2024.9.22
Romans #8
Death Through Adam, and Life Through Christ
Romans 5:12 - 21
Good morning, everyone.
How are you doing?
Those of you who are worshiping through the internet and CDs also, how are you?
Today is the eighth in our series on the Epistle to the Romans. Today, let’s learn together from 5:12 to 21 by the title of, “Death Through Adam, and Life Through Christ.”
Our previous sermon was from 5:1 to 11. Let’s review it a bit.
In the passage we looked at previously, we learned about three joys of those who have been justified through faith. They were the three joys of, “boasting in the hope of the glory of God,” “glorying in our sufferings,” and “boasting in God”.
In particular, about glorying in our sufferings, we learned God is guiding us to be like Jesus. Jesus also learned obedience to God the Father from what he suffered. The Bible likens trails to fire refining metal. Just as the image of the silversmith is reflected in pure silver that impurities have been removed from, as we are trained through trials, the image of Jesus comes to be reflected in us. We learned to pray to be able to stay in faith, having hope and persevering in hardships.
Paul talks further about the “the Son’s life” in 5:10 in verse 12 on that we will be taking a look at today. He talks by comparing death brought about by Adam and life brought about by Christ. Now let’s look at today’s passage together.
First, let me talk on the structure of 5:12 to 21 that we will be looking at today.
Looking at the end of verse 12, the sentence stops midway, “because all sinned ---“. This structure is often seen in the epistles by Paul. Taking about something, he realizes he needs to add somethings, and putting aside what he’d been talking about, he talks about what he thinks has to be explained first. It is written in chapter 16 that this Epistle to the Romans was written by Paul dictating, and a man named Tertius writing them down. Paul’s letters are often written in such dictation style. So, verse 12 connects directly to verse 18.
In verses 12 to 17, Paul talks by contrasting death brought through Adam, and life brought through Christ.
Verses 18 to 21 is the summation of the contrast between Adam and Christ. It is written that the life brought by Christ is given to those of us who have been justified.
In contrasting Adam and Christ, Paul says in verse 14 that Adam is the “pattern” of Christ. Let’s think on this first.
When we look in the dictionary, it says that a “pattern” is “something that is used as an example, especially to copy.” In verse 14 it says, “Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come.” “The one to come” refers to Christ. It is saying that Adam is the foreshadowing the coming image of Christ. Meaning, the action of one person having an impact on many people.
Then what did Adam and Christ do respectively? Let’s read verses 18 and 19.
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.
First, Paul says that Adam’s action was trespass against God, and was disobedience. As you know, Adam was the first human being that God created, but by eating the fruit of the tree which God had commanded him not to eat from, he sinned against God. Eating the fruit from the tree God forbade was an act of not honoring God as God, and was an act of making himself to be god. Paul is saying that act of Adam to be a trespass, disobedience against God.
On the other hand, Paul says that the act of Christ was a righteous act, and was obedience to God. Christ’s righteous act, obedience to God was Christ going on the cross. Although Christ is God, he came to this earth as a human being, and obeyed God even to death on the cross. It says as follows in Philippians 2:6 to 8.
6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
He abandoned his nature of God, took the nature of a servant, and became obedient even to death on a cross for the forgiveness of our sins. Paul says that this act of Christ is an act of righteousness, an act of obedience.
Then, how did Adam’s act, and Christ’s act come to impact many people? Paul talks by contrasting Adam and Christ from verses 12 to 17.
First, what was brought about by Adam’s disobedience is written in verses 12 to 14. Let’s read verses 12 to 14.
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.
Paul says that sin entered the world because Adam sinned. Originally, there was no sin in the world that God created. So, there was no death either. However, because Adam ate the fruit from the forbidden tree, sin entered this world. And death came in through sin.
Death means separation in the Bible. There is a physical death and a spiritual death. Physical death is the death where we have a funeral, which is the separation of the body and spirit. Spiritual death is for our spirit to be separated from God. Because sin has entered the world, we have to suffer physical death and spiritual death.
Paul felt that Jews who had the law needed an explanation about sin. That is because there were Jews who thought sins came to be after God gave them the law. The law was given by God through Moses, and the law made it clear what sin is. However, sin was actually in the world even before the law was given by God. Because even those who did not sin in the same way as Adam’s trespass, were born inheriting the nature of sin from Adam. That is why sin came to bring death to all people. We Christians living in the present day were also born with the nature of sin inherited from Adam, and had been ruled by death before we were saved.
