Scripture: Rom 5:12-19

12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned— 13 To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come. 15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16 Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! 18 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

45 So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. 46 The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. (1 Cor 15:45-47)

I. The Act of the First Adam

12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned— 13 To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come. (Rom 5:12-14)

• Heb (Adam): man or mankind
• Heb (Adamah): ground

Adam is the first human, as well as the representative of all humanity. Adam represents all of us.

A. We Are Guilty of Sin

1. Sin is imputed onto us.

2. We have a sinful nature.

The LORD saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. (Gen 6:5)

Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. (Psa 51:5)

Even from birth the wicked go astray; from the womb they are wayward, spreading lies. (Psa 58:3)

On our own, we cannot be good in terms of our relationship with God.

On our own, the good that we do counts as nothing towards our standing with God.

Their appointed roles were disrupted and corrupted:

• Eve as wife and mother
• Adam as farmer and gardener

What was supposed to bring them joy and life now become sources of pain and suffering.

B. We Are Faced With Death

16 And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die. (Gen 2:16-17)

By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return. (Gen 3:19)

… the wages of sin is death … (Rom 6:23a)

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins (Eph 2:1)

… you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh… (Col 2:13)

8 They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. 9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. (Psa 36:8-9)

… all who hate me love death. (Pro 8:36b)

“1 … I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead… 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. (Rev 3:1, 3)

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II. The Act of the Second Adam

A. We Are Favoured by God

But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! (Rom 5:15)

God gives us a gift through Jesus Christ because of His favour – He looks on you as His favoured child.

The grace of God that is greater than any sin was shown to them, and God restored every single one of them for His glory and honour!

The act of grace does not balance the act of sin; it overbalances it!

B. We Are Given Righteousness and Life

16 Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! (Rom 5:16-17)

God’s gift of righteousness takes us from rejection to right relationship with God.

21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Rom 3:21-24)

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Cor 5:21)

When we receive this gift of righteousness, God grants us life.

For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! (Rom 5:17)

… If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him… (2 Tim 2:11-12a)

For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. (1 Cor 15:22)

Truly, truly I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never experience death forever. (Jn 8:51)

Death is universal to all, but only those who choose to receive God’s gracious gift of righteousness will reign in life.

I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die. (Jn 11:25)

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (Jn 3:16)

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (2 Cor 5:17)

18 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. (Rom 5:18-19)

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III. Our Act in Response

1. Have We Sinned Against God?

To sin against God does not mean that we have broken the law, but that we have missed the mark of God’s standard.

And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. (Heb 13:12)

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. (Eph 1:7-8)

2. Have We Accepted God's Gracious Gift?

God is the only being that loves you, that sees you precious enough, important enough, worthy enough to send His only Son Jesus Christ to die for you. No other god died for you and I except Him!