Where it all Went Right
Romans 5:12–19 NKJV
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—(For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)
Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.
In this morning’s sermon (“Where it all went Wrong”), we learned of the deplorable consequences of sin. We also learned that this was because Adam and Eve transgressed the single commandment of God. As Adam and Eve were the entire human race, all of Adam and Eve’s descendants were cursed in them. Paul refers to this in this evenings text with the words “in whom all sinned.” Much debate has occured with the words “in whom.” Many see this as unfair. Why should someone else’s sin condemn me? The odd thing is by making this very statement, one is sinning because this is an accusation of unrighteousness against God, something which Paul deals with in Romans 9. We remember from this morning that the poison in the serpent’s claim that they would become wise and would be able to determine right or wrong for themselves without reference to God. This poison is in every person who has lived as well as to all living. Just look at history and the current news. The important statement is that all have sinned and participate in the corruption of this life. How this curse is passed down is of less importance, whether by example or the genetic transmission of “original sin.” One thing is for certain. there is nothing original about sin. There is nothing new under the sun. Paul, in the first three chapters of Romans graphically portrays the decrepitude of the human race. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Even the “moral” man is entirely corrupt (depraved).
The penalty for sin was death, something which Paul also asserts when he writes “The wages of sin is death.” He is reminding us of this pronouncement from Genesis 3 which we studied this morning. One thing is for certain. Everyone in the past has died. Even Jesus Christ died. Some except Moses even though it clearly says that he died and God buried him. Enoch and Elijah are also shown as exceptions, but they would be examples of those who will still be alive when Jesus returns. The believers will not enter in corrupted flesh and body but with a new incorruptible body fashioned after the glorious body of the risen LORD. For those who do not believe at this time, they will face the second and forever death. So, Elijah, who was very old is not old in heaven. Even Enoch had to be transformed with a new body.
We mentioned this morning that the consequences of death were not immediately visited on Adam and Eve immediately. Neither is the consequences of an evil society immediately visited upon nations and tribes in history. But death shall visit these nations until Jesus comes. As it says in “Onward Christian Soldiers” is the truth that kings and thrones shall perish, kingdoms rise and wane.” Only christ and Hs church will remain. The fact that the full consequences of sin are not immediately visited is actually the first glimmer of hope, something we catch a glimpse of in Genesis 3:15. The seed of the woman would destroy the serpent. This is where it started to go right for us. But just as the full consequences of sin were felt, this restoration would not be immediately felt. It would be thousands of years before Christ would come. In the meanwhile, we see two opposing forces at work. The first is a downward spiral into sin, death and destruction. The other was a progressive revealing of God’s working out redemption and restoration in us. The collapse and violence led to the great flood which brought mass death on almost all humanity. But Noah found grace in the sight of God and was spared along with his immediate family. We must note “grace” here. No doubt that Noah was more righteous that those who perished in that he listened and believed God in preparing the ark to save his family and the animals. But this did not save them. We see that after the flood, Noah got drunk, and Ham uncovered Noah’s nakedness, whatever this means. They all died as well. What we see in the flood is that the LORD did not pour out His wrath on all people. There was a remnant saved by grace. The promise of a seed of the woman bruising the head of the serpent was still in tact, as though any promise God unilaterally makes can later be annulled.
We can see this promise continue in the calling of Abraham, who was also saved by grace. Joshua implies that Abraham had once been an idolater. He lived in a culture full of idolatry and violence. Yet, for His purpose, God chose Abraham to carry on the promise given by the LORD in Genesis 3:15. It is said that this Abraham believed and that his faith was counted for righteousness. the promise was given to him that he would be the father of many nations, in spite of his being old and with his wife Sarai, childless. Anyone who blessed Abraham would be blessed, and everyone who cursed him would be cursed. We should realize that Israel (Jacob) had not yet been born. So, even though Israel and Judah are included on this promise, this promise was for all nations, not just Israel. Paul mentions in Galatians that the promise of seed was singular and not plural. The specific promise was not fulfilled in the miraculous birth of Isaac. He would be part of the lineage of Jesus, but it would yet be about 2000 years before this promised seed would even be born who would bless all the nations including Israel. In the meanwhile, there was a long period of ups and downs. Even Israel and Jacob would be taken into captivity. But God showed grace, undeserved favor, in that he preserved a remnant through whom Christ would come. Here we see the forces of death fighting against the promise of God to redeem those who believe on His Son, Jesus Christ.
Paul reminds us also in Galatians that in the fullness of time, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman to save us who believe on Him. Against all our deserving, God has sent His Son as His expression of grace. We see these words we read this evening from Romans 5 that where “sin abounded”, grace did all the more abound. Adam’s sin was indeed grievous. We see the tragedy of humanity in him. But this free gift of God’s grace, proven in the sacrificial death of Christ in our place has more than made the difference. We have eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord if we only will believe on Him.
