Where It All Went Right: An Exposition Of Romans 5:12-19

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.