One for All

Want to know what someone believes? Watch them worship. Listen to them sing. And, particularly, listen to them pray.

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.

Paul is a student of the OT.

Trained, respected qualified Pharisee.

You think you have reason to boast? Whoa whoa whoa

His writings will reflect that. When we read the letters Paul wrote, we should keep in mind the heavy influence of traditional Judaism and Hebrew culture.

That shows up in the way he described our sinfulness in light of Adam. After all, Adam means humanity. He makes the point that...

The one man sin entered through is Adam - It would have entered through me.

We all relate to Adam so we all have sin. No one is exempt from sin itself or from the effects of sin. Death being the most obvious.

What the law meant for sin

A way to atone. To cover over sin with the blood of animals. Sacrifice after sacrifice, year after year.

One man ruined it for us all, but now we live in a broken world, so we all sin. There is none righteous, no not one.

The one act of righteousness was that of Christ - only by grasping the seriousness of the sin can we ever appreciate the magnitude of of the sacrifice.

Obedience brought life - that contrasts the disobedience of Adam that brought death/separation

A look at the contrast of Adam/Christ

Offense/Gift - because of Adams trespass, many died; because of Christ’s gift, grace brings life

Death/Life - the separation from God as death; the union with God as life

Sin of Disobedience/Obedience -

Judgement/Grace

Condemnation/Justification and Righteousness

Our relation to Adam brought condemnation(we cant help that), but our adoption into Christ brings freedom! Who we were, where we come from, does not control or decide who we will be!

Maybe you understand this because of your family history. Maybe there was a legacy passed to you that you didnt want. If you’ve got chains, He’s a chain breaker!

God’s grace is stronger than sin

v. 20 now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased grace abounded all the more

‘increase the trespass’ - sin has always been the issue of man. When the law was given, the responsibility for sin was lit up. Sir Author Conan Doyle “Flee at once…all is discovered”

The law shined light on sin, but it created shadows.

Hebrews 10:1 ESV

1 For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near.

Colossians 2:16–17 ESV

16 Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.

How can the substance belong to Christ? Because He filled up the Law. He satisfied its seemingly bottomless appetite. He IS the substance!

As deep as sin may be, drowning us- or our loved ones- in its depths, grace is infinitely deeper still. As powerful as sin may seem, strangling us - or our loved ones- in its grasp, grace is infinitely more powerful. As damning as sin is - and it truly is damning - God’s grace frees from the condemnation of sin. Grace, grace. God’s grace. Grace that will...

This idea that grace does ‘much more abound’ gives the picture of a river way outside its banks.

God’s grace is ‘drowning’ sin as it pours out. But from where does it pour? It is God’s grace. It is poured into our lives. And from the overflow of what He has poured into us, we flow out. We really are the rivers of living water. From God, all that grace pours through us!

So how about you? Have you come to grips with your sinfulness? Have you been able to trust Christ for your righteousness? Is sin being defeated by God’s grace in your life?