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Introduction:
Romans
5:12-21 is a hotbed of conflict and controversy between
two major religious camps. Those known as Calvinists claim this
passage as one of their champion texts supporting the idea of
Total Inherited Depravity or Original Sin. On the other hand,
non-Calvinists view this passage quite differently, arguing
against the Calvinists’ interpretation. Because it is involved
in this controversy, sometimes it is hard to read this passage
without reading in view of this conflict. Paul, however, did not
write Romans
5:12-21 with the present disagreements in mind. He had a
point to make. Based on Romans
5:10-12 we quickly understand his point was about
reconciliation in Jesus Christ. In fact, what Paul gives in these
verses is world history in a nutshell. He explains the two most
crucial events of the world’s history. In reality, if you know
absolutely no other world history but these two events and you
follow and obey what is taught based on these two events,
salvation will be yours. Discussion: I.
Event #1:
Sin entered the world (Romans
5:12). A.
How long
Adam and Eve had been in the garden is unknown to us. But in the
earliest days of the history of man Adam disobeyed the law under
which God had placed him. Genesis only records two laws for Adam
and Eve in the garden. Genesis
2:15-17 taught they were to cultivate and keep the garden
and they were to abstain from the fruit of the tree of knowledge
of good and evil. Genesis
3:6 shows the transgression of God’s law for Adam and
Eve. Imagine for a moment a world created in perfection and
purity. A world where there were no lies. A world where there was
no lust and adultery. A world where there was no theft or murder.
Tranquility, peace and contentment were present in their
relationship with one another and within themselves. Then,
suddenly, with the bite of a piece of fruit a shadow settled on
the earth. Sin had come in. For Adam and Eve, their perceptions of
one another and their relationship changed in an instant as
demonstrated by Genesis
3:7. Sin entered the world. B.
The
significance of sin’s entrance is also found in Romans
5:12. Sin was not alone when it came into the world. As
sin walked into the world, he held the door open wide for death to
come along as well. I believe that Genesis demonstrates that
physical death came into the world because of sin. After all, how
could Eden be paradise when physical sickness and death existed?
Secondly, the genealogy of Genesis
5 goes out of its way to emphasize the death of Adam and
his descendents. However, I do not believe Paul is referring to
this in Romans
5, nor do I believe the presence of physical death was the
most significant change in the world resulting from sin. Paul is
referring to spiritual death before God, being separated from God
by sin. It is evident in the context of Romans
6:15-23, which makes a similar parallel between life and
death, that Paul is speaking of spiritual life and death, not
physical. Thus, the major significance of sin’s entrance into
the world was the separation of Adam and Eve from God. No longer
did they have the intimate relationship they once did, but now
their sins separated them (Isaiah
59:1-2). C.
Paul
continues to explain that sin and death did not stop just by
entering the world and residing with Adam. No, death spread to all
men. This, of course, causes us alarm because we are a part of the
group of all men. Death has not stayed with Adam but has come to
us. But how? Paul is clear, so clear it is hard to understand how
men miss it. Death came to all men, not because Adam sinned but
because all men sinned. Thus, being spiritually dead comes upon
any man or woman who follows Adam’s example in sin. As we
examine this point about sin and death we must dispel some false
assumptions made about this text by those who would say we are
born guilty of Adam’s sin. 1.
The illogic
of the Calvinistic position says that all sinned in Adam. Their
supposed proof is from Romans
5:13-14. The progression says, sin was in the world before
the Law was in the world. However, there was no law, so sin was
not imputed. Yet, death reigned, so they must have been held
accountable for the sin of Adam. 2.
However, a
closer look at these verses brings us to an exactly opposite
conclusion. In the system of Calvinism, the only sin that was
committed before the establishment of Moses’ law was the sin of
Adam in the garden and all men are somehow guilty of it. But Paul
says death reigned even over men who “had not sinned in the
likeness of the offense of Adam” (Romans
5:14). Paul claims some existed who had not sinned in the
same way as Adam, but Calvinism claims that was the only sin. 3.
