In Christ we live!

To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come.

But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!

Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Context: Seen stark reality of human sinfulness in contrast to Glory of God. But in doing so shows glory of the gospel of grace. When we still sinners Christ died for us. SO that we can be made right in God’s sight. Relatioship with him restored, in which we can experience the joy of peace, access and hope.

But as we look around world, and in own lives see so much sin and death - how can we be sure. How can one mans actions deal with problem of all universal sin?

To help us be sure - Paul wants us to go deeper - by taking us back to start and showing heart of human problem, so that we might see the sufficiency of what God has done.

First the problem.

IN ADAM ALL DIE

Romans 5:12 NIV

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—

There is a pandemic far more deadly and infectious than COVID. SIN.

COVID said to have to have come from a bat, through market in china, and spred to over 178M people.

But far more serious is Spiritual disease that started in the garden of Eden. With one man’s disobedience, spread to every human being since.

Adam - literally “man” was humanities representative. His life was to determine the pattern for all. His relationship with God was to detemine the fate of all mankind. Made to be fruitful and increase in number. Meant to rule over earth and care for it. Meant for intimate relationship with God. But in his rebellion he brought whole creation down.

23rd March last year Boris Johnson annoucned first lockdown.

In Adam we were perfectly represented. He is our head. God couldn’t have made a more fitting representative. humanity at its very best. Rebelled.

AAdams sin - Adam-s death. universal death - universal sin.

Sin in v 12 not individual sin, but our sin in and through Adam.

We are told this sin was in the world befofre the law was given.

We are told that those lived before law as given are not charged for violation of specific law (though those who violate the moral law placed on their hearts were guilty). - yet all physically died - showing effect of Adams sin

In wider context 5 times we are told that tresspass of one man brought death, disobedience, and condemnation to all men. v15 perhaps clearest

The many died by tresspass of one man.

Point is this. We are bound, all of us to Adam. Though we are all guilty, and all fall short of Glory of God, our fate in one sense is tied ultimately to head of humanity. In through out connection to him we are bound for death spiritually and physically.

We might want to say I am captain of my fate master of my soul. But Bible says it’s not true. Reality is we are pre disposed to sin, and completely under its power. v21. Even claim to self sufficiency is demonstration of our family likeness. For what was Adam’s sin, but the ultimate statement of self sufficiency. Desiring to be like God. independent of his rule.

It’s as we see our unity, bondage to Adam, that we see the hope of the gospel.

Because just as we sin in and through Adam, and all face death, so our hope lies in and through a greater Adam.

Romans 5:14 NIV

Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come.

The solution to universal problem of sin is for someone to come amd break the cycle. Someone who doesn’t have Adam’s Sin. Someone who can represent us before God and not incure God’s wrath. Someone who can break through death.

Enter Jesus.

In Christ all live

Just as we are condemned in and through the sin of Adam, even more we are made righteous in and through the obedience of Christ.

Jesus is the representative we need by showing he is everything that Adam was not. Why Jesus entrered the world as he did - both man and God, to represent God to man and man to God. He came as a virgin - why does it matter? Because of Roman’s 5. Concieved by Holy Spirit, he does not inheret Adam’s sin. Therefore has capacity to free us from condemnation. Why does it matter that Jesus did not sin - because it was through his perfect obedience to God’s law - his righteousness that can be ours. He is not our example but our representative. And because of his righteousness, he was only one qualified to take our sin on himself, as perfect, spotless sacrifice - so that at the cross crucify the old Adam. The old humanity died with him. And in his ressurection Jesus breaks deaths cycle - and ushers in a new humanity. Not fated by birth, but enjoyed through faith.

So that just as Adam’s act of disobedience brings sin and death to all, so Christs act of obedience - even to deatb, brings life and righteousness to all.

But unlike sin which is universal - righteousness is recieved through faith. How are we freed from being part of the Adam family. As we recieve the gift - Christ’s act of obedience at the cross, through faith - we are adopted into new family - new humanity in Christ.

Matilda. - who has brilliant mind, and special abilities, never appreciated, is helped to reach her accademic potential and even rescue from her family by being adopted by her teacher MIss Honey

Christ hands us the adoption papers - offers to bring us into new family, new humanity in himself.

Recieved as we transfer our trust from self sufficient to Christ sufficient. Trusting that he is all we need as our perfect head, our perfect representative, our perfect Lord and Saviour.

Foundation of all we have been seeing in Roman’s! How can we be sure of our salvation? How can we be sure that we are justified - that is made right with God, how can we be sure of our peace with him, our access to him, our hope in him - because through faith we are bound to Christ - our live is tied to his.

Where do we go from here? Last week we saw we experience the joy of justification as we stand in grace, this week I want to go a little further - and we’ll tease the imapct it will have more next week, but

Let Grace reign

What does life look like under Jesus headship. v17-20.

He rules in Abundant grace. As we accept God’s gift in Christ’s righteous act - in his death and ressurection, we are to let his abundant grace become the defining voice in our lives.

Part of Lord of rings trilogy is story of Aragon - forgotten air to throne of Gondor, who over the films grows in power and strenght until finally take up his rightful place and brings in new age. Age of men. His rule determines the pattern for life under him. great celebration.

In old life we were in domain of death, and sin ruled over us, the self centredness and self reliance of Adam. But as we place our faith in Jesus he moves us into new relalm - right relatioship with God set free from consequences of Adam’s sin. Chain is broken. Life now bound to another. And defined by his glorious grace.

Set free from condemnation . Free of its penalty - because we are bound to Christ. Sin is dealt with. v20. Paul comes back to law, law highlights sin - more we know God’s law, more we see extent of our sinfulness. Sin increases. But where sin increases - grace “Super abounds”

If you are trusting in Christ - you are set free from penalty of sin. When Satan tempts me to despair, tells me of the guilt within - upward I look and see him there who made and to all my sin. In Christ you are free, innocent, forgiven, loved.

Set free from fear of death. COVID perhaps exposed it. Though in our physical bodies sin still lingers, and effect is still real - physical decay, our life is eternally secure in the one who rose from the grave. In Christ we need not fear death, but can look foward to our ressurection into perfection of new humanity realised.

Set free form power of sin - it no longer rules over us - there is a new King on throne - Jesus, who rules by his grace and love, and by same power that brought him back from the grace, he now rules in our hearts, freeing us from sins power and increasingly it’s presence.

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Let grace reign. God’s underserved kindness in Christ be the defining voice in all our lives. And no for certain that as our perfect representative, our live is safe in him. Let’s pray

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