On the other hand, what came about through Christ’s obedience is written in verses 15 to 17. Let’s read verses 15 to 17.
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!
Paul says that by Christ’s obedience, the gift that came by the grace of Christ overflowed. Paul teaches that Adam’s trespass brought about death to many people, but the gift of Christ’s grace surpasses the power of death and come to overflow for the many people who believe Christ.
What is the gift that came by Christ’s grace? To put it simply, it is for believers of Christ to be credited righteous and be given eternal life.
In verse 17, Paul says that by Adam’s trespass, death came to reign this world, but by Christ’s obedience, those who received the gift by Christ’s grace will come to reign in life. To reign in life means that we Christinas will reign as kings together with Christ in the coming kingdom of God with eternal life.
Those who were once reigned by death will be transformed to reign in life. Such a great reversal is actually going on inside us Christians.
Verses 18 to 21 summarize today’s passage. Let’s read verses 18 to 21.
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. 20 The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
By Adam’s trespass, sin entered into this world, and we humans came to be born with the nature of Adam’s sin. However, by Christ’s righteous act, meaning his work on the cross, all people who believe in Christ came to be justified, and given eternal life.
Many people became sinners through Adam’s disobedience, but through Christ’s obedience, many people who believe Christ came to be righteous, sinless.
In verse 20, it says, “The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase.” Meaning, with the law, it became clear what sin was, and humans came to know clearly that they have sins. However, by Christ’s obedience, the gift of grace by Christ came to increase more for those who believed Christ.
In verse 21, by contrasting death reigning over us by sin, Paul talks about God’s righteousness reigning over those who believe Christ by grace, giving them eternal life.
Up to here, we have looked at today’s passage together. Throughout today’s passage, Paul talked in detail about the life of the Son of God he talked about in 5:10.
By Adam’s disobedience, sin entered into this world, and the world came to be reigned over by death. As a result, we humans also could no longer escape death. Not only physical death, but our spirits were torn away from God’s love, and had to spend eternity in hell. Being reigned over by death, we humans had no hope of escaping death. There was no hope at all.
However, by Christ’s obedience even to death on the cross, a way was prepared for those who believe Christ to be justified. Those who believe in Christ as their Savior came to be given the life of the Son of God, which is eternal life. We have been given life with which we can live with Jesus eternally. Now we Christians are living, given the life of Christ, the Son of God.
Have you heard of heart transplants? A heart transplant is a treatment in which a healthy heart donated by a deceased person is transplanted into a person with serious heart disease for whom no effective treatment is available through other means.
We, too, were in a state ruled by death. We could not escape from physical and spiritual death on our own. We had no choice but to go into everlasting destruction. So, like a sick person who needed a heart transplant, we also needed a new life to escape the grip of death. Through the work of Jesus on the cross, a way was prepared for us who believe in Christ to receive the life of the Son of God. It is through the life of the Son of God, that we are living now.
If we ourselves were in the position of the patient who needed a heart transplant, we would be truly grateful to the person who donated the heart. And would want to live our lives using the heart we have ben given with care.
We, too, were justified through the work of the cross where Jesus sacrificed his life, and received the life of the Son of God. Now, we are alive because of that life of the Son of God. I would like to live cherishing the life I have been given from Jesus.
What does it mean to live cherishing the life of the Son of God? How are we to live? It is to know from the Scriptures how Jesus wishes for us to live. And live keeping in mind those words with prayer. That is an appropriate way to live for those who have been given the life of the Son of God.
About being given the life of the Son the God, that is, eternal life, we sometimes just stop at the understanding of, “I’ve been given the ticket to heaven.” Certainly, eternal life is life that continues on into heaven. Even after life on this earth is over, it is the life with which we can live with God in heaven.
However, the blessing of having this eternal life is not just limited to that. Jesus said as follows in the Gospel of John 17:3
3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
The “know” here does not refer only to know as knowledge. It means to know God the Father and Jesus in a relationship on a personal level. Meaning, eternal life is a life of living together with God in a personal relationship with God.
