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3. The Grace of Christ Overcame Death, Sin, and the Law (Romans 5:12-21)
ROMANS 5:12-14
12 Therefore as sin entered into the world through one man, and death through sin; and so death passed to all men, because all sinned. 13 For until the law, sin was in the world; but sin is not charged when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those whose sins weren’t like Adam’s disobedience, who is a foreshadowing of him who was to come.
Paul clarifies to us the mystery of death, showing that our sin is the reason for our destruction. Our first parents began their rebellion against God, and they reaped the sentence of death, drawing all creatures into their corruption, for we are of the same race. Since that time, death reigns over all creatures, even over the lawyers and the godly of the old covenant, for sin has appeared visibly, and the sentence of death has become lawful ever since the appearance of the law.
We all die, because we are sinful. Our human world has no eternal life. We proceed gradually to death, because we carry the seeds of death in us. However, God gives us time to repent that we may accept the Savior, and be introduced to the new life through our Christian faith.
ROMANS 5:15-17
15 But the free gift isn’t like the trespass. For if by the trespass of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God, and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. 16 The gift is not as through one who sinned: for the judgment came by one to condemnation, but the free gift came of many trespasses to justification. 17 For if by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; so much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ.
Paul explains to us the mystery of sin and death by the first Adam, and of righteousness and life by the second Adam, whom he calls our first father: “a pattern of Christ, who was to come”.
Paul did not say that as sin and death spread to many through Adam, so the grace of God and the gift of eternal life spread to many through the man Jesus; for Christ is greater than Adam, and different from him. Our Lord gives us, not only a little, but an abundance of heavenly grace and gifts. His grace is abounding in many. It is not deadly and paralytic like death, but it produces a revived, fruitful, growing, and strong life.
The sentence of God against sin began with the first man, and automatically passed on condemnation to all. It is not the same with justification, which did not begin with one sinner, but with all sinners, for Jesus justified them all at once. He who believes in him is justified.
When death, because of the sin of our first parents, became a deadly king over all humankind, Jesus opened, with his great grace, a spring of relief and good, from which eternal life flows to all believers. However, the life of God did not reign forcibly over the hearts of believers, as death did, but those who are purified shall reign forever with Christ, their Savior and Lord. In fact, the greatness of Christ cannot be compared with Adam in all respects, for the grace and life of God are much different from death and condemnation.
ROMANS 5:18-21
18 So then as through one trespass, all men were condemned; even so through one act of righteousness, all men were justified to life. 19 For as through the one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one, many will be made righteous. 20 The law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace abounded more exceedingly; 21 that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Paul returns to his lawful comparison between Adam and Christ. In this passage, however, he does not compare the persons first, but their works and their effects. Through one offense condemnation reigned over all men, but through one righteous act justification and truth in eternal life were offered to all men. How great is heaven’s offer! Yes, by the disobedience of the first man, we were all made prisoners of sin; but by the first obedience, we were liberated and made righteous.
Finally, in his comparison between Adam with his sin, and Christ with his righteousness, Paul enters the problem of the law. The law was not regarded as helpful for the salvation of the world because it came into the history of salvation to show transgression evidently, and provoke man to complete his obedience. The law increased the hardheartedness of man and the multitudinousness of his sins. However, Christ brought us nearer to the source of all grace, and he offers us the fullness of power and continuous righteousness that rivers of grace may flow to all the deserts of the world. Paul rejoices and cries out cheerfully, “If sin, through death, reined over all men in the past, the evil domination is now over, for grace is crowned a queen over our age, being founded on the righteousness of God which is confirmed by the cross of Jesus”.
Every man has a reason for thankfulness, relief, and praise, for the death and resurrection of Christ opened a new historical period for us, in which the power of sin and death is overcome. We see the developments of grace through its fruits and eternal life, and the fullness of the power of God works through the gospel in all those who believe in Christ.
PRAYER: We worship you Lord Jesus, for you are the Victor over sin, death, and Satan. You carried us to the age of grace, and made us partners in the pleasant things of your life. Strengthen our faith, and enlighten our understanding that we may not turn to the past powers which are overcome. Establish us in your grace, and bring forth in us all the fruits of your Spirit, as a proof that your grace reigns indeed, and that it is stronger than death. Thank you because you blessed us with your fullness, and you keep us with your mighty faithfulness.
QUESTION:
- What does Paul want to show us through his comparison between Adam and Jesus?