"Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all men, because all sinned. 13 In fact, sin was in the world before the law, but sin is not charged to a person’s account when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin in the likeness of Adam’s transgression. He is a prototype of the Coming One.
15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if by the one man’s trespass the many died, how much more have the grace of God and the gift overflowed to the many by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ. 16 And the gift is not like the one man’s sin, because from one sin came the judgment, resulting in condemnation, but from many trespasses came the gift, resulting in justification. 17 Since by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
18 So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is life-giving justification for everyone. 19 For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 The law came along to multiply the trespass. But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness, resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Romans 5:12-21
Today's Message: The Truth About Grace
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for this marvelous epistle from our beloved Paul. So powerful and profound to contemplate these great truths because of their eternal implications. Lord, we pray that no one will remain asleep, that those who haven't come before You, and the throne of grace, asking for the forgiveness of sin, in true repentance, who have not yet received the promise of eternal life in Jesus Christ, would come before You today.
O precious Lord, we so humbly thank You, for our Savior, for the glories of the resurrection. For in it we were justified; in it we are transformed and have received the precious gift of eternal life and are able to rest peacefully, in that assurance in life. Through Christs' resurrection, we have the power – the very same power that raised Christ from the dead, and the hope of eternal inheritance, the promise of glory and splendor to come in our resurrection bodies.
Father, truly we praise You, and give thanks, for Your raising Jesus Christ from the dead, we are so grateful, for all its implications spiritually, which have been applied to us. Thank You, and we would ask You, Lord, that Your Spirit would be merciful and gracious to many who have not yet passed from death to life, who have no hope of resurrection unto glory. Lord,we pray that You would bring them to the knowledge of Christ, in whose name we ask and pray these things.
Amen.
Beloved, our text today, is from the book of Romans. It is from the apostle Paul's glorious epistles, or the Pauline Epistles, by which they are often referred. Romans 5:12-19, and admirably fits the combination of introspection and extrospection. So it is a time of extrospection, a time we look past ourselves, beyond the ordinary sense of reasoning and perception. We must remember, beloved, that we are not yet what we ought to be. For we cannot find the answers within ourselves. We must instead, look to Jesus Christ, the One who is our living hope.
This particular epistle refers to all the preceding discourse, from which the apostle Paul infers what follows: he does not therefore make a digression, but returns to speak again of sin and righteousness Allow me to read to you Romans chapter 5, verses 12-21. Open your Bibles to Romans 5:12-21, and follow along with me as I read; Let us reflect and remember who God is, who Jesus is, and what Jesus did for us .
"Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all men, because all sinned. In fact, sin was in the world before the law, but sin is not charged to a person’s account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin in the likeness of Adam’s transgression. He is a prototype of the Coming One.
But the gift is not like the trespass. For if by the one man’s trespass the many died, how much more have the grace of God and the gift overflowed to the many by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ. And the gift is not like the one man’s sin, because from one sin came the judgment, resulting in condemnation, but from many trespasses came the gift, resulting in justification. Since by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is life-giving justification for everyone. For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
The law came along to multiply the trespass. But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness, resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Romans 5 and 8 are the two mountain peaks in Romans. The first four chapters of Romans sets this climb to the top of the book. Paul shows our dis-ability. We cannot be saved by the Law. It never was the purpose of the Law to save. We cannot be saved by Greek wisdom either. We cannot rely on our morality. We are not righteous but vile sinners. Paul tells us that God had chosen a better way from the beginning, even before there was the Law. The Law served its purpose, of course. It was not to save directly, but rather to prepare us for saving grace. God sent His Son, born of a woman to save us. We are saved by faith in Christ who justifies us.
And so, in the 5th chapter, Paul draws out what this justification by faith in Christ means. It means we have peace with God. Some texts use “let us have peace” as though we don’t actually have peace now but need to. But the best evidence is that it reads "We have peace." This peace is a fact rather than a wish. This is similar to the end of the 1st chapter of I Corinthians where it says "We have the mind of Christ" and not "Let us have the mind of Christ." God has already provide us with a new Christian mind and comes with it, peace. Much like a newborn babe, this mind, however, needs development. It needs work. The same is true for peace. The deed is done. Beloved, we already have, in our possession, all the peace we will ever need. However, what we need to do, is to appropriate it. To activate it, apply to our lives. We already have it, through Christ. The check has been sent, the bill has been paid. The money is already in the bank. It is ours. However, if we don’t take hold of the opportunity, the payment sits idle. And the same is true of peace.
Paul goes on to show us the ramifications of justification and just what the peace of Christ means. All four of the themes we remember during Advent are here. Peace, love, joy and hope are all here. The profound statement "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Sin puts us at war with God. We see God as an enemy. People might dare to die for a good cause or a good person. It does happen. We think of soldiers who cover a live grenade to save his comrades. Soldiers win the Congressional Medal of Honor for such things. But how many soldiers at war would cover a grenade to save the life of an enemy soldier. But in a sense, this is what Christ did when he died for us. It became the means of our reconciliation to God. As Christians, our war is over. We are now at peace. We can now boast in Christ who has become the means of our reconciliation. This is a tremendous and precious gift, beloved, one that is not to be taken lightly.
