Romans 5:12-21

(ESV)

Paul paints with broad brush strokes a “bird’s-eye” picture of the history of redemption. His canvas is human history, and the scope is universal. We hear nothing in this paragraph of “Jew” and “Gentile”; both are subsumed under the larger category “human being.”

The passage shows why those who have been justified and reconciled can be so certain that they will be saved from wrath and share in “the glory of God”: it is because Christ’s act of obedience ensures eternal life for all those who are “in Christ.”

Moo, D. J. (1996). The Epistle to the Romans (p. 315). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

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.

(ESV)

Theme:

Title: “3 Key Questions”

INTRODUCTION

[PRAY] This is one of the most challenging passages of all of Paul’s writings.

After reading through it several times you see that it serves as the logical bridge between 1-5:11 and 6-8 (explain).

He has argued in 5:1-11 that the hope of believers is assured by virtue of Christ’s work on the cross, and in v. 12-21 he explains how sin and suffering came into the world and how it is overcome by Jesus on the cross.

how sin and death (certain to kill hope and assurance!) entered into the world through the 1st Adam and has been conquered through Christ.

BODY

3 key questions to consider as we look through:

1st Question: How Did Sin and Suffering Enter the World? (12-14)

A. Adam to Present (12)

12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin [“death is sin’s shadow], and so death spread to all men because all sinned—

B. Adam to Moses (13-14)

13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. (c.f., 4:15 no transgression apart from law).

14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam (revealed commandment), who was a type of the one who was to come.

No matter how devastating the sin of the first, the redemptive work of the second reverses the consequences of that sin and restores people to the favor of God. Only by grasping the seriousness of the first is one able to appreciate the remarkable magnanimity of the second

The presence of death is evidence of sin.

Answer: Corporate headship of Adam, and we are all “in Adam.”

The original sin has impacted the human relationship with God, oneself, and others.

(1) God: Regarding the human relationship with God, indicates that there was originally an established relationship with God, as they heard God walking after they sinned, and they sought to escape his presence. The act of sin removed fellowship and friendship (c.f., ) from God. The broken relationship with God is also seen in the fact that sinners now stand guilty before God and deserve to be punished. Take, for example, , where Paul clarifies that we live in a cause and effect world. In other words, when one sins, that person deserved punishment. The most obvious punishment is death, which comes in three different aspects: "physical death, spiritual death, and eternal death" (557). Due to sin each person is destined to die physically (), spiritually (c.f., - "surely die," indicating a spiritual death to ensue from sin), and consequently, the eternal death (c.f., re: the "second death"). Sin destroys our relationship with God.

The broken relationship with God is also seen in the fact that sinners now stand guilty before God (553), and deserve to be punished. Take, for example, , where Paul clarifies that we live in a cause and effect world. In other words, when one sins, that person deserved punishment. The most obvious punishment is death, which comes in three different aspects: "physical death, spiritual death, and eternal death" (557). Due to sin each person is destined to die physically (), spiritually (c.f., - "surely die," indicating a spiritual death to ensue from sin), and consequently, the eternal death (c.f., re: the "second death"). Sin destroys our relationship with God.

(2) Oneself: While the aforementioned effects of sin are evident in the human relationship with God, there are also effects on individual’s relationships with themselves. First, humans are enslaved to sin, as sin has "power" over humanity (). Second, humans tend to reject the thought of death. Third, as evidenced in the original human response to God, humans tend to deny sin (). Fourth, humans tend to deceive themselves when denying their sin. As Jeremiah states, "the heart is deceitful . . . who can understand it (). Fifth, sin has caused a condition of insensitivity to the conscience, which means the conscience is "seared" from sin (). Sixth, humans are increasingly self-centered , and restless in the way one seeks satisfaction from the sin. Sin destroys a person's ability to properly relate to oneself.

First, humans are enslaved to sin, as sin has "power" over humanity (). Second, humans tend to reject the thought of death. As Erickson notes, people only mention "passing away" instead of dying (561). Third, as evidenced in the original human response to God, humans tend to deny sin (). Fourth, humans tend to deceive themselves when denying their sin. As Jeremiah states, "the heart is deceitful . . . who can understand it (). Fifth, sin has caused a condition of insensitivity to the conscience, which means the conscience is "seared" from sin (). Sixth, humans are increasingly self-centered (563), and restless in the way one seeks satisfaction from the sin. Pornography, for example, is believed to have an effect of diminishing returns. The more one is exposed to the thrill of it, the more that person needs for a sense of increased satisfaction. Sin destroys a person's ability to properly relate to oneself.

(3) Others: Not only does sin affect humanity's relationship with God and oneself, it also affect one's relationship with other people. For example, since sin is "self-centered and self-seeking, there will inevitably be conflict with others" (563), which leads to a genuine lack of concern and love for others. Sin destroys our relationship with others.

Answer: Sin came through Corporate headship of Adam, and we are all “in Adam.”

How well are you relating to God, others, or yourself?

2nd Question: How Are Sin and Death are Conquered? (15-21)

5 contrasts between the work of Adam and Christ, revealing how sin and death are conquered in Christ:

#1. Trespass vs. Gift (15-16)

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.

The gift is much more powerful.

#2. Reign of Death vs. Reign of Life (17)

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.

In Christ you are transferred from being passively reigned over by death, to reigning in life NOW.

#3. Condemnation vs. Justification (18)

18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.

Condemnation caused us “fall short,” but justification makes us meet the “standard.”

#4. Disobedience vs. Obedience (19)

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.

One act of disobedience had the ability to condemn all, and Christ’s obedience to the cross makes us “right.”

#5. Law vs. Grace (20-21)

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.

Law reveals sin but grace deals with sin.

Sin and death are a crushing weight, and you need it lifted off of you.

There was a guy at the gym yesterday that lifted a tremendous amount of weight on the bench press, and it was crushing him. I had to rescue him

Resurrection is proof

() more than conquerors in Christ who loves us.

Answer: Conquering Lordship of Christ that defeats sin and death in your life.

CONCLUSION

It is clear from the text that sin entered into humanity through the sin of Adam, resulting in a status of condemnation. You are born “in Adam,” but must make a decision to be “in Christ.”

The 3rd key question that you must ask yourself right now is this: “Am I in Adam, or am I in Christ?”