“It’s
all his fault!”
Romans
5:12-21 (Message #12)
April 3, 2016 (Sligo,
Ireland)
INTRODUCTION:
When things go wrong everyone want to
cast blame to try and pinpoint the guilty party:
- Kids
point at each other. “It wasn’t me, momma. Patrick did it.”
- Insurance
companies blame the victim, and then raise their rates.
- People
say it’s the government’s fault.
- Many
people blame God for the problems in the world.
TRANSITION:
However,
sometimes it’s not so easy to find a scapegoat. Sometimes we have to admit that
the problem is “us.” When we read the Bible we gradually come to the conclusion
that humans are generally the problem, not the solution. The Bible says
that we are sinners, both by nature and by choice. That means that we inherited
a sin nature passed down through our family tree dating all the way back to
Adam and Eve. However, we also choose to sin, over and over again. Oh,
we like to blame it on the devil. Or we try and excuse ourselves by renaming
our sin: “I don’t have a bad temper and
uncontrolled rage. That’s just the Irish in me.” Or maybe we blame our
parents: “I’m just a chip off the old
block; like father like son, you know.”
But eventually we have to face up to
the fact that we are rotten to the core, even the nicest of us. Moreover, there
is nothing we can do to fix ourselves. Sin has messed us up and only God can
set things to right. But how can He do that? Well, let’s see if we can find
out. Turn to Romans 5 and we’ll start reading at verse 6 in order to get the
broader context.
6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ
died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a
righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but
God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for
us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by His
blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God. 10 For
if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son,
much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life. 11 More
than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom
we have now received reconciliation. 12 Therefore, just as sin
came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread
to all men because all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the
world before the Law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet
death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like
the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. 15 But
the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s
trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of
that one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded for many. 16 And the free
gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgement following
one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses
brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man’s
trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive
the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through
the one Man, Jesus Christ. 18 Therefore, as one trespass led to
condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification
and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man’s disobedience
the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made
righteous. 20 Now the Law came in to increase the trespass, but
where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that,
as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading
to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
MAIN BODY:
Verse 12: “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through
one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because
all sinned—“
- Romans
5:12-21 provides us with a clear contrast between Adam and Christ. Father
Adam introduced sin and death into the human story, but Christ brought us righteousness
and new life. Verses 12 and 18 serve as bookends for this teaching and
these two verses summarize the whole passage. Moreover, Adam and Christ
sum up the message of the Book up to this point. Adam represents man’s
condemnation and Jesus represents the believer’s justification.
- It
is clear here in verse 12 that Paul is referring to Adam, the first man,
the wicked “villain.” Finally, we have someone to blame for all the evil
in the world! Just look at his resume.
- Created in God’s perfect
image and given a perfect body, a soul (= intellect +
emotion + volition), as well as a spirit (= the ability to commune
with God)
- Father of the whole human
race
- Chose sin over
righteousness (used his God-given free will against God!)
- By his selfish act of
rebellion brought death to all his descendants
- Proved the adage that “one
bad apple spoils the whole barrel.”
- Paul
tells us that by Adam’s sinful screw-up “death” passed on to the
entire human race. You see, it’s all Adam’s fault! Or is it?
- Oops!
Take another look at the last phrase of verse 12: “…because all sinned.”
What’s that about? While it’s true that we all commit sins every day,
that’s not what Paul is talking about here. He is saying that there is a unity to the human race,
and in Adam we all sinned when he sinned (cf. I Cor. 15:22, “For as in Adam all die, even so in
Christ all shall be made alive.”). We inherited our sin nature from
Father Adam, that’s true, but we all exercise it under our own steam. The
result is physical and spiritual death for every one of us: man, woman,
and child.
- This
reminds me of Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the
glory of God.” We’re all in the same leaky boat!
Verses 13-14: “…for sin indeed was in
the world before the Law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no
law. 14 Yet
death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like
the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the One who was to come.”
- So
in these verses Paul brings up the question of the introduction of the Law
through Moses. He asks, “What is the relation between sin and
the Law.” After all, it wouldn’t be fair to blame people for
breaking laws they didn’t even know existed would it?” Let’s look at this…
- Sin came through Adam when
he broke God’s law (1 single rule!)
- Death followed sin
- Sin and death were both
already present before the Law arrived
- The Law merely verified the
presence of sin (like a litmus test)
- The issue is not the kind
of sin people commit but the fact that they commit any at all! Even one
single sin qualifies a person as a “sinner.”
The Problem of SIN: Shakespeare
said, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” The opposite is
also true. Sin by any other name is just as rotten.
- “Sin” = to miss the
mark/target – e.g. Swimming race from Sligo to Newfoundland. Those who swim the
farthest just sink in the deepest water.