So, we need to pay attention to what God is saying to us, what Jesus is saying to us, through the Bible. And keep in mind those things, and live prayerfully.
In chapter 3 of the Gospel of John, as you know, there is a person named Nicodemus. At night, not to be seen by other people, he came to see Jesus, and was taught that eternal life is given to those who believe in Jesus. Before meeting with Jesus, Nicodemus had not understood about Jesus well. It is not written in the Bible, but it seems that talking directly with Jesus, he believed Jesus to be his Savior, and received eternal life as his own.
The next time Nicodemus appears is in the Gospel of John chapter 7. He is recorded as the courageous man who protested against the Jewish leaders who were trying to arrest Jesus, urging them to be cautious about doing so. In chapter 3, Nicodemus had come to see Jesus in secret, but in chapter 7, he had spoken out before Jewish leaders clearly trying to protect Jesus.
Furthermore, in the Gospel of John chapter 19, Nicodemus was present at the scene of Jesus’ burial. For Nicodemus who had the position of being one of the Jewish leaders, it was not strategic to be associated with the burial of Jesus. There was a possibility of being forced out of his position as a Jewish leader. Also, if the body of Jesus were to disappear, there was also the possibility that the Roman authorities would look to him first of stealing the body. However, despite such risks, Nicodemus took part in the burial of the body of Jesus.
Looking at the events in the Gospel of John chapters 3, 7 and 19 in continuation, we can see how Nicodemus’ heart was changed to follow Jesus. Nicodemus believed Jesus, and with eternal life, he deepened his understanding of who Jesus is, and his heart was change to follow Jesus. He is the one who shows us in a visible way, the Scripture words of, “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”
Like Nicodemus, let us also listen to the words of Jesus as ones who have been given the life of the Son of God, eternal life. And deepen our fellowship with Jesus, and live as ones following Jesus.
Let’s pray.
Because of sin, we had been ruled by death. We could not escape from the reign of death. However, by believing Jesus to be our Savior, we came to live through the life of the Son of God. Let’s give thanks for the blessing that is unimaginably great that has happened within us.
(Individual prayer)
Eternal life is a life with which we live with God in personal fellowship with God. May we learn more about Jesus through the Scripture words and through our own walk of life. Let’s pray individually that like Nicodemus, the desire in our hearts to follow Jesus will be deepened.
(Individual prayer)
Heavenly Father God, today, we learned from the latter half of Romans chapter 5. Thank you that we who had been ruled by death came to be able to live in the life of the Son of God through believing in Jesus to be our Savior. Thank you for giving us who believe Jesus the life of the Son of God. May we know more about who Jesus is through the Scriptures. Also, may we learn what Jesus wishes of us in the place we have been placed. May we walk following the guidance of Jesus. And like Nicodemus, we pray that the desire for our hearts to follow Jesus will be deepened. We pray these prayers in the name of our Lor Jesus Christ. Amen.
Today, there may be people who would like to receive and live with a new life from God. It says as follows in John 3:16.
16 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.
All human beings have sin in their hearts. Hating others, envying, lying, everyone has sins. Such sins have become a barrier between God and humans, and humans have been separated from God’s love.
People with sin must receive penalty for sins after their life on this earth is over. The Bible teaches that humans have to go into everlasting destruction where God’s love will never reach them after they die.
However, God loves us deeply. So that we would not have to go into everlasting destruction, he sent a Savior to this earth to bear the penalty for our sins. That was Jesus Christ. Christ had not a single sin. However, he died on the cross. It was to receive in our place the penalty for sins that we ourselves were supposed to receive.
Whoever you are, if you believe Christ is your Savior, you can receive forgiveness of sins from God. And make your own the eternal life with which you can walk with God even in heaven.
Now, I would like to pray a prayer to believe, “Jesus Christ is my personal savior.” If you will, please close your eyes and join in prayer. I will lead the prayer. You need not pray out loud, but please pray with me in your heart. Now let’s pray.
“Dear God in heaven, before you I, too, have sins. The reason Christ died on the cross was in my place to forgive me of my sins, I thank you. I now believe Christ to be my Savior. Amen.”
Those of you who prayed with me now have received forgiveness of sins from God. You have become Christians. Please continue coming to worship. Let’s learn together from the Bible how great God’s love is.