Today we are going to look at what has been called one of the most important theological ideas in all of Scripture.
A definite KEY to understanding the gospel. The heart of the argument to explain our need of forgiveness through Jesus Christ.
Establish the FACT that ALL ARE SINNERS: by nature and by actions.
We are all infected with the SAME DISEASE.
Some infections are worse than others and sin is the worst infection of all.
MILDRED and GEORGE: George was a new believer who had lived in sin for many years. Mildred, who was a mainstay in the church, one day saw George’s truck parked outside the only bar in their small community. She confronted George and told others of how awful this was and how he should be ashamed and concerned about what others might say and think. George was a quiet man. He listened and simply walked away. Early that evening George parked his old truck in front of Mildred’s house and left it there overnight. God bless George. Why do we seem to have more Mildred’s than George? Why are we better at seeing other’s sins than our own? We all are INFECTED.
Established that FAITH is the only solution. Works is not an option.
Justification(right standing) is only possible through faith placed upon the finished work of Jesus Christ.
We are going to see that sin is a problem for every person that has ever lived.
It was a part of who we were before we were ever born.
Ps 51: David said, ‘In sin my mother conceived me’
OUR DNA is Sin - Term we understand as ORIGINAL SIN.
A recent study by five psychologists suggests that today’s college students tend to have more self-centeredness issues than those in the past. From 1982 to 2006, 16,475 college students completed an evaluation called the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI), a test that has been around for several decades. Narcissism is a term generally used to describe selfishness, conceit, or egotism, particularly in regard to how people relate socially. Those tested must give rated responses to such statements as, “If I ruled the world, it would be a better place,” “I think I am a special person,” and “I can live my life the way I want to.” Scores have been spiraling in recent years.
The study’s leading author, Professor Jean Twenge of San Diego State University, believes we’ve gone overboard in telling our children how special they are, when we should be showing them their responsibilities to others.
The study suggests that narcissists “are more likely to have romantic relationships that are short-lived, at risk for infidelity, lack emotional warmth, and to exhibit game-playing, dishonesty, and over-controlling and violent behaviors.” Also are more likely to cheat on tests. The researchers believe that the self-esteem movement, beginning in the 1980s, has something to do with this trend. As an example, Twenge points to a version of the song “Frère Jacques ” that is sung in some preschools now: I am special, I am special; Look at me, look at me! *
Very important point in the Gospel message is that we come into this world as part of a polluted stream that began all the way back to Adam. Extremely important to know that our condition is rooted in Adam’s sin. That it is a BLESSING and not CURSE.
(12) Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned-
(13) For until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is not law.
(14) Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him Who was to come.
Paul in 1 Corinthians discusses the First Adam and the Last Adam.
Jesus Christ is described as the Second Adam
When God looks at the billions of people on this earth and all those that have ever lived He sees them in one of two places. In ADAM or In CHRIST.. We are born in the First Adam but we are Born Again into the Second Adam.
When in Adam you are identified with His sin but when in Christ the second Adam you are identified with His righteousness.
A man was trying to convince an acquaintance that one individual can make a lasting impression on others. After a rather heated discussion his friend continued to doubt.
To prove his point, the first man declared that he would introduce a new word into the English language. The night he chalked on walls and pavements throughout Dublin, Ireland four letters which he had chosen from random from the alphabet.
The next morning people saw this unusual word and were baffled at it. They were asking one another what it meant. It was not long until the newspapers began writing about it and the strange sounding word was only the lips of everyone.
Thus the term/word QUIZ was incorporated into the English language as a synonym for ‘questioning’. He won his argument and left a lasting impression.
Adam’s lasting impression on us was twofold: Condemnation and Consequence
Condemnation: Sin effects all 2) Consequence: Sin costs all
Sin effected everybody and the evidence of that is death. We are all born with the disease of sin and the symptom of death.
You may not have died but you are dying: Grayer, softer, slower, more wrinkles, stairs get steeper, sidewalks get longer, eyeglasses get thicker, mirror get more brutally honest
Football Team Driving: 50 yard line, 40, 25, 25, 7, 1 touchdown.
Death is creeping closer and closer and closer to it’s goal line…reigning more and more over us each day until one day it becomes the complete monarch of our lives.
THE ORIGIN OF SIN – What can I know about sin?
3 Questions Paul Answers.
Minnesota Crime Commission: In 1926 did a study on children and the result was a published paragraph. Regardless of social or economic circumstances this secular organization found…
‘Every baby starts life as a little savage. He is completely selfish and self-centered. He wants what he wants when he wants it. His bottle, his mother’s attention, his playmate’s toy, his uncle’s watch. Deny him these things and he seethes with rage and aggressiveness which would be murderous if he were not so helpless. He is dirty, he has no morals, no knowledge, no skills. This means that all children, not just certain children are born delinquent. If permitted to continue in the self-centered world of his infancy, given free reign to his impulsive actions to satisfy his wants, every child would grow up to be a criminal’.
