Slides: Adam and Jesus

Adam and Jesus
Romans 5:12-21

• In the Garden of Eden, Adam enjoyed paradise and yet disobeyed God. 
• In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus endured agony and yet obeyed God. 

¹² Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned– ¹³ for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when 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 was 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 Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the 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 the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. 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 added 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.

All sinned in Adam

¹² Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned–

Adam, head of humanity

• Humanity is interconnected; people are not just individual islands.
• Adam was the God-appointed head of the human race.
• Adam’s rebellion against God:
• Positioned humanity against God
• Poisoned humanity with sin

Adam’s deadly deed

Sin entered the world through one man… the many died by the trespass of the one man… The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation… the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men… through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners.

Three objections

• Denying God’s truth: “Adam was not a real person.”
• Denying God’s wisdom: “Adam’s impact is not important for us to know.”
• Denying God’s fairness: “Adam’s failure should not bring death to us.”

Law didn’t stop sin or death

…for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when 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 was a pattern of the one to come… ²⁰ The law was added so that the trespass might increase.

The gift of grace

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  Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification.

Receiving and reigning through Christ

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.

Resurrection first fruits

Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. (1 Cor 15:20-22)

The second Adam

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

Like the heavenly man

As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven. (1 Cor 15:45-47)

Justification that brings life

¹⁸ Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. 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.

“Life for all men”
Is the Bible teaching universalism here?

¹⁸ … the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men.

Note context: ¹⁷ … those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness.

• All who receive
• All kinds of people

Grace reigns!

²⁰ The law was added 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.