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Adam vs. Christ (2)

Romans 5:9-21 (Pastor Heo)

9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ

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. 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.

Conclusion: eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Last Sunday: x4 = “how much more” (v. 9, 10, 15, 17) – last Sunday, we saw only 2 of them

1. Human logic = no one dies for a bad man, but IF God loved us so much that he gave his only Son to die on the cross for us while we were enemies, How much MORE is he loving us now that we are his loving children?
2. Human logic = we can do nothing for others through our death (end of everything) – this is the state of powerlessness – IF Jesus did something greater (greatest) through his death than ALL things humans can do together through their lives, How much MORE is he NOW doing for us that he is ALIVE?

• v. 9 “God demo’ed his love for us in this – while still sinners, he died for us'”
• v. 10 “If, while God’s enemies, we were reconciled to God, how much more shall we be saved through his life?'”

The next 2 – we need to focus on ONE keyword.

“ONE”

One = enough

• The more the better (materials), right?
• But, in terms of what is REALLY important, ONE is more than enough.

Hana-nim = ONE nim

• One God, one Savior, one husband, one wife,

v. 12-19 “ONE” = x12

There are TWO “ONE man” (Adam vs. Christ)

• Adam = man (literal meaning = “from the dust”)
• Christ = God incarnated (God became man) “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us”
• Adam = no physical father, the first man made by God directly
• Christ = no physical father
• Adam – the first physical father, affects ALL human beings by what he has done (sin)
• Christ – also affects ALL human beings by what he has been doing (salvation)
• Adam = ONE in negative sense
• Christ = ONE in positive sense
• Adam = given dominion over all Creation, through disobedience (sin), he lost his kingdom
• Christ = came as king over NEW Creation “the old has gone, the new has come” – through his obedience, he brought in righteousness and justification

Christ has done SO MUCH MORE than Adam

Some unbelievers challenge with this question: “Was it fair for God to judge the WHOLE world by ONE man’s disobedience?”

Answer: “Of course, not only fair, also wise, and gracious.” If God has tested EACH individually, the result would have been the same anyway (guilty) – by condemning ALL human beings through ONE man, God was also then able to SAVE all human beings through ONE man (Jesus Christ)

We are ALL racially connected (genetically, physically) through Adam. Fallen angels cannot be saved – they sinned individually, and were judged, condemned individually. There is no substitute to take their condemnation. But because we were lost in Adam, we can also be saved through Jesus Christ. For human redemption and salvation – God’s plan is wise, gracious, merciful, fair.

• Adam (first man) is the representative of ALL humans.
• Jesus is not only our representative, but also our substitute.

v. 12-14 (Fundamental theology)

Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ

12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man (Adam), and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned (in Adam)— 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*.

• The one to come = Jesus Christ

Human logic = every general effect has its own general cause (Cause – Effect).

• The wages of sin = death.
  • Sin = cause (root, work), = breaking the Law
  • death = effect (fruit, salary)

Without Law, sin is not sin. Of course, there is sin around us, but without Law, sin is not taken into account as sin (loophole).

Those who lived between Adam and Moses, people did not receive the Law to keep or break – so legally, logically, these few generations (Adam to Moses) did not “sin” because they had no Law. So, they should not have “died” right? But they did die – because of Adam’s sin – not their own sin.

Still today, men die – but not for their own sin (otherwise, babies would not die – they have not yet sinned). So, like this ALL men will/must die because of Adam’s “Original Sin”

Nobody can escape the Original Sin because we all have a birthday, place, nationality, and inheritance of Sin (death). We did not choose these ourselves (nor our skin color, physical parents, etc) – all are given to us regardless of our choice. Like this, all human beings are under the influence of the first physical father, Adam. That’s why all human beings need Jesus Christ – because only he defeated the power of death and one day he will raise the bodies of those who died in him.

If Adam is enough to bring death to all humans,…
#3 How much more is Jesus able to bring LIFE to all humans?

(heavenly, spiritual, meaningful, purposeful, ALL life – even unbelievers enjoy physical life through Jesus Christ (general grace – as opportunity to receive Christ as personal Savior and Lord and live eternally)) – only Christ is the Author of Life

• “I am the Resurrection and the Life – he who believes in me will live even though he dies…”
• “I have come in this world to give you life – that you would have it to the full – no one can snatch you out of my hand”
• 1 John 5:11-12 “He who has the Son has life, but he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”

This is another “how much more”.

• Adam = death
• HOW MUCH MORE Christ = life

1 Cor 15:22 “In Adam, all died. So, in Christ, all will be made alive.”

v. 15-19

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.

“the many” = all human beings (using a definite article)

• ONE act of disobedience (Adam) brought death to ALL
• ONE act of obedience (Christ) brought life to ALL

In human history – since the Creation, who committed sin first? Eve

Practically, really, in human history, Adam was not the first person who committed sin, Eve was FIRST (congratulations). And she made her husband eat the fruit with her. Also, Adam’s son Cain committed the first murder (his own blood brother Able). In the Bible, nowhere is it said that Eve’s sin brought death to all men. Nor, Cain’s sin brought death to all. Why is Adam the guy?

Because he was responsible – the first responsibility before God. Adam was enough – only one person – to bring sin, condemnation, penalty, and hell to ALL men, how many times did he need to commit sin to bring this? ONE time. ONE bite. – that was enough.

The point: If this is true, just ONE action of ONE man was enough to bring death to ALL men,
#4 How much more does ONE action of ONE man (Jesus on the cross) bring righteousness, victory, justification, eternal life, kingdom of heaven to ALL?

• “I am The Way, The Truth, The Life – no one comes to the Father except through me.”
• 1 Cor 15:22 “As in Adam all died, so in Christ, all will be made alive.”

1. The first Adam = death
2. The LAST Adam (Christ) = life
3. The first Adam was tested in a beautiful garden surrounded by love and beauty.
4. The last Adam was tempted in the wilderness, desert, died on the cruel cross.
5. First Adam lost his paradise – driven out.
6. Last Adam turned to the neighbor on the cross and gave his paradise to the thief.

• OT = the book of the genealogy of Adam (Genesis 5) – it ends with a CURSE
• NT = the book of the genealogy of Christ (Matthew 1) – ends with “NO MORE CURSE” (New Heaven and New Earth)

Remember, we cannot help being in Adam – this came with our first birth over which we had no control, but we CAN experience a SECOND BIRTH in Christ – which will put us in him and remove the curse from us and give us life.

Scripture gives us no option.

Jesus says, “Do not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.'”

You must be REALLY born again – not just a nominal Christian. Is Christ really IN YOU?

Let’s pray.