Paul moves back and forth in his teaching, with the corruption of man, the love of God, the work of Jesus Christ, the depravity of man, the love and justice of God, the work of Jesus Christ. Each time he does this, he is giving us a better understanding of where we were as lost sinners and the need for the grace of God through the perfect sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ.
Paul taught in the first three chapters of Romans the corruption, the depravity of man. He taught in the first chapter of Romans God’s wrath on mankind because of their unrighteousness and their irreverent fear of Him. We move to Romans 5, and again we see Paul teaching on the corruption of man and the Love and Grace of God.
Every time these teachings bring a greater manifestation of the love and grace of God and the means He went to, to save a lost and dying people. This time, in Romans 5, he is going to go back to the fall and show us where this corruption and our need for grace originated. At the same time showing us His provision of salvation through His Son, His One and only Son.
The section of scripture is the foundation stones of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We have spent a lot of time in the first five and a half chapters of Romans looking into the depravity of man. Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Paul has called all men into account. All men are guilty and in need of a Savior.
Today we are going to divide Romans 5:12-21 into two parts. The one man Adam and the One Man Jesus Christ. To help us understand what Paul has been teaching so far in this book, we are going to contrast and compare Adam and Christ. I am going to bounce back and forth in the remaining section of Romans 5. I think by listing what took place at the fall of Adam and then recording what was accomplished by the one work of Christ, we will have a better picture of the gospel.
The one Man Adam
Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. The LORD God commanded the man, saying, ” From any tree of the garden you mat eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.” Genesis 2:15-17When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. Genesis 3:6Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned_ for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offence of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. Romans 5:12-14
Through the one man Adam:
- Sin entered into the world.
- Death entered through sin.
- Death spread to all men BECAUSE ALL sinned!
We cannot blame Adam and Eve for our sin. Two verses in this passage shut us all up under sin. Romans 5:12, ” Death spread to all men because all sinned. Romans 5:14, ” Death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.” We know that physical death still reigns. The fall included three deaths, spiritual, physical, and eternal. In this verse, Paul is speaking of physical death to show that all men had sinned.
Through the one man Adam:
- The many died: Romans 5:15
- Judgement arose from one transgression: Romans 5:16
- Resulting in Condemnation: Romans 5:16
- By the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one: Romans 5:17
- Through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men: Romans 5:18
- Through the disobedience of the one, the many were made sinners. Romans 5:19
The one Man Jesus Christ
Paul is comparing the transgression of the one man Adam with the Righteous Act of the One Man Jesus Christ! Adam was the federal head or the head of the human race. When Adam fell, all humanity fell with him in his first transgression. Jesus Christ is the head of the church.
His one act of obedience to all who believe in Him and His work of redemption on the cross are saved and secure in Him. 1 Corinthians teaches that God is the head of Christ, and Christ is the head of the church. The church is the believers that Christ has come to save. Christ overcomes the transgressions of the many by bringing the free gift of grace through His life, death, burial, and resurrection.
But the free gift is not like the transgression.
and I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed: He will bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him in the heel. Genesis 3:15 ( The first prohecy of Jesus Christ)
Much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. Romans 5:16
Through the One Man Jesus Christ
- The free gift arose from many transgressions: Romans 5:16
- Resulting in justification: Roman 5:16
- By the righteousness of the One, those who receive the abundance of grace and of the righteousness will reign in life through Jesus Christ: 50mans 5:17
- Through the act of righteousness, there resulted justification of life to all men: Romans 5:18
- Through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous: Romans 5:19
The gospel message
This section of Scripture has summed up the gospel in 10 verses. There is, however, a lot of doctrine and theology in these passages, but these verses are the foundation of the Gospel message!
Adams transgression resulted in condemnation.
But through Christ, the free gift of grace arose resulting in justification.
