Good morning,
Romans 5, contrasts the love of God against the sin of man. The man of sin, Adam, contrasted to the God of love, Jesus. How Adam brings death while Jesus brings eternal life.
God gave man a free will to obey Him or disobey Him. Adam chose to disobey God’s one and only command. The command is found in Genesis 2:16-17. “16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:17 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.” Genesis 3:6 states, “6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.”
At that moment sin entered into the world. Romans 5:12-21 focus in on the consequences of Adam’s decision.
Sin vs. Righteousness (12-21)
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 15 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.16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17 For if by one man’s offence death reined by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
“Romans 5:12–21 compares the work of Adam with the work of Christ to show how sin and death came into the world, and how God made a way to escape them. Adam, specially created by God, became the first lawbreaker when he ate from the restricted tree. He brought sin and death to all who came after him. Jesus, hung on a tree—a phrase implying crucifixion—paid for our sin, making it possible for all who believe to reign with Him in eternal life.”
We each must make a choice to follow Adam or Jesus. Adam is synonymous with death while Jesus with life. Adam chose to disobey God. Jesus obeyed God, coming to earth, spending 33 years, preaching and teaching to a sin sick, wicked world, and ultimately dyeing for the sins of all mankind. The result of our allegiance to Adam is death and eternity in Hell. Allegiance to Jesus means everlasting life with Jesus in Heaven.
What will your choice be?
If I can be of help in making that decision, please contact me.
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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