From Depraved to Delivered

Our passage puts our text’s previous content about lostness and rescue into a nutshell.

Not matter the version, this passage is difficult in the KJV, the NIV, and even the Message.

The best of scholars have a hard time following this passage.

It is my job to make this difficult passage simple to understand, but not so simple we loose the meaning.

For our understanding I’ve divided our text into these three sections:

We Made a Mess (vv. 12-14)

He Sent the Messiah (vv. 15-19)

Let’s Learn Multiplication (vv.20, 21)

We’ll start with the sentence from sin, see the Savior from the start, and go to His school on multiplication.

We Made a Mess (vv. 12-14)

Romans 5:12–14 CSB

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned. In fact, sin was in the world before the law, but sin is not charged to a person’s account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin in the likeness of Adam’s transgression. He is a type of the Coming One.

Let me start with this:

all of us sinned in Adam, there is no exception.

Romans 3:23 CSB

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;

For the person who knows the Bible, this is not a problem. Even the least educated Bible student, and God expects all his children to study the Bible, should know that the word “Adam” means “mankind” in Hebrew.

All mankind sinned in Adam. All people are present in Adam.

Adam was not representing all people, but as one scholar says:

“Adam is mankind”

If your theme song is “My Way” or “Bridge Over Troubled Water” you need to accept that you are part of something over which you have no control and no matter where you run, you are still connected to all people and corrupted because of this sin.

You may ask, “This is before the law, so what is the effect of our sin in Adam?”

If the deadly result of this sin is constant from then until now, how do we take into account v.13?

Romans 5:13 CSB

In fact, sin was in the world before the law, but sin is not charged to a person’s account when there is no law.

“Not charged?”

Paul simply means “in comparison” to when the Law is not present.

Let’s use a simple example to help us understand this meaning.

Ill - When I was was in 4th grade I had a sugar craving. Like a drug addict, I was willing to steal to satisfy my craving.

In those days we walked to school. Along my way was our local pharmacy where they conveniently had rows of candy at just the right height for my picking.

I knew taking candy was wrong, but it was just so easy to steal.

Before the Law, people knew murder was wrong. Every society has laws against murder.

Yet when confronted while in the act, that’s more how the Law works.

Dad and Mom required me to explain my sudden candy stash. Dad promptly took me to the pharmacy where I was required to confess my sin and do whatever the shopkeeper wanted as part of my sentence. Lucky for me, they extended lots of grace. Although, can’t say things were all too well at home. My innocence was spoiled.

Like the Law, when I was confronted and required to admit and take punishment, sin didn’t see all that bad.

As Paul might say, “In comparison the guilt trip was not as bad as getting caught.”

Let’s not miss this one HUGE fact. If you or I were put there in place of Adam, we’d had done the same thing.

TRANS - Also, because we are one in Adam, it’s possible for us to receive salvation though Jesus.

He Sent the Messiah (vv. 15-19)

Romans 5:15–19 CSB

But the gift is not like the trespass. For if by the one man’s trespass the many died, how much more have the grace of God and the gift which comes through the grace of the one man Jesus Christ overflowed to the many. And the gift is not like the one man’s sin, because from one sin came the judgment, resulting in condemnation, but from many trespasses came the gift, resulting in justification. If by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is justification leading to life for everyone. For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.

Adam (v.14) was a “type” (GK tupos) of the One to come.

Typically we think this means “similar,” but not so in this case.

The only thing similar with Adam and Jesus is how they effect total number of human kind.

Adam is very much the opposite of Jesus:

Adam finite, Jesus infinite

Adam created, Jesus creator

Adam small, Jesus big

The difference between the 1st and 2nd Adam could not be greater.

Adam brought death and decay, Jesus gives life and eternity.

Adam destroyed all that was good, Jesus restores all that is good.

Our text says, “through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is justification leading to life for everyone.”

All humanity share in Adams’ sin, but all in Chirst share in His forgiveness and grace.

TRANS - June 6, 1944 D Day about 156K allied forces landed on the shores of Normandy, France. History relates D Day as the turning point that ended the war.

Year 1 or there about by our best estimate, another Day, V Day started with the incarnation. Like the allied forces invading a foreign power, God invaded humanity by coming in the form of a baby boy.

Today we are this side of the V Day end to the war on humanity. While the battle started some 2000 years ago, many POWs and taken places still wait for someone to rescue them.

Let’s finish out now with a simple lesson, not like school, but more along the line of “The Bible Says....”

Let’s Learn Multiplication (vv.20, 21)

Romans 5:20–21 CSB

The law came along to multiply the trespass. But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness, resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Paul has a lot to say about the purpose of the law in ch.7 and Gal. 3, but here it’s pretty brief.

The Law was not provided to make us do what is right. As a matter of fact, we sin all the more!

We know its wrong, are told by God its wrong, and still sin!

However, the effect is “sin x Law = depravity,” that is, the Law puts us deeper into our depravity. Like my dad making me face consequences, the Law forces us to acknowledge we are sinners.

The Law does not release us from judgement. However, the Law does move us closer to grace. The deeper we are in our mess, the more likely we are to say, “God help me a sinner!”

Our text “But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more” sums up this idea.

“multiplied even more” is one word in the Greek who’s definition means to “abound beyond. This is one case where none of our English translations can do Scripture proper justice.

If we were to translate this ourselves, I doubt publishers would put it to print. Words like super-sized or super-abounded sound more like fast food orders than what people think God’s Word might say. Yet, this is the actual meaning of “multiplied even more.”

The sort of grace provided by God is always super powerful, super good, and superior in every way to sin.

God’s grace is always many multiples more than sin!

The picture is one of overflowing, never-ending, completely filling with an endless supply of more.

Sin seems like a lot and for us sin is too much. But, when Jesus moves into a human heart, sin meets its match.

The grace given to us is no match for the powers of evil.

Regardless of your sin, in amount or depth, God’s grace is many multiples greater.

The purpose of grace is right here in our text:

Romans 5:21 (CSB)

so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness, resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

It actually starts when you ask Jesus to be our Savior, in this life.

Romans 5:17 (CSB)

...how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

“in life” its right there.

Conclusion

How does this happen for someone that does not have a relationship with Jesus?

We Made a Mess (vv. 12-14)

He Sent the Messiah (vv. 15-19)

Let’s Learn Multiplication (vv.20, 21)

First a person acknowledges they are a mess. Jesus said blessed is the poor in spirit. We acknowledge that we are brought low and nowhere else to go except to God begging for forgiveness and help.

Second we acknowledge that we believe God sent Jesus the Messiah to become sin and on the cross, take our punishment instead of us thereby making us forgiven and clean before God.

Thirdly, God’s not done and His grace, many times multiplied over sin, says to His child, come unto Me and live for I love you so very much.

Do you know God loves you? Do you know that you are created to live forever and that real life in Jesus is available to anyone who asks. Do you know you can have the assurance of knowing you will never go to Hell, not have to suffer eternal judgement?

If today you want to give your heart to Jesus, now is the best time to ask for God’s help, don’t wait. God is ready, willing, and able.

(PRAY)