Now, when we come to verse 12, it begins with "wherefore" or "because of this." This causes us to look back to the ground of our boasting. We have a gift. We have been reconciled. This introduces us to new information. It adds some specifics to what was just taught, in concept. I have had a number of people ask, "Why was this radical means of reconciliation necessary in the first place?" Because of the sin of Adam. Adam and Eve represent all of humanity in its entirety. They were the first couple. So when they sinned, all of humanity that has ever lived then has been born into sin. And, as a result of this sin, they were cursed and banished from the Garden of Eden. The curse of death was the worst of the several other curses of the ground, desire of the woman in subjection to man, and pain in childbirth. So not only man but all the earth became subject to decay and death. There is a lot of controversy over the doctrine of original sin, which some say are remedied in baptism. The vast number of translations for the Greek preposition "epi" makes the verse difficult to precisely determine, although the idea of "in who all sinned," is one of the possible translations. This was the understanding of Augustine and, therefore, should be taken seriously. However, there are others, who object on the grounds that one is responsible to God for his own sin. Why then, should we be held liable for sin someone else did? Surely, the children should not be punished for the sin of the father is Biblical. But, do we not see this in the book of Ezekiel?
Unfortunately, the controversy takes away from Paul's main point, the argument which is the total depravity of man to save himself. It is certain, that our DNA has been affected. As, we all have the DNA of Adam. Therefore, it is also true, that every single person that has ever lived, has or will die. DNA wears down. Cell replication diminishes with age. So even if we don’t die from a disease, some crime or act of war, the fact remains, still we all shall die. It really does not matter how well we care of ourselves, how healthy we eat, or how much physical activity we engage ourselves in. It does not matter if scientists make significant progress in reducing the wear of our telomers. Even if the potential for human life is extended to a thousand, two thousand, or ten thousand years, it will be thousand's of years of trouble. There will be even more wars and substantial increases of disease. There will be the nightly news casts. There will be no earthly peace. We still will be at sorts with God, Who is the source of all life, both length and quality. So even if it is postulated that Adam’s sin, in someway, does not condemn us, we must come to the realization, that we shall all inevitably sin and die spiritually. Exception should be made for those who suffer human death having not come to maturity. But beloved, we must bear in mind, that Christ died, even for these also.
So, the reality of life in this fallen world, is that the decisions of one person affect others, for good or evil. Then, it is no longer the simple matter of who is more guilty or less guilty, but that all are indeed guilty. It is then, we all shall suffer in this world. I'd like to point out, that we sometimes cause our own suffering. Sometimes we are the victim. At other times, we cause suffering to others. However, in all of this, there is good news. There is indeed an escape, an exit if you will. But just one exit. This is through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the One Who gives us peace. This is the good news of the Gospel. Jesus brings the true peace that the world longs for and is incapable of attaining on its own.
God, then, used the Law, in which to shed light upon this defect, or disability. Yet, people still continued to sin and die, both before and after the Law. But it was all meant to lead to Christ as I have remarked earlier. The effects of Adam’s sin was indeed great. Great and lasting. Death, continued to hold all in its icy grip. We are all hostages, held in captivity, every single person. And, it therefore comes, after our earthly death, that we face the even greater consequence, of doom, of eternal judgment from which there shall never be an escape. With the exception, of those of us who have placed their faith and belief in Jesus. For us, that situation is radically and forever changed.
The apostle Paul contrasts the misery of Adam sin, with the peace that Christ provides. Just as Adam’s sin brought trouble and misery to all, Christ now brings peace and eternal life, to all who believe. It is provided for all. The price is paid. The money is in the bank. But one must act upon this. One must believe that there is an escape. One must believe that Jesus died for us. We must believe that the money is in the bank on account. But if we do not act upon it, we have nothing at all.
Then, verse 15 sets up something even more amazing. The effect of Adam’s sin is not even to be compared to what Christ has provided. It begins with the strong Greek conjunction translated "But." There are weaker conjunctions translated "but."And certainly, Paul could have used them. But here, there is an idea of replacement. The sin of Adam and its consequent misery has been replaced by the righteousness of Christ and its consequent eternal peace with God. Then we read "not as." Now, this sets up the righteousness of Christ as superior in its effect than the sin of Adam. These two are not to be equally compared. As there differences are quite distinguishable. Then we read "Where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more" or in some translations, "Where sin abounded, grace abounded even more." The word Paul chooses here, indicates that the abundance of grace is far greater than the misery of Adam and sin from that which we, in this age, suffer.
In Closing....
So, what exactly does all of this mean? Simply stated, it means that Christ has more than settled the score. He did more than just undo the sin of Adam. Our final state will be even greater than that of Adam and Eve. Just think of this!. Adam and Eve were placed in the Garden of Eden, but we shall be with Christ in the City of God. Adam and Eve communed with God in the cool of the day, but we shall ever be in the presence of Christ. Adam and Eve were lightened by the earthly sun, but the heavenly Son will be our light of that glorious city we'll call home. Adam and Eve were naked, however, we are clothed in Christ. Adam and Eve were forbidden one tree, but we shall have the mind of Christ. Adam and Eve could sin and die, but we shall live forever. The final state in God’s plan for humanity is in all respects greater than what Adam and Eve possessed. God had a greater purpose for humanity then the Garden. Sin cast us out from Paradise. Whatever progress Adam and Eve could have made toward this final purpose was barred. But now, the way is open for all humanity to achieve this greater glory through Jesus Christ our Lord. God calls us to believe this Gospel and live. We shall rise from death to an even greater life which lies beyond our ability to comprehend or describe.
So, it is that we need to reflect upon just how great a salvation which has been provided to us, what a precious gift, we've been blessed with. This hope brings us through the difficulties we still suffer in this world. Our sufferings in this world are temporary, but life in Christ and His Kingdom is eternal. Let us bask in the love of Christ. Let us be eternally joyful. Let us share in the abundance of peace. We don’t look introspectively at our disability as much as extrospectively at our ability in Christ. Our hope, joy, love and peace has already been provided by what Christ has done for us. So let us grow into this new reality. This is how we should observe each day, our life, in Jesus Christ!
And now may the Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen
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