- “Transgression” =to cross into
a forbidden zone; cross the line. God draws lines for our good; e.g. no sex
before marriage, no stealing, etc.
- “Iniquity” = to be
morally/ethically impure, filthy, unclean.
- “Wickedness” = general term
for all kinds of sin
- Romans
3:23 – “For ALL have sinned and fall
short of the glory of God.”
- Verse
14b: ”…even over those whose sinning
was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the One who was to
come.” = Even if
we haven’t committed the exact sin that Adam committed we are still
guilty. [And note that Adam was “a type of the
One who was to come.” But what does “type” mean? The NIV says “pattern.”
Adam was a pattern of Christ who was to come. He was an example, or a
foreshadowing, or a prefiguring of Christ, although very different.]
The Problem of DEATH: the logical
consequences of sin
- Basic
meaning of the Greek word for death, thanatos = “Separation”
- Physical death = separation from loved ones, and
of body and soul
- Spiritual death = separation of the sinner from God
- Eternal death (“the Second Death”) = separation
from God in hell for eternity
- N.B.
Adam and Eve experienced both physical and spiritual death
Verses 15-17: “But the free gift is not like the trespass. For
if many died [“death reigned”] through one man’s [Adam’s] trespass, much more
have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one Man,
JESUS CHRIST, abounded for many. 16 And
the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s [Adam’s] sin. For
the judgement following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift
following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man’s [Adam’s]
trespass, death reigned through that one man [Adam], much more will those who
receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign
in life through the one Man, JESUS CHRIST.”
·
Every
great story needs a hero, and in this story Jesus is the Hero!
- He,
Himself, was God’s gracious gift to us.
- He
offered up His life as a free gift to save us.
- He
came to repair the damage caused by sin—both Adam’s and ours.
- Adam’s choice
brought…
- Sin
- Transgression
- Iniquity
- Condemnation to all plus
all manner of brokenness and misery (v. 16, 19)
- The “reign of death” (Note:
used 3 times – v. 14, 17, and 21)
- Christ’s choice
brought…
- God’s abundant, overflowing
“grace” (5X)
- The “free gift” of
salvation (5X)
- Peace with God through
Christ (cf. 5:1)
- Freedom
from
condemnation (8:1)
- The promise of “life” (3X)
– cf. v. 17, 18, 21
Verses 18-19: “Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all
men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.
19 For as
by the one man’s disobedience [Adam] the many were made sinners, so by the one
man’s obedience [Jesus Christ] the many will be made righteous.”
- Be
careful with verse 18. Paul is not implying that everyone will eventually
be saved as some teach, but rather that through Christ finished work
salvation is available to all. However, to be effective the gracious gift
must still be received (cf. v. 17).
- Adam’s
TREE in Eden
brought us…
- The sentence of death
- The pronouncement of guilt
- Unrighteousness was laid to
our account
- Judgement was declared (v.
16)
- Condemnation was guaranteed
(v. 16, 18)
- Christ’s
TREE on Calvary
brought us…
- The declaration of our
justification
- The extension of God’s
mercy
- Christ’s righteousness was
credited to us
- We received freedom from
condemnation
- Our forgiveness was guaranteed.
Verses 19-21: “For as by the one man’s disobedience [Adam] the many
were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience [Jesus Christ] the many will
be made [i.e. declared] righteous. 20 Now the Law came in to
increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin
reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to
eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
- Through
Adam…
- Many were made sinners
- Transgression increased –
v. 20 says the Law revealed more sin, the way sunshine on a glass window
reveals dirt.
- Sin reigned as king
- Eternal death resulted – v.
21
- Through
Jesus Christ…
- Many will be made righteous
children of God – cf. John 1:12
- Grace abounds all the more
- Grace reigns through His
righteousness – v. 21
- Eternal life is promised to
all who believe in Him [Acts 16:31, “Believe
on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.”
CONCLUSION:
The
choice is clear: do nothing and inherit Death, or accept Christ and
receive Life. Romans 10:9-10 tells us, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and
believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10
For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one
confesses and is saved.”
If
you are ready to invite Christ into your life as your Master and Saviour, then
all you need to do is tell Him sincerely what you need. You can say a prayer
like this one:
Dear God, I know
that I am a sinner and that I cannot save myself by my own efforts. I need Your
forgiveness and cleansing. I believe that Jesus died on the cross in my place
so that I might come to know You and spend eternity with You in Heaven. Right
now I receive Christ as my Saviour and my Lord. Jesus, please come into my life
and make me into the person You created me to be. As sincerely as I know how,
I’m placing my life into Your hands. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and help me
to live for You from this day on. Thank You, Jesus, for loving me and dying for
my sins. I pray these things in the strong and mighty name of Jesus. Amen.
