23&Me
Notes
Transcript
Scripture
Scripture
23&Me. Popularity. Identity 65% British, Scottish, Irish. 11% French and German 4% Southern European, 1% Sub-Saharan African.
Christian 23&me (wholly owned subsidiary of christianmingle.com
Tonight I want to talk about our Spiritual Identity. There are only two options in this 23 and me spiritual DNA test and the dissimilarities between those two identities is profound.
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
Introduction
23&Me. Popularity. Identity 65% British, Scottish, Irish. 11% French and German 4% Southern European, 1% Sub-Saharan African.
Christian 23&me (wholly owned subsidiary of christianmingle.com)
Tonight I want to talk about our Spiritual Identity. If we were to spit in a test tube and send it to Christian23&Me (wholly owned subidiary of ChristianMingle.com) our dna would reflect one of two lineages. That is what Paul is writing about here in these verses. He discusses, among other things, our spiritual identity and the magnitude of dissimilarity between the two identities. The distinctions are indeed profounc.
In Adam, Death, Depravity
In Adam, Death, Depravity
Our Identity as a Sinner
Our Identity as a Sinner
Verse 12. Sin results in death, this we know, but sometimes Paul anticipates some push back from his argument here. Its almost parenthetical.
We often tend to think in terms of individual sins that make us unrighteous. Cause: we commit sin, effect: we become unrighteousness. This is not what Paul is saying here. He anticipates this argument and elaborates. Look at verses 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. 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.
Sin predates the law. Paul is referring to The Law, the formal, codified commands. “One cannot be a law-breaker if there is no law to break,” yet sin exists.
Cause: We are unrighteous, Effect: We commit sin.
Get this, because this is so important, We are not sinners because we sin, we sin because we are Sinners. That is our Identity in Adam: Sinner.
So our Identity in Adam is Depravity.
In Christ, Life, Righteousness
In Christ, Life, Righteousness
Romans 5:15-
Our Identity as a Saint
Our Identity as a Saint
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.
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.
Romans 5:15-1
Christ’s completed work on the cross brought us justification. This is a legal term. literally stating that someone who stands accused is in full accordance with the requirements of the law. They have been declared Righteous.
It is because of justification that the peace of God can rule in our lives. It is because of justification that believers can have assurance of salvation. It is the fact of justification that enables God to begin the process of sanctification—the process by which God makes us in reality what we already are positionally. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” ().
We are righteous not because we commit righteous acts,
6 We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
We are righteous because we have been declared that way through Christ.
Our Identity in Adam was Sinner. Our Identity in Christ is Righteous.
Our Identity in Adam was Sinner. Our Identity in Christ is Righteousness. I
These are the only two options. One is death; the other is life and life eternal.
Asymmetry
Asymmetry
I would be remiss if I didn’t point out the magnitude of the difference between Adam and Christ.
There is asymmetry (not identical on both sides.) between Adam and Christ, between sin and grace, and there is beauty in the asymmetry.
Paul definitely uses typology here.
Typology: A special kind of symbolism. When a new testament writer says that someone is a type of Christ, they are saying that a person in the Old Testament behaves in a way that corresponds to Jesus’ character or actions in the New Testament.
Christ initiated the new race, the race of the redeemed, just as Adam was the head of the old race, the race of sinners.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Epistle to the Romans 4. Solidarity in Adam and in Christ, 5:12–21
Christ initiated the new race, the race of the redeemed, just as Adam was the head of the old race, the race of sinners.
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.
20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,
This is the gospel message. Please hear this. Paul is making it clear in these verses. and it is central to the gospel.
One purpose of the law is to expose our sin; to make us see the reality that we are indeed sinners. The law doesn’t prevent sin, it condemns us of sin.
Paul is by no means not minimizing the seriousness of sin, but he is also stressing the victory of grace. “super-abounding”
but also for us the see and appreciate the magnitude of grace.
20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope
But the gravity of sin does not even compare to the magnitude of grace. It is this grace that puts an end to the reign of sin and ushers in a reign of righteousness that leads to eternal life.
20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,
Romans 5:20
One purpose of the law is to expose our sin; to make us see the reality that we are indeed sinners. The law doesn’t prevent sin, it condemns us of sin.
Paul is by no means not minimizing the seriousness of sin, but he is also stressing the victory of grace. “super-abounding”
But the gravity of sin does not even compare to the magnitude of grace. It is this grace that puts an end to the reign of sin and ushers in a reign of righteousness that leads to eternal life.
Sovereignty
Sovereignty
Now, quickly, I want us to embrace what this says about our God, namely His sovereignty. What I’m about to say may sound shocking to some, but God’s word is sometimes shocking…in a glorious way.
20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope
O Felix Culpa (O blessed fall)
Until we realize the depth of our depravity, we cannot appreciate the height of grace that has been extended to us. That, brothers and sisters, should excite us. It should motivate us to share the gospel.
Until we realize the depth of our depravity, we cannot appreciate the height of grace that has been extended to us. That, brothers and sisters, should excite us. It should motivate us to share the gospel.
O Felix Culpa. O Blessed Fall. “While the fall was a great evil, it made it possible for God to bring about even greater goods in its wake: the God-glorifying goods of the incarnation, atonement, resurrection, and all the salvific blessings that flow from them.”
20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Epistle to the Romans 4. Solidarity in Adam and in Christ, 5:12–21
Adam was the head of a race of sinners, so Christ is the head of a new race, the redeemed people of God
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Epistle to the Romans 4. Solidarity in Adam and in Christ, 5:12–21
The construction of the whole is not straightforward. Paul begins to compare Adam and Christ in verse 12, but breaks off his sentence at the end of that verse to explain the pattern of sin and death (vv. 13–14). He makes it clear that there are profound dissimilarities between Christ and Adam (vv. 15–17), and in verse 18 he returns to complete succinctly the thought of the unfinished sentence of verse 12
Conclusion
Conclusion
The results of sin are indeed horrific; it ushered in an era f corruption and death. It subjected the entirety of creation to futility. That is our identity In Adam—our spiritual dna is damaged. In Christ, however, our spirit has been regenerated, reborn. We have been made righteous by the free gift of grace. Grace that is wholly sufficient and utterly magnificent and brings glory to God and God alone.
20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope