St Peter’s Watsons Bay.

July 9, 2023.

Romans 5:12-17.

Adam’s Legacy

“Ah yes, he has your nose”, was the comment a well-intentioned acquaintance passed in relation to one of my sons, recently.

As it happens, my son had no choice in the matter; that’s what he inherited; that’s how he was born; he is of my ‘line’. 

And the nose, for good or ill, is a part of that heritage.

In an inexact way, St. Paul makes the point that as we are all of Adam’s line – sin is a part of our heritage.

As people born in sin, we begin to reflect that family likeness, and act sinfully. 

That is, we elect to live apart from, or independent of, God.

All of us.

We veer from God’s plans and purposes.

As a result of his sin our ancestor Adam died; as a result of my sin, I too will die.

And so, we read, “therefore, just a sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin…death came to all people, because all have sinned. Romans 5:12.

That point, you will recall, was well established in chapter 3 verse 23: “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”.

Even for people who haven’t knowingly or intentionallybroken God’s commands – because they’ve not been exposed to them; and Paul gives the example in v.14 of the people who existed after Adam, but prior to the Law being given through  Moses, sin’s impact prevails, as evidenced by the fact that all die.

Death is the consequence of sin. 

There is no death if there is no sin. 

Where there is sin, there is death. 

That all die is clear indication that all are in sin.

Do you follow the logic?

The Bible says, “the soul that sins will die.” – Ezekiel 18:4, 20.

Now the word “trespass” (in v.15), helps us understand how sin played out in the very first instance.

A ‘trespass’ (as it is used in this verse) is a wrong step or a going astray – that results in a relationship being violated.

How could a simple wrong step bring such disastrous results?

Here’s an illustration:

You may remember that European backpacker who was taken by a large crocodile in the Top End a few years back?

A simple ‘wrong step’ led to her demise.

She believed that the warning signs depicting croc’s eating people were not in her best interest.

And to her very great peril she stepped into the billabong and in moments was dragged beneath the surface.

Or what of those people who lost their lives just metres away on this very coastal walk?

For some reason they decided that the fence which kept people away from the cliff edge was not in their best interest and so under – and then over they went.

The ledge on which they were standing had eroded and they fell 80 meters to their death.

A ‘trespass’.

A wrong step.

And the consequences were shocking.

For whatever reason, Adam determined that God’s very clear warning not to eat from a particular tree in the Garden (Genesis 2:17), was not in his best interest.

God indicated that if Adam trespassed – that if he took a wrong step (or went astray) he would die (Genesis 2:17).

And that is exactly what happened.

Adam did not take God at his word. 

Adam did not trust God in what appeared to be a relatively inconsequential act; Adam did not obey God (Romans 5:19).

Adam did not believe that God has his best interests in view.

And his trespass resulted in the violation of every possible relationship; people were at enmity with God, each other, and the created order.

Sin or rebellion began its reign.

And Adam died (Genesis 5:5).

Now that’s the world into which we are born.

Sin and death are our lot.

But all is not lost; far from it.

Did you note in v. 14 how Paul says Adam was a pattern (or a figure or a ‘type’) of the one to come?

What Adam failed to do would be fulfilled in this one to come: the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus’ Legacy

From this point on, St. Paul helps us see the enormity of Jesus’ gracious legacy.

In contrast to Adam’s trespass – that resulted in sin and death for all, God’s grace overflowed to ‘the many’ (v.15).

Not because we deserved his mercy and grace – but as a free gift (vv 15, 16) – even though our many trespasses are rightly deserving of condemnation and judgement (v.16) – God is willing, through Jesus Christ, to put us right with himself; ‘justification’ is being held out as a gift. 

We read, “The judgement followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification” – Romans 5:16.

To whom will this gift bring justification?

Who are the ones (through the obedience of Jesus) that will be declared right (v.19) before God; whole and forgiven?

The answer is before us in verse 17 – “those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace…”

Beloved, for a gift to be of any benefit, it must be received by the one to whom it is being offered.

I do like the way the ‘Message’ translation renders vv. 16-17.

If one man’s sin put crowds of people at the dead-end abyss of separation from God, just think what God’s gift poured through one man, Jesus Christ, will do! There’s no comparison between that death-dealing sin and this generous, life-giving gift. The verdict on that one sin was the death sentence; the verdict on the many sins that followed was this wonderful life sentence. If death got the upper hand through one man’s wrongdoing, can you imagine the breathtaking recovery life makes, sovereign life, in those who grasp with both hands this wildly extravagant life-gift, this grand setting-everything-right, which the one man Jesus Christ provides? 

Who then will be declared right before a just and holy God?

The man, woman, boy or girl who grasps with both hands this wildly extravagant life-gift.

And it is wildly extravagant:

• While we were yet sinners – utterly powerless to change our hopeless estate, Christ died for us – Romans 5:6-8.
• Jesus’ sin-bearing death, his shed blood on the cross covers and in so doing releases us from God’s wrath – Romans 5:9.
• Jesus’ sacrifice reconciles us to God and rescues us for God – Romans 5:10-11.
• Jesus’ obedience (unto death) makes all who believe, righteous – Romans 5:19.

Our Response

And so, before we close, I must ask this question: have youwith both hands grasped this wildly extravagant gift?

Have you come before the God of grace and in humility received the gift of life that is being so freely offered?

People who are dead in sin are powerless to reconcile themselves to God.

Hence the urgency of receiving God’s “abundant provision of grace” (5:17).

All you need do – right now, in your hearts – to God, is pray:

Heavenly Father – I come to you for mercy and forgiveness. Thank you that Jesus died for me. Thank you that because of his resurrection I can live for you. I place my life in your hands this day. Amen

You cannot help being “in Adam”, for this came by your first birth over which you had no control.

But you can help staying “in Adam”.

In the name of Christ.

Amen.