Any parent can recognize this to be true and some even learn to utilize this fact to get the child to do what they want. Child might refuse to eat something: ‘Don’t eat that….I forbid you to eat those vegetables’! Put their sin nature in operation
TODAY: I forbid you to sit on this front row! Some are considering moving right this moment.
To understand this statement is to simply agree with biblical truth that says that every person comes into the world with a Sin Nature. It is self-centered, me first, want what I want, call my own shots, order my own life, reject any authority over my life attitude.
3 QUESTIONS:
WHERE DID SIN ORIGINATE: (12) Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world,.. One man: Adam
This challenges evolutionistic thinking or other ideas that we are remnants of space creatures. God created one man from which we all descended and were affected concerning the sin issue.
I am a physical descendent of people with the names McGraw, Myrick, Akins, Randall…I carry the physical characteristics to prove that decendency: Skin color, eye and hair color…DNA. You can look at my brothers and sisters and see the family resemblance or at my distant cousin Dr. Phil and see how he got the short end of the family stick but the best end of the family wallet.
I am also a soulish descendent: Some attitudes or tendancies we bring. My mom was very competitive, very driven. Took up tennis at age 45 and ended up being Arizona Senior Singles champion for a number of years. A Junior college coach offered her a scholarship in her 60’s wanting her to join their team cause she kept beating his team members in tournaments. Values, morals, temperaments
I am a spiritual descendent: My mom/dad/grandparents…all the way back to Adam made me a descendent of their sin problem. I inherited my sin nature through them. All of us here today….
Original Sin is the desire to do that which you know you should not do or a tendency to justify that which is wrong. Where did it originate? One man: Adam
WHAT DID SIN EFFECT: through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned
One of the largest plagues ever was the Spanish Flu. It was first identified in 1918 on and army base; in Fort Riley Kansas. It quickly spread to France, Africa, Spain, and other parts of the world. It was especially bad because it attacked younger people with healthy immune systems, not just older folks or infants. It’s estimated that between 50-100 million people died of this flu. More than those who died of the black death, and more than died in WW1. Some estimate that 20% of the world’s population suffered from the illness, and as much as 5% of the world’s population died.
The single greatest epidemic the world has ever faced started small, with just one man, but the effects and the reach are felt far and wide.
Adam is described as the FEDERAL HEAD of the Human Race: Governments central point of origin from which the entire nation is affected.
There was a point in time that the world was free of sin.
God did not create the world with sin as a part of it.
The only world we have seen and know is a sin tainted world.
That is not how it has always been nor is it where God is taking this world.
Through Jesus we are kept from the penalty of sin (step 1)
Through the Holy Spirit we are strengthened against the power of sin (step 2)
One day we will stand before God the Father delivered from the presence of sin. (final step) Salvation – Sanctification – Glorification.
WHAT IS THE COST OF SIN? through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned
Death: Wherever you have sin you have death at work.
Many think that wherever you have sin your have freedom and pleasure but sin always leads to a separation from that which life is truly all about.
Takes us in a direction away from God’s best and His plan for our lives.
No matter what mask sin wears it always leads to death.
Sometimes physical death but always spiritual death and separation from God.
Adam and Eve: In the day that you sin you shall die…
Leads to lost fellowship and distance from God.
NEWBORN: Look at them and say, ‘they have just begun to live’
Actually they have just begun to die.
Everybody comes into the world and every day they grow 24 hours closer to an appointment with death.
Undertaker who signed his letters “EVENTUALLY YOURS’.
Every person will have to come to his door someday. Feet first!
Would be nice if the end of our time on this earth were like Enoch or Elijah.
If God would take us away in a fiery chariot with the bumper sticker ‘Honk of you love Jesus’. Death has spread to all men and has infected each one of us.
An entire forest in Oregon is infected by a fungus which started as a single microscopic spore but it has now been weaving its way through the entire forest for about 2400 yrs.
This fungus, which is essentially a giant mushroom you can’t see from the ground, has infected 2,200 acres of national forest and killed hundreds of thousands of trees.
All from a single spore. Adam’s sin opened the door for sin and death to spread like this unseen fungus through the entire human race.
Death has spread because we all sinned:
Kind of a chicken/egg argument. Which came first?
We all do sin, have sinned and will sin today, this week, next month, next year but the point made here is different. WE ALL SINNED WHEN ADAM SINNED!
Sin infected the entire human race at the point of Adam’s sin.
What is the difference between Adam’s sin and Eve’s sin? Didn’t she sin first? Positionally Adam was the first human being created out which all others, including Eve. He was the beginning and root of all others to follow.
Her sin was first in time but his was first in position.
I want to emphasize why your being condemned by the sin Adam committed is a good thing for you. Because I was born positionally in Adam, cursed by the effect of his rebellion, then just so I am positionally IN JESUS right now, enjoying the benefits of His righteousness.
The fact that God condemned you in the single act of sin by one man opens the door so that He can save you through the sacrificial act of another man
In a movie called the Last Emperor a young child was anointed as the last emperor of China and lived a life of luxury with 1,000 servants at his command.
