Sermon Notes January 13, 2008
Two Men, Two Destinies
Romans 5:12-14
“Was it fair for God to condemn the whole world just for one man’s disobedience?”
The SCOFFER objects that if there was such a God, he would not be worthy of worship.
The SCEPTIC wonders how such conferred guilt can be fair
The BELIEVER worships God for His amazing grace in rescuing sinners.
Romans 5:12–14 "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned— for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come."
In these three verses, we will discover three important truths
“sin entered the world” - Sin’s ORIGIN
“through one man” - Sin’s OWNERSHIP
“And death through sin” - Sin’s OUTCOME
These verse are part of a significant passage dealing with the nature of man. We will examine the entire passage in three messages:
5:12-14 Two Men, Two Destinies
5:15-19 Where Would We Be Without Jesus?
5:20-21 God’s Super-abundant Grace
From the CONTEXT: Adam Brought SIN, Christ Brought RIGHTEOUSNESS
As fitting with the greater theme of Romans as described in 1:16-17, the theme is not the GOSPEL. It is the theme is the RIGHTEOUSNESS of GOD.
That righteousness is described in the first major section of Romans which explains our sinful condition and need for God’s righteousness (Romans 1:18-3:20).
Our verses in Romans 5:12-14 are part of the second major section of Romans which explains The doctrine of JUSTIFICATION, more simply, “how sinners can be made righteous. It is in this second section that we discover the following:
In Romans 5:12-21, we discover that the SOURCE of sin = ADAM
Romans 5:12-21 SOURCE of Justification = JESUS
We see this from REPEATED WORDS in Rom 5:12-21
A. Sin (10x)
B. One (13x)
C. Reign (5x)
D. Much More (5x in 5:9-21)
Let us not think that sin’s entrance into the world somehow caught God by surprise. God did not view Adam and Eve from heaven and think, “OK, they failed, so now let’s come up with an alternative plan.” SIN and SALVATION both bring GLORY to GOD.
Both Old and New Testament scriptures point to the fact that although God is not the author of sin, he is still in control and is working all things out to an end in which he is glorified.
"The Lord works out everything for his own ends— even the wicked for a day of disaster." (Proverbs 16:4)
"What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar. As it is written: “So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge.”" (Romans 3:3-4)
"Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge." (Psalm 51:4)
Adam’s disobedience brought DEATH for ALL. When Adam sinned, he SINNED for all of us. Adam was our representative.
Hebrews 7:9-10 explains this by demonstrating that Levi, who is regarded as the first of the priests and therefore responsible to uphold the law, was in the “body” of Abraham when Abraham paid tithes to Melchizadek.
This demonstrates the superiority of Melchizedek in that Levi (and Moses too), predates the Law. The fact that Christ’s priesthood is based on the model of Melchizedek demonstrates that Christ is superior to Moses.
“This is important, because ADAM’s sin is the most fundamental problem, not our sins- just as Christ’s righteousness is the most fundamental solution, not our righteousness.” John Piper, 8/27/2007 desiringgod.org
The result of Adam’s sin is described in Romans 5:12
Sin brought Death.
This is made clear in Genesis 5:1-5 which says “. . . and he died. . .”
This verdict of death is UNIVERSAL (death came upon all men) (1 Cor 15:22) "For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive."
Sin is the reason for suffering in the world.
Sin is the reason for Crime.
Sin is the reason we must labor for our food.
Sin is the reason for pain in child bearing
Sin is the reason for disease
Sin is the reason for conflict
Sin is the reason God’s WRATH will be poured out on the world
Just a few weeks ago I conducted a funeral for 33 year old Michael. He died because of the curse of death upon the world. He was addicted because of his own sinful choices, which started in the garden through his father Adam. The enemy is SATAN. All of this is the result of SIN.
When we sin, we only confirm the verdict that was upon us from our birth
Is it FAIR that we are born sinners? Is this a “no win” situation?
Do we say, “it would be better not to be born?”
These are questions that some use to mock the authority of God. But we do not have to die in our sin. We do not have to remain under the power of sin. Although we cannot overrule the inevitability of death, we can escape its power and fear through the hope of new life in Christ!
We don’t face PHYSICAL BIRTH with despair. (When a new baby is born, we don’t think, “I wonder when he will die”)
We focus on the new LIFE
Yes, it is both FAIR and GRACIOUS that we are born sinners.
FAIR because, would the result be any different if God judged each one of us individually?
It is GRACIOUS, because in JUDGING all of humanity by the ONE MAN, God was choosing to SAVE ALL HUMANITY through ONE MAN, Jesus Christ!
One Man OBEYED and brought LIFE for ALL (Rom 5:18)
Therefore, our salvation belongs only to God
All can be reconciled?
How can they be reconciled?
By being GOOD?
By being JEWISH?
By Religion?
These false hopes are eviscerated in the first three chapters of Romans.
The only hope is By FAITH and new birth.
But we may ask, WHICH BIRTH? Which birth is capable of making us righteous before God.
Not Physical birth. You and I were born because of the decision of a human mother and father. There was choice of your own, and the ultimate conclusion is DEATH.
The only way to be made righteous is through Spiritual Brith.
We are Connected to ADAM by BIRTH
We are Connected to CHRIST by FAITH, and the result is ETERNAL LIFE
Two MEN - Two Destinies!
All Mankind Fell in Adam’s Fall By: Lazarus Spengler
All mankind fell in Adam’s fall,
One common sin infects us all;
From sire to son the bane descends,
And over all the curse impends.
Through humankind corruption creeps
And them in dreadful bondage keeps;
In guilt they draw the infant breath
And reap its fruits of woe and death.
From hearts depraved, to evil prone,
Flow thoughts and deeds of sin alone;
God’s image lost, the darkened soul
Seeks not nor finds it heavenly goal.
But Christ, the second Adam, came
To bear our sin and woe and shame,
To be our life, our light, our way,
Our only hope, our only stay.
As by one man all mankind fell
And, born is sin, was doomed to hell,
So by one Man, who took our place,
We all received the gift of grace.
We thank you, Christ; new life is ours,
New light, new hope, new strength, new powers:
This grace our every way attend
Until we reach our journey’s end.
1st Published in: 1524
