Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so death spread to everyone, because all have sinned. Certainly sin was in the world before the law was given, but no record of sin is kept when there is no law. Nevertheless, death ruled from the time of Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin in the same way Adam did when he disobeyed. He is a type of the one who would come. But God’s free gift is not like Adam’s offence. For if many people died as the result of one man’s offence, how much more have God’s grace and the free gift given through the kindness of one man, Jesus Christ, been showered on many people! Nor can the free gift be compared to what came through the man who sinned. For the sentence that followed one man’s offence brought condemnation, but the free gift brought justification, even after many offences. For if, through one man, death ruled because of that man’s offence, how much more will those who receive such overflowing grace and the gift of righteousness rule in life because of one man, Jesus Christ! Consequently, just as one offence resulted in condemnation for everyone, so one act of righteousness results in justification and life for everyone. For just as through one man’s disobedience many people were made sinners, so also through one man’s obedience many people will be made righteous.
Romans 5:12-19
God made man to live forever. But then with Adam’s sin, death entered the perfect world God created. Just as Levi was ‘in’ Abraham so we were “in Adam”. How can that be? What is being said here? Was it because all men repeated the folly or followed his example? In a sense that is true but Paul doesn’t mean that. Is it that we inherited Adamic nature? Probably true too. Rather in that act the whole of humanity was included!! All of us were physically in Adam and in a sense spiritually also! In Adam’s act we all sinned and therefore death passed to all. Sin was reckoned to us at the moment of Adam’s sinning. Remember again God stands outside of time. Therefore through one man’s act of obedience—we may share if related to him through faith, in Adam-death / In Christ-life. We are ‘in’ one or the other. Sharing Adam’s sin. ~ or sharing Christ’s righteousness!!
In Christ – I died at Calvary. Christ’s rising from the dead, because he was born of a virgin, gave rise to a new humanity! That is why the blood lines are so important and why there are two different geneaologies in Matthew and Luke. Sorry we will get to those when I tackle Matthew or Luke. Feel free to give me input to the next book I should do after Romans.
| In Adam | In Christ |
|---|---|
| Robbed of life | Given life |
| Condemnation | Justification |
| Slavery | Freedom |
| Death reigns over us | We reign over life |
| The one | The many |
| Sin | Righteousness |
In God’s sight there are only two kinds of men — Adamic or Christ-like
Which one are you ïn” and what does that mean? More tomorrow.
If God shows grace to people who hurt or hate me, who am I to refuse to do it? “A servant must be like his master” – Mat.10:25
Rick Warren
An ounce of action is worth a ton of theory.
Friedrich Engels