Death & Life
ROMANS: THE ROAD NOW TAKEN • Sermon • Submitted
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· 11 viewsSermons 14 & 15 in Book of Romans series.
Notes
Transcript
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.
INTRO—
Augustus Caesar…Johann Gutenberg…St. Augustine…Henry Ford… Nelson Mandela…Winston Churchill…Martin Luther King, Jr. [Influencers!]
At this point in his letter to the Christians in Rome, Paul points out two major historical people of influence on all of humanity for all of time. Let’s look at what the word of God has to say about these two who brought to all of us…Death & Life.
INFLUENCE - DEATH’S SWAY. (Romans 5.12)
ADAM (& Law).
Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden. But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’ ” “No! You will not die,” the serpent said to the woman. “In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man.
For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.
The sinfulness & pervasiveness of sin.
All sin…from the murder of Ahmaud Arbery…to Stalin’s purges…to your bitter jealousy of your neighbor (or family member)…to my selfish desire for my way or no way…to you…to our prideful disdain & disrespect of authority…to your lustful desire for that man or woman who is not your husband or your wife…deserves the prescribed death penalty!
INFLUENCE - LIFE’S SWAY. (Romans 5.18-19)
JESUS (& Grace).
First, the recap! (Rom. 5.18a)…then is similar fashion the sway of the second man (Jesus) parallels that of the first man (Adam).
Then, we could focus on ‘everyone’ & ‘the many’…! BUT, let’s begin with one level of agreement—everyone under Adam’s influence is “dead in trespasses and sins,” and everyone under Jesus’ influence is...
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding. He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ as a plan for the right time—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him.
He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
All repentance & faith…from the 8-year-old during VBS…to the 14-year-old at the evangelistic crusade in Tulsa, OK, in 1984…to the African man on his death bed at 90 years old…to the murderer on death row…to you…to your precious family member…to that challenging co-worker (or neighbor)…in Jesus as Savior & Lord receives the privileged blessings of life (in all its fullness)!
(INFLUENCE -) AND THE WINNER IS… (Romans 5.20-21)
The Question of the Day might still be… So, who wins? [Let’s look…v. 20]
THE GRACE OF JESUS!
I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord who has strengthened me, because he considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry—even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them. But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Notice Paul’s testimony...
CONCL—
Today we have focused on the ‘bottom line’—what is scripturally observable as true. The fact that our lives are/can be influenced by Adam & Jesus.
Next week we are going to focus on the comparison/contrast related to how Adam or Jesus influences our lives. Continuing to clarify this truth is of eternal importance to us all.
so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness, resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.