That One Man Jesus Christ

Romans 5:12–21 (ESV) — 12 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— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 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. 15 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. 16 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. 17 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. 18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 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. 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Introduction

This text describes a situation that the world knows well — sin and death.

We find it in all cultures and at all time.

And our understanding of universal brokenness implies that long for wholeness. In other words, we realize that something is wrong. You only recognize a bad apple by understanding what a good apple is. We recognize spoiled humanity — we are all in Adam — but we have no example of unspoiled humanity until we see Christ. We long for wholeness and life, but we do not have it.

Paul is providing a framework from which to see your life. And not your own, but the lives of your family, neighbors, and all of history.

Representation - Romans 5:12

Romans 5:12 (ESV) — 12 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—

Adam’s position is Father to humanity — He is a federal head

His failure is our failure and his curse is our curse

Whether you like it or not, you are represented by him. Think of an athlete competing in the olympics under the American flag. What if they act unsportsmanlike? Even though you didn’t do it, they represent you.

In the same way, Adam represents us. And, unfortunately, he represents us well and accurately. He was deceived and trusted in himself and so do we.

This is the way the Bible speaks:

1 Corinthians 15:21–22 (ESV) — 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

So, how do we escape this curse? Do we want to be represented by our own selves? No, we need a new head - a righteous head. We need Christ, the new Adam — the one who is perfectly obedient.

Conversely, it is also the Christian testimony that Christ now represents us.

Christ representing us:

Gal. 2:20 “20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Isa. 53:4-6 “4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

2 Cor. 5:21 “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.”

How is this accessed? By faith — See Romans 5:1-2 “1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

Typology — Romans 5:13-14

Romans 5:13–14 (ESV) — 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 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.

Adam was tempted and failed — Jesus was tempted and succeeded

Adam neglected to strike the serpent who was plaguing his bride — Christ crushed the devil underneath his feet (Eph. 5 — husbands be like Christ — lay your lives down)

Adam failed at a tree — Christ conquered on a tree

The tabernacle and temple was decorated in such a way to picture the garden of Eden — a place of fellowship and access with God

Christ was buried in a garden and when Mary ran to the tomb to see Jesus she mistook Him for whom? The gardener — that is no random anecdote from the text — He has opened the way back into the garden — back to access to himself.

Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more

“how much more argument” — look at how bad sin is and all it touches — but compare that to how good God’s grace is and how much more it will touch all of life. Rom 5:17

Romans 5:17 ESV

17 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.

“All God’s dealings with us used to be through Adam, but now all of God’s dealings with us are now in Christ” – Brian Borgman

Romans 5:20–21 (ESV) — 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 5:6–11 (ESV) — 6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room, And heav’n and nature sing, And heav’n and nature sing, And heav’n, and heav’n, and nature sing.

Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns! Let men their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found, Far as the curse is found, Far as, far as, the curse is found.

Closing/Communion

Adam ate from the fruit in faith in himself. We eat the elements of the table — we eat of Christ — placing our faith in Him.

Notes:

1 Corinthians 15:45–49 (ESV) — 45 Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.

“This is your identity in Christ. The obedience of Christ is all yours. God offers it freely, and it is received by faith alone. The obedience of Christ is as much yours as the sinful disobedience of Adam was also yours, on the same principles. Do not fall into the trap of thinking that the federal unrighteousness is yours as a birthright, but that the imputed righteousness of Jesus is somehow a “legal fiction.” It is nothing of the kind. It defines who you now are. – Doug Wilson

Romans 5

How deep is the wisdom and knowledge of God, how inscrutable his ways verse

Adam and Christ

Death in Adam:

Think C.S. Lewis -- why is the world universally corrupted? Our guilt and sin and brokenness is derivative of something whole and good. Sin is spoiled goodness.

What is the covenant relationship?

representative head -- think of state representatives instead of substitutes

Imagery of the garden redemptions -- tabernacle, temple, resurrection in the garden -- Jesus mistaken as the gardener

1 Cor 15:21-22: