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 this principle. To prove his point, the first man declared that he would introduce a new word into the English language. That night he chalked on walls and pavements throughout Dublin, Ireland, four letters Q-U-I-Z, which he had chosen at random from the alphabet. The next morning everyone who saw this unusual expression was baffled at it. One person after another would ask, “What does it mean?” It wasn’t long until the newspapers took up the question, and eventually this strange- sounding word was on the lips of everyone. Thus the term “quiz” was incorporated into the language as a synonym for “questioning.” The originator had won his argument. He had left a lasting impression on many people by creating one new English word. - Windows on the Word, p. 85.
In Romans 5 Paul presents to us two individuals who—through one act—have had an awesome impact on the human race.
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered the world [mankind], and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned" (5:12).
Who is this one man? It is, of course, Adam. The story of Adam and Eve is no mere myth, folklore, or legend but an actual event in human history. Scripture puts full blame for human sin on the shoulders of Adam, the father of the human race. God had given to Adam a clear command and warning when He said, “Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Gen. 2:16-17). We are told that Adam disobeyed this command and ate of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and, as a result of his disobedience, sin was introduced to mankind. And because of this one sin of Adam, everyone dies.
What do the words “all have sinned” mean? Do all people die because of Adam’s one sin or because of their own individual sins? What is meant here is that when Adam sinned we actually sinned with Him. How was this possible? In the Epistle to the Hebrews there is a similar idea. The author of Hebrews writes, “And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him” (Heb. 7:9-10). We are told that Levi, though not born until almost 200 years later, actually paid tithes in his great-grandfather Abraham. The ancestor, Abraham, contained his descendant, Levi. Similarly, our ancestor, Adam, contained all of us, his descendants. Therefore, just as Levi did something in paying the tithe in Abraham, so we did something in sinning in Adam. God did not reveal the mechanics of how this is so, it is simply declared to be so.
"(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 them that had not sinned after the similtude of Adam’s transgression. . . .” (5:13-14a).
Here is Paul’s argument: (1) a penalty implies a broken law; (2) death is a penalty; (3) sin is not imputed [charged to one’s account] when there is not law [in other words, a person is not found guilty for something if there is no law against it.]; (4) Adam’s sin was the transgression of a law; so were the sins of the people of Israel under the law; (5) between Adam and the time of Moses sin did not partake of the character of transgression because there was no law; (6) yet death reigned from Adam to Moses; (7) since death is a penalty of a broken law, all men were subject to death because they transgressed God’s command in Adam. It is true that we do inherit a sin nature from our parents and that we do commit individual sins, but it is also true that Adam’s sin was directly charged to us when he sinned.
". . . who [Adam] is the figure of him that was to come" (5:14b).
Who is “him that was to come”? It is Jesus Christ. Paul writes that there are similarities between Adam and Christ.
First of all, both Adam and Christ committed one memorable act. Adam’s act was his sin of disobedience; Christ’s act was his obedience in His death on the cross.
And second, Adam’s one act of disobedience and Christ’s one act of obedience have affected all people. Verse 19 says, “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” Because of Adam’s disobedience, every person is a sinner, and because of Christ’s obedience, every person is able to be right in God’s sight.
Now Paul presents a contrast between Adam and Christ.
1. There is a contrast between sin and grace.
"But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many" (5:15).
The sin of Adam affects all; while grace has been extended to all through Christ.
2. There is a contrast between condemnation and justification.
"And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgement was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification" (5:16).
Condemnation is the product of one man’s sin, but justification is possible despite all of our many sins. In Adam we got what we deserved, condemnation. In Christ we have received much more of what we do not deserve, grace.
3. There is a contrast between death and life.
"For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.). Therefore as by the offence of one judgement came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous" (5:17-19).
On one hand, death is seen reigning over all mankind by Adam’s sin. On the other hand, those who receive grace and gift of righteousness, shall reign in life by Jesus Christ. Notice that we can not only have life, but we can also reign in life.
What does all of this have to do with us? God sees us as in one of two persons. We have either in Adam or in Christ. In Adam, God sees us as sinners. But in Christ, God sees as righteous. What do we have to do to be in Adam? Nothing. What do we have to do to be in Christ? Only trust Him.
There was a criminal in a state penitentiary who was soon to be executed for murder. His story received an uncommon amount of publicity because he had willed that the cornea of one of his eyes should be used in what was then the very new procedure of corneal transplant. Further, the recipient was designated prior to the criminal’s execution, and indeed the two men met before the execution was carried out.
In due time the murder was put to death. His cornea was taken from his body, and by the miracle of medicine transplanted into the eye of a blind man who then could see. Now suppose if some policeman had tried to arrest that man who received the cornea and have him executed because he had the cornea of a murderer. Any judge would say, “But that cornea which formerly was in the body of a murderer is now in the body of a man who is righteous before the law. Therefore, the cornea is as righteous as the man is.” And that illustrates how I was in Adam and just condemned to die because I sinned when he sinned. But by a miracle greater than any surgical procedure, I was placed in Jesus Christ. And now I am righteous because He is righteous and can stand before a holy God uncondemned. From being in Adam to being in Christ—that’s my story by the miracle of God’s grace.
A. W. Pink, in his book Gleanings in Genesis, makes a contrast between the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and the tree upon which Christ died, the cross. Let me share some of these points of contrast with you.
1. The first tree was planted by God. But the second tree was planted by man.
2. God forbade man to eat the first tree. But man is freely invited to draw near and eat of the fruit of the second tree.
3. The eating of the first tree brought sin and death. But by eating of the second tree comes life and salvation.
4. Adam, by eating of the first tree, was turned out of Paradise, while the repentant thief, by eating of the second Tree, entered Paradise.
"Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound; that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord" (5:20-21).
Gleason Archer defined the law as “the necessary yardstick of God’s holiness which served to bring out into sharp relief the guilt of man in revolt against God, showing him the hopelessness of attempting to earn salvation by good works."
God’s law shows us how sinful we really are. The law is like a magnifying glass. A magnifying glass doe not increase the number of dirty spots, but it does make them stand out more clearly and brings to light some that the naked eye cannot see. The law came not to make a man a sinner, but to show him how great a sinner he is.
But as deep as sin goes, God’s grace goes deeper. As wide as sin is, God’s grace is wider. When sin abounded, grace super-abounded. God’s grace is greater than all our sin.
Sam Duncannan was a simple man with very few talents, but he had a great desire to do something for the Lord. So he made it his practice to cut out pictures from cards and magazines and to paste on to these pictures appropriate verses and poems, and then to give these simple gifts to those whom he felt would be blessed by them. One day, Sam came across a picture of Niagra Falls, but for a long time he could not find a poem appropriate for this picture. Then he heard a hymn and the moment he heard it, he knew he had found the poem for which he had looked so long. The hymn went like this:
Have you on the Lord believed?
Still there’s more to follow.
Of His grace have you received?
Still there’s more to follow.
Oh, the grace the Father shows,
Still there’s more to follow;
Freely He His grace bestows,
Still there’s more to follow.
More and more and more and more,
Always more to follow;
Oh, His matchless, boundless love,
Still there’s more to follow!
Underneath his picture of Niagra Falls, Same wrote these lines and titled the picture with the appropriate words: “More to follow!” What better illustration could there be of the abundant supply of God’s grace! “Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.”