So why does Paul say here that grace superabounded? This implies more than evening the score. Christ did indeed pay the price and tasted death for all humanity that all who believe on Him might have eternal life. Christ has paid the curse of death for us that we might be freed. We saw that Adam and Eve could fall, something they did, something we have all done. We see all the misery this has brought to us all. So it could be seen that because Christ died, and we in Him, that the penalty has been forever paid and applied to them who believe.
Perhaps there is something else to contemplate. We learned this morning that the LORD placed Adam and Eve in the palace garden and commanded to care for it. They were naked. They communed with he LORD in the cool of the day. Sultans, Nebuchadnezzar, for example who had beautiful hanging gardens, would go to their garden to cool off and rest from their labor. They would also rehearse what they had accomplished during the day. We see this in God’s travel to the Garden of Eden in the cool of the day. But what we don’t see is the invitation for Adam and Eve to enter into the palace. We learn from Esther that not just anyone could enter the king’s court under penalty of death. One had to be summoned. Even Xerxes favorite wife could not enter. After Adam and Eve’s sin caused them to be separated to a further degree by being cast out from the garden. The problem was that their was another tree in the garden, the Tree of Life, from which Adam and Eve were excluded. We can think in the Book of Exodus that Israel had seen Mt. Sinai smoke and rage with the power of God and asked God not to show Himself that way any more. they would listen to Moses but let not the LORD speak to them directly. After the Golden Calf, The LORD was so displeased that He removed Himself from the assembly and pitched His tent without the camp. Separation! We also see in the Temple structure that there were walls of separation. The Gentiles could only pray outside the Temple. The Jewish women could come to the court of the women. Then there was a court for Jewish men. Then there was a Holy Place for the Priests, ad finally the Holy Place which only the High Priest could enter only on the Day of Atonement for a very brief moment, to sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice upon the mercy seat. Separation and more separations. More and more obstacles from the presence. necessary, lest the LORD’s holiness consume them.
As we noted, when the time appointed by the Father had come, we see the destruction of these walls of separation. The first one was when the Divine Son became flesh and was born of the Virgin Mary. He grew up among us. He suffered our insults and unbelief. He was rejected and despised. He was arrested, tried, and put to death on the cross by the order of Pontius Pilate. At His death, another barrier was torn down. The veil of the curtain which veiled the presence of God from the view of the people was torn. The viewers could no look in unhindered. But instead of seeing the blinding and overwhelming glory of God, they saw an empty room. There was no Ark of the Covenant any more to be seen as it had been removed at some time before the Babylonian Exile. The emptiness of the room openly displayed the bankruptcy of the Temple. They would have to look elsewhere for the Holy Presence of the LORD. Jesus refers to Himself as this Temple. There will never be a need to restore a Temple of marble and gold. Indeed, any attempt to do so would be counterfeit.
It was finished. The walls of separation were torn down by the sacrifice of Christ. The way to the Holy Place was opened. It was opened to all, not just the Jewish men. Women can come. Gentiles can come. Anyone who believes on Him can come. We have not yet entered into the fullness of restoration, but we have received a down payment, the Holy Spirit who dwells in the Church as well as individual believers. We now can see that it has all been right. And when we enter into heavenly glory when the Lord Jesus returns, we will enter a barrier that even the unfallen Adam and Eve could not enter, the palace itself, not as servants, but His bride. We will not be limited to a little talk with Jesus in the cool of the day. We shall no longer be naked but clothed in splendid garments. This is how the grace was more abundant than the disaster which came to Adam and Eve. We shall dwell within His courts in the splendid city for ever. We will be where the LORD always intended for His human creation. Adan and Eve, if they had not sinned, would have ascended from being gardeners and curators of the animals to reigning even over the angels. This could be somewhat of a speculation, but it is a very well grounded one.
We still struggle with sin. We still make poor decisions, even though we have been provided everything. It is this dilemma we struggle with during this season of Lent. But we must remember that the old system is fading away, and the new one is coming. In this, we rejoice. We read Paul in romans seven and his desperate cry when he still finds himself unable to shake off the effects of sin, even though in his mind he knows the truth. He remembered his miraculous conversion. He remembered the miracles which had come through his ministry. so how could he even have to admit of his struggle. He was so desperate that he cried out “ O wretched man that I am! Who shall save me from this body of death?” We admit of our own struggle as well in Paul’s cry. But the answer comes as soon as he cries out. “Thanks be to God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” He goes on to say that there is no longer condemnation for those who are in Jesus Christ. the curse has been broken. It has all been made right. let us continue to remember this.
