Christ and the Reign of Life

In this passage Paul continues his comparison between Adam and his failure and Christ in His victory.

As noted in earlier in chapter 5 the only true comparison between Christ and Adam is one act/ one man.

Just as Adams act brought sin into the world Jesus’s act brought salvation into the world for all people.

The Contrast In Effectiveness (v 15)

In this first verse Paul clearly states the difference between the free gift of Christ and the transgression of Adam.

The definition of a gift is: something freely given that the person does not pay for.

Here in this verse the word for gift that is used is: Charisma which refers to something given with special graciousness and favor, and therefore could also be appropriately rendered “grace gift”

By eating from the tree of Knowledge Adam departed from Gods standard and entered a divinely-forbidden realm.

Instead of becoming more like God as satan had promised, man became more unlike His creator and separated from Him.

Instead of bringing man into the province of God, Adams transgression delivered him and all his offspring to the province of Satan.

Jesus not only reversed the curse of Death by forgiving and cleansing us from sin but also provided the way for redeemed men to share in the full righteousness and glory of God.

Gods grace is greater than mans sin.

Not only is it greater than the one original sin of Adam but it is greater than all the other accumulated sins that men have ever or will ever commit.

Death by Nature is static once it happens nothing can happen beyond it.

Life however is active and full.

Only life can abound.

Jesus broke the power of sin and death, but it can not happen the other way around.

Sin and death cannot break the power of Christ.

The condemnation of Adams sin is reversible through the power of Christ.

The effect of Adams act is only permanent if not nullified by Christ.

The effect of Christs act, however is permanent for those who believe.

We have the great assurance that once we are in Jesus Christ we are in Him forever.

The Contrast in Extent (v16)

The second contrast between Adam and Christ is in regard to the extent of each of their actions.

Christs extent is far greater than the result of Adams failure.

Not only did Christ restore us from Adams sin but from our own sin and not only that but we have been Justified by His work on the cross.

The verse contains 2 truths:

God hates sin.

He hates it so much that it took only one sin to condemn the entire human race and separate us from Him.

God cannot be in the presence of sin.

Sin is the same no matter what it is, it is still sin in the eyes of God.

Gods love for the sinner.

Despite the fact that God hates sin so much His loving grace toward man is so great that He provides not only our redemption for the sin of Adam but the redemption for all of our sins across all of time and humanity.

The Contrast in Effectiveness (v 17)

Neither Adam or Eve sinned because they wanted to die.

The sinned because they wanted to become like God.

Their sin produced the very opposite result from that which they desired.

sin will always take us farther than we want to go.

cost us more than we want to pay

and ruin more than it ever helps.

Instead of becoming more like God they became more unlike Him.

The result of Adams sin was one dimensional.

The result of his sin was death and separation from God.

The result of Christ act on the cross was multidimensional.

Christ not only offers Life but abundant life.

Life that abounds

John 10:10 ESV

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

People who have that relationship with Christ possess the very righteous, glorious, and eternal life of God Himself.

Philippians 1:6 ESV

6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Sin is no longer the nature or the master of the believer.

In Christ we are no longer victims of sin but victors over sin

1 Corinthians 15:57 ESV

57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Contrast in Essence (vv 18-19)

Pauls primary teaching in these two verses is that the essence of Adams one transgression was disobedience, whereas the essence of Christs one act of righteousness was obedience.

When God commanded Adam not to eat of the forbidden fruit, Adam disobeyed and brought death.

When God sent His only son into the world to suffer and die, the Son obeyed and brought life.

The Contrast in Energy (vv 20-21)

The power of grace and mercy can never be exhausted.

The Law was given to man not for him to fulfill it but it was given to man to show just how far away from God we are and how impossible it was to follow it.

what these 2 verses are saying is that no matter how much sin we have and no matter how bad of a person we are we can never use up the mercy and grace of God.

How much mercy and grace does God have?

As much as He needs!!!!