The problem
is the assumption that there was no law between the time of Adam
and Moses. But, in fact, this passage proves there was. After all,
here were some men over whom death reigned because they sinned,
but they hadn’t sinned like Adam. Therefore, some law must have
existed to declare their actions sinful. Take a look at the
history between Adam and Moses, law existed. A law was present
when God did not accept Cain's sacrifice and when God punished him
for killing his brother (Genesis
4:5). There was a law present when God held all of mankind
accountable for gross sin and immorality and destroyed man by the
flood for it in Genesis
6-8. There was some law in effect when God punished Sodom
and Gomorrah for their sin (Genesis
11:1-9). Are we to believe that all these judgments really
came in response to the one sin of Adam? Of course not. Law
existed between Adam and Moses and the spiritual death spread to
all men because all men violated the law under which God placed
them. D.
We are to be
grateful that the story of history does not end there. Because we
too would come under this umbrella of sin and death. What an awful
place to be. But, Paul goes on to describe the second significant
even in world history, which is even more significant than the
first. II.
Event #2:
Grace and justification entered the world (Romans
5:15-16). A.
This refers
directly back to Romans
3:23-26, 5:8-10. As a free gift, God sent Jesus, His Son,
to die for us, taking the punishment for our sins. We did not earn
this sacrifice. We do not deserve this sacrifice. That is why it
is called grace, unmerited favor. Through this grace comes
justification. Justification is a legal term describing one who
has been on trial and been declared innocent. That is what God has
done for His children. We have been on trial for sin, but we have
been declared innocent. Not because of our own purity, but because
of God’s grace and the blood of Christ. B.
But that is
not all. Until this grace and justification entered, spiritual
death hung as a pall over all of mankind. But when grace and
justification entered the world, they held the door open for life
everlasting to remove the disparaging effects of death (Romans
5:17). The separation from God which spiritual death
brought to us can be taken away by the blood of Jesus if we will
only accept it. C.
Paul claims
there are comparisons and contrasts between this event and the
first. 1.
Comparisons: a.
Both events
centered around one individual (Romans
5:19). b.
Both events
occurred through one action (Romans
5:18). 2.
Contrasts: a.
Christ’s
act is far more powerful than Adam’s act (Romans
5:15). b.
Adam’s act
was the result of one man’s sin, Christ’s act was the result
of our numerous transgressions (Romans
5:16). c.
Adam’s act
was one of sin and disobedience. Jesus’ act was one of obedience
and righteousness (Romans
5:18-19). d.
And of
course, the basic difference is that through Adam’s act, death
reigned. Through Jesus, life to overcome death came (Romans
5:17). D.
How glorious
it is to see the gift of God. To bask in the grace, justification
and life that He has given. Now we understand why Paul thought
this action of Jesus was so amazing in Romans
5:8-10. But all this leads us to one final question. III.
Who gets the
life? A.
Some are
confused by the passage because of its varying uses of “many”
(5:15)
and “all men” (5:18).
One is left to ask the question, “Which is it? Many or all?”
Then a thorough Bible student recalls Matthew
7:13-14. And wonders, “How does this fit, because life
doesn’t come to ‘many’ or ‘all’, it comes to
‘few’?” B.
The answer,
though subtle, is given in Romans
5. Paul is using accommodative terms when he speaks of
many and all. He is not giving us a technical description of what
has happened. Yet, in the passage it is clear who receives the
life. Romans
5:17 clearly says that life comes to “those who receive
the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness.” Only
those who receive the grace and justification will receive the
life. Those who reject the grace and justification will reject the
life. Thus, we learn that salvation is conditional upon our
acceptance of Christ’s offered gift. We must do something. C.
Keep in mind
Romans
5:19 and the parallel. “Through the one man’s
disobedience the many were made sinners.” But how? Because the
many followed his example of sin. This same principle applies to
the other part of the verse. “Through the obedience of the One
the many will be made righteous.” But how? Through following the
example of Christ in obedience. D.
Who gets the
life? Those who follow Christ’s example of obedience. Conclusion: Where are you in this spectrum of world history? Are you still under the shadow of death, which you received because you followed in the footsteps of Adam in sin? Or have you received the grace, justification and life, which Jesus gave through His death and resurrection? Interestingly, in the very next chapter Paul explains how we enter Christ’s death: through baptism (Romans 6:3-4). Interestingly, the thing we do to be saved is an imitation of Christ’s own obedience. We entered death by following Adam’s example of sin. We enter life by following Jesus’ example of death, burial and resurrection. Submit to baptism into Christ and His death today.
Glory
to God in the church by Christ Jesus
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