A New Way to Adam

Introduction

Last week we discussed how Faith brings peace with God. We are continuing in this idea today. We can tell that with the first work of the this passage. Therefore.

The Idea here is peace with God was lost because Adam the Archetypal human failed in his relationship with God through disobedience.

Romans 5:12–21 CSB

12 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. 13 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. 14 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. 15 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. 16 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. 17 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. 18 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. 19 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. 20 The law came along to multiply the trespass. But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness, resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Headship

So often I hear well God can’t blame me for what Adam did. You know what that’s not what Paul is saying here. Paul is saying that Go back and read verse 12. All have sinned. Sin may have entered into the world through Adam, and Adam lost the ability of Life because he was cast out of the garden. Because of this Death is for all. We all Die.

Paul’s whole argument in this section of Romans is based on headship:

Adam, as head of the human race, sinned and God saw the whole of humanity as guilty. That is hard in our individualistic culture.

The Good News is that in the Same way Jesus the Christ, the Second Adam, is the new head of a new spiritual race.

Christ did not sin, and God saw in Christ’s innocence all who unite themselves to him by faith as likewise innocent.

If you think it is unjust of God to lump everyone into Adam’s sin, maybe you consider should if be just for God to lump you in with Christ’s righteousness.

Peace with God was recovered the same way it was lost. The actions of One man. Jesus.

More than just peace we have Life because of Jesus Christ. Adam died after he had to leave the garden, yes he lived a life long by some standards but compared to the tree of life. He died. Seth died.. Enosh died kenan Died Methuselah died. Lie list goes on See Genesis 5. But Jesus lives

As Jesus Lives through obedience even up to the point of death. So do we.

Paul can mock death now

1 Corinthians 15:54–55 CSB

54 When this corruptible body is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place: Death has been swallowed up in victory. 55 Where, death, is your victory? Where, death, is your sting?

Not only do we live and reign with Christ now positionally; we will one day reign with him literally (2 Tim. 2:12; Rev. 22:5)

Reign with him in life.

New Human

No one can help being born in Adam. No one can help being a human in Hebrew Adam means Human.

Every son of Adam, every Adam bears the guilt of Adam.

But there is a new way to Adam. That is through Jesus Christ.

Who here has heard of Rembrandt before?

He is one of the most famous artist in the post-reformation Europe.

In his painting “Raising of the Cross” He appointed himself into it as one of the people lifting the cross, helping to crucify his own Savior.

See that figure in the Blue.

One of his most famous paintings is “Return of the Prodigal Son” it is said that he painted his own confession of faith that prodigal sons of a heavenly Father can only find forgiveness and reconciliation under the gentle touch of his hand.

When the father of the prodigal received the kneeling penitent in Rembrandt’s painting, Romans 5:8 was illustrated—“God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” If it takes a prodigal to paint a prodigal, it surely takes a returned prodigal to paint a reconciling father.

While not everyone can apply paint to canvas with the skill of Rembrandt, our very lives are canvasses nonetheless. God would paint his reconciling message in us for all the world to see.

The peace of the prodigal son is ours in Christ

The reconciling love of the Father is ours to receive and share with others.

Next Steps

May God help us to live in the benefits of his peace, and be ambassadors of his reconciliation to a yet-to-return prodigal world.

Bibliography

Boa, Kenneth, and William Kruidenier. Romans. Vol. 6 of Holman New Testament Commentary. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000.

W., Jackson. Reading Romans with Eastern Eyes: Honor and Shame in Paul’s Message and Mission. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2019.