He was once asked by his brother, ‘What happens when you do wrong?’
‘When I do wrong, someone else is punished’.
Then he demonstrated by breaking a jar and one of his servants was beaten.
In Christianity, Jesus reverses that ancient pattern so that when the servant(us) makes a mistake the king is punished.
Instead of being condemned eternally for our sin nature Jesus is condemned instead.
(13) for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is not law.
Verse 13 describes how sin has always been in the world: Before the Law it was a simple rebellion while under the Law it was transgression. The proof that sin has always been in the world since Adam is that death, the consequence, has always been there.
Genesis 5 is the first obituary in the Bible: and he died… and he died…and he died..
The Bible describes the days of Noah as being very wicked. Men were so evil that God eventually destroyed most all of mankind thru the flood. Not one of those people sinned against any written law because those had yet to be written down. Yet all were considered by God to be in rebellion against Him.
A person today that has never heard is held accountable because of the evidence/revelations of God described in Roman 1: creation & conscience (preaching of Noah added extra light) 100 year revival service with no converts
People are condemned because they have rejected one or many of the evidences that God has given and they have refused to subject their lives to the living God. Death is the consequence
Death bringing separation from God in our daily lives
Death ending our physical existence on this earth
Second death bringing eternal separation and punishment
The principle of being condemned by another’s act is especially confusing to we who are Americans. We are so tuned into the idea of individualism that we see ourselves as always standing alone and not one part of a bigger organism.
The Jews thought very differently. They saw themselves as part of a bigger whole. Australian Aboriginal: Ask him his name and he will give you the name of his tribe because he sees himself as not standing alone but as one part of a bigger whole.
Where do we find this principle in the NT? All through it!
Jesus speaking of wanting us to be one as He and the Father are One.
Stressing how much difference it makes when 2 or 3 are gathered together.
Paul in Philippians wanting us to be of ONE MIND.
Describing the church as ONE BODY with many members.
Acts 1-2 where the church did things in response to others who were hurting because if one hurt it mattered to all.
Ministry is not done alone: Paul stated that evangelism is accomplished by one
planting, another watering and a third harvesting.
During my years at Eastwood Baptist Church there would often be decisions made that would cover the front of the auditorium. When you would eventually hear the testimonies of many of them they would talk about those who witnessed to them, shared the gospel, and invited them to church where eventually they would respond in an invitation.
I may preach but are you praying and encouraging others to make decisions. Are you sharing your faith, inviting your friends to church, praying for myself and other teachers as they serve each week? No one operates alone.
That is a powerful, powerful truth to understand and apply.
THE OFFENSE OF SIN: (14) Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him Who was to come.
Jesus said ‘Thy will be done’ but beginning with Adam man has said ‘My will by done’. Adam and Eve sinned when they chose to do what they wanted instead of what God wanted…. All sin has a basic principle at work. Disobedience. Making a choice for self at the cost of God’s will.
Verse 14 talks about sin which is not in the likeness of Adam’s sin. We all have our own favorite types of sin.
We all sin in our own different ways that is only a byproduct of us all being identified in Adam’s sin.
We are part of the human stream of sin which began with Adam. It may have been only a small trickle then but it has grown into a mighty torrent of murders, rapes, robberies, prisons, slums, drug addiction…
My condemnation stems from being condemned in Adam’s sin.
Does that bother you? Do you feel like saying to God, ‘THAT IS NOT FAIR’!
‘I was not there, was not born when Adam did this, and it should be his problem and not mine!’
If you and I were not condemned in Adam’s sin we would have had our own point of rejection of the will of God to occur.
It is the greatest blessing you can imagine that God chose to condemn us all in Adam’s sin because by condemning us all by one man’s sin God set the stage to also deliver us all by One Man’s death on the cross.
Fair is not the issue but what God did was of tremendous wisdom. The God Who chose to condemn us all in one man can now justify us all through one Man.
By the same principle that condemned us we can now be rescued.
You look in your Bible and see in the OT it describes the Generations of Adam in Genesis 5:1-2. When you get to the end of the OT in the book of Malachi you see the word ‘cursed’. You then turn to the NT and it begins in Matthew with the Generations of Jesus the Messiah. You make your way to the Book of Revelation and chapter 22:3 state, ‘No more curse’.
The OT introduces us to ourselves and God’s holiness and then condemns us in the First Adam. The NT introduces us to Jesus Christ, the Second Adam, and describes our deliverance that comes through Him.
Several years ago, Eugene F. Suter, Jr. was a student at Yale University. His father passed away and left him an inheritance of $400,000. Amazingly Suter refused the inheritance. The trustees of the estate insisted he take it, and even took him to court to force him to accept the inheritance. Judge William T. Collins reluctantly ruled that the young man had a legal right to reject the $400,000. The judge’s order legally cut off the 22 year old student from any future interest in the family fortune.
You have the legal right to reject what God has done for you. You can live and die in your lost condition and then one day be confronted with the eternal consequences. You can live a worldly and self-centered existence and miss out on all that God would want to do for you and through you as His Child.
