Articles
Adam and Christ - Romans 5
Adam and Christ - Romans 5
What should be a great chapter of comfort to the whole world has become a battle ground for theology. Beginning in Romans 5:12 and continuing to the end of the chapter, Paul contrasts what Adam accomplished with what Jesus accomplished. I don’t propose to solve all the debates that have been generated by a study of this chapter, but I do believe there are some points that all should acknowledge.
Death came by Adam. Is it spiritual, eternal, or physical death; that is what gets debated. I believe it is physical death that came as the penalty for his sin. However, whichever one you take, Christ MUCH MORE overcame it. Through Jesus we are offered spiritual life (Rom. 6 - raised to walk in newness of life), which will result in eternal life with God. Jesus also promises to not only raise our mortal bodies (cp. Rom. 8:11) but will change them to be fit to live in the presence of God forever. What Adam brought, Jesus MUCH MORE provides the remedy.
Sin came by Adam. Many theories of how each individual is then charged with sin get argued. Some wrongly asserting that we are charged with the very guilt of Adam’s transgression. Some assert that Adam sinned ‘as our representative’. Yet others that Adam introduced sin and we have followed his example and have sinned. It can not be denied that Paul has already affirmed that ‘all have sinned’ (Rom. 3:23). The good news is, Jesus provides MUCH MORE in that we can be forgiven, justified, and glorified through His sacrifice. Where as Adam sinned by disobedience, Jesus was obedient even unto death. He thus became our sacrifice for sin, our high priest who offers this sacrifice, and our mediator who reconciles us unto the Father. What Adam did, Jesus MUCH MORE undid!
Corruption of this world was a result of Adam’s sin. We live in a broken and corrupted world that is very different than the Garden that Adam lived in at the beginning. Jesus MUCH MORE will restore that world. The curse will be removed, the earth will be made new, our eternal fellowship with God will be restored.
The point of this chapter is that what one man, Adam, did, one man, Jesus, more than undid. Paul emphasized that Jesus did ‘much more’ (8:15, 17, 20). Through Jesus we can be fully restored to an eternal relationship with the Father. Will EVERYONE thus be saved? NO, but Jesus made the provision. The gospel is God’s power to save all — all who believe (Rom. 1:16). Notice the universal nature of God’s invitation - Rom. 1:5, 16; 2:6, 11-12; 3:22, 26; 4:12; 5:6, 18-19; 6:3; 8:12-14; 10:1, 11-13; 11:14-15, 20-23, 32; 13:2; 14:12; and 16:26.
Paul mentioned that he was heavy with sadness because not all of Israel would be saved (10:1). It wasn’t that God didn’t desire it and make provision for it (cp. 2 Pet. 3:9, and be sure to read all of the scriptures listed above!) - but that they ‘have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God (10:2). “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (10:13) but “they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah saith, Lord, who hath believed our report” (10:16).
Whatever your problem with God, Jesus is ‘much more’ than the answer. Don’t reject Him and face the judgment of God in your sins. Hugh DeLong
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Knowing that most people ignore long listing of scriptures: here I have printed them out, but you will have to double check all contexts!
Romans 1:5 (ESV)
5through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,
Romans 1:16 (ESV)
16For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
Romans 2:6 (ESV)
6He will render to each one according to his works:
Romans 2:11–12 (ESV)
11For God shows no partiality.
12For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.
Romans 3:22 (ESV)
22the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:
Romans 3:26 (ESV)
26It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Romans 4:12 (ESV)
12and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
Romans 5:6 (ESV)
6For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
Romans 5:18–19 (ESV)
18Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.
19For 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.
Romans 6:3 (ESV)
3Do you not know that all of us (as many of us as, KJV) who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
Romans 8:12–14 (ESV)
12So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
13For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
Romans 10:1 (ESV)
1Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.
Romans 10:11–13 (ESV)
11For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”
12For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him.
13For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Romans 11:14–15 (ESV)
14in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them.
15For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?
Romans 11:20–23 (ESV)
20That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear.
21For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.
22Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.
23And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again.
Romans 11:32 (ESV)
32For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.
Romans 13:2 (ESV)
2Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
Romans 14:12 (ESV)
12So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
Romans 16:26 (ESV)
26but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—
