Moses?
2. V. 13– “Sin” (Adam’s sin and its consequences) pre-existed the Law of Moses.
a. One cannot break a law (sin) if no law exists.
b. For Adam, the penalty of disobedience to God’s command was physical death (among other things, i.e. shame, guilt, broken fellowship with God)
c. Adam was commanded to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
d. Adam disobeyed, and as a result, physical death began to work in him and us.
e. 1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.
3. The generations after Adam also died, though they neither broke the same commandment as Adam did, nor did they break the 10 Commandments, which did not yet exist. People died because death was passed down to them. Babies died, having not transgressed any law.
a. Notice the word reigned. (V. 14) Death had (and has) a 100% kill rate.
b. Thus death originated in Adam, and spread to all men. Adam infected the human race with physical death. People die because of Adam’s sin.
B. Adam Versus Jesus: Bullet Point Comparisons
1. V. 15a Jesus offers a free gift; Adam (essentially) forced his offense upon us.
2. V. 15b Adam’s offense brought death to humanity, forced upon them; in a “much more” way, God’s gracious gift of eternal life is offered to all who are dying.
3. V. 16a Gifts are given freely; Adam’s sin was passed down to us, through no desire from us
4. V. 16b Adam’s one offense resulted in our condemnation; many offenses were laid upon Jesus, but His free gift is justification for all who believe.
5. V. 17 Adam’s sin brought a reign of physical and spiritual death. Speaks of dominance.
C. Through Jesus, we receive an abundance of grace and the gift (imputation) of righteousness.
1. Did The Law Of Moses Come To Solve The Sin Problem? Vs. 20, 21
The Law (any law) can never solve the sin problem. It may restrain it at times, but it doesn’t solve it.
2. Conversely, when people sin, a law is made to prevent sin. As people find a loophole or exception, an additional law is made to restrain the exception.
3. Example- Two children see a sign on a park bench that says, “Wet Paint”. They touch it and get scolded. Their response is, “It didn’t say not to touch it”. The next sign says, “Wet Paint, Don’t Touch”. The kids throw a dog biscuit onto the bench. They get the dog to touch it. Another sign is made, “Wet Paint, Don’t Touch, Don’t Throw Things On The Bench”. The kids then kick a dog biscuit onto the bench…and so it goes.
4. With those kids, their sin is abounding. Additional laws increase their guilt, but God’s grace always is greater than man’s sin. It super abounds.
5. The result: As dominating as Adam’s sin is upon mankind, the grace and forgiveness of God is greater still.
6. People can be rescued from the dominating reign of sin over their lives.