Death to Life

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.

After showing us that our justification is by faith alone in Christ alone, and that the product of that is peace with God and the peace of God, Paul now pans out to show us the big story. To give us the 30,000 foot view of what has unfolded through human history.

Paul divides all of human history into two sections, represented by two men, Adam & Christ.

This is not so different from the way that we think about human history today, being divided into 2 parts, separated by the person of Jesus Christ.

B.C. representing the time before Christ

A.D. Anno Domini meaning “in the day of our Lord”

So Paul uses these two representatives of the human race as the means for illustrating the significance and comprehensiveness of the work of Christ in the world.

Beginning in verse 12, we are taken all the way back to the very beginning, the creation of the world, and the great fall.

Romans 5:12-14

Genesis 3:1–6 ESV

1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

Death is the result of sin.

James 1:15 ESV

15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

Our sin effects other people.

Joshua 22:20 ESV

20 Did not Achan the son of Zerah break faith in the matter of the devoted things, and wrath fell upon all the congregation of Israel? And he did not perish alone for his iniquity.’ ”

Numbers 14:18 ESV

18 ‘The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.’

We all inherited sin and death from our father Adam.

Ephesians 2:1–3 ESV

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

The time before Christ can be rightly labeled the reign of death.

Romans 5:15-17

What we received from Adam was something that we earned, what we receive from Christ is a free gift.

What was lost in the fall, can not be compared with what is being restored through Christ.

Through Adam we all received condemnation through his sin, but through Christ we receive justification in spite of our sin.

Romans 5:18-21

We are no longer living under the reign of death that came through Adam, we are now living in the reign of life through Christ.

Until we understand what was lost in Christ, we can’t begin to comprehend what has been gained in Christ.

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.

His grace is greater!

2 Corinthians 9:8 ESV

8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Ephesians 4:7 ESV

7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

Hebrews 4:16 ESV

16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

What is the relationship between Adam’s sin and the concept of death?

What is the significance of viewing history as divided by the figure of Jesus Christ?

How can understanding our inherited sin from Adam help us appreciate the grace we receive from Christ?

How might the concept of sin affecting others shape your decisions and actions?

What does living under the 'reign of life through Christ' mean for our daily lives?