Romans 5:12-21: The Results of Sin and Redemption from Sin

 

Humanity and Sin

Paul’s point in this section is to display that just as the human race was condemned based on the transfer of Adam’s first sin to their moral record, in the same way, believers are declared righteous based on the transfer of Jesus the Messiah’s righteousness to their moral record. The main idea here is that humans are saved in precisely the same way that they were lost—through the act of another. “As Adam, by his one transgression, brought condemnation to all connected with him, so Christ, by His act of righteousness (His sinless life and substitutionary death) brought justification to all connected with Him” (Steele & Thomas 1967).

I. Adam, the first representative of humanity, by his one sin brought sin and death upon the whole human race vs. 12-14

A.    Paul’s view of original sin is stated in vs. 12-14

1.      Sin entered the world through one man (Genitive of agency)

2.      Death came because of the original human sin (spiritual, physical, and everlasting death in the lake of fire)

3.      Adam’s one sin was transferred to the account of all humans yet to be born. We come into the world with legal guilt because we all sinned when Adam sinned

4.      How do we know Adam’s original sin was placed on our moral account as legal guilt? Because all humans die, only those with legal guilt die. We were born spiritually dead; we start dying physically at least after maturity, and we all are born under the sentence of everlasting death. This proves Adam’s one sin affected us all

5.      Anticipated question: Since sin is violating the law, and the law did not come until Moses, how did all those people sin or have guilt without breaking a law?

a)     Sin was in the world before Mount Sinai, Exodus 20 and the Mosaic law

b)     The law given to Adam was not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the middle of the garden

c)     Since death, which results from sin, came to every human from Adam to Moses (including children), then all those humans must have had legal guilt on their record for violating some law

d)     Universal death cannot be explained by a violation of the law of Moses (people died before it was given), or the moral law written on the heart (Rom 2:12-16), for infants and toddlers cannot understand or obey this law, nor are they accountable for suppressing the rational knowledge of design around them (Rom 1:19-25) which many pre-teens are not even capable of understanding and then suppressing (this is a teenager/adult sin), but children of all ages are subject to death

e)     Thus, since death is universal among humans, they must have legal guilt and be designated as sinners because of Adam’s one sin. His rebellious act and its consequences were transferred to all human beings’ moral record

f)      Many humans have died who did not knowingly sin and rebel against the Creator and His clear special revelation by a direct command, nor were they representatives of the human race

g)     Adam was a representative man just like Jesus the Messiah is also

h)     Paul’s view has implications for acceptable interpretations of Genesis 1-3. It rules out the gap theory, day-age, and theistic evolution because there was no death until the original sin in Gen 3. Only dead animals can become fossils

B.    Pelagius’s view contradicts Paul’s view. His followers say that every person must have their own personal fall into sin; humans are born sinless and without legal guilt. Adam’s sin was not transferred to their moral record. If they continue to choose not to sin, they can merit heaven on their own

1.      Humans are born neutral towards sin; therefore, the doctrine of original sin is false (Pelagius)

2.      Humans voluntarily choose to sin of their own free will; they do not have a sin nature until they fall like Adam (Pelagius)

3.      The Council of Orange in 529 AD declared Pelagianism as heresy

C.    The Generic or Semi-Pelagian view that men are born spiritually alive and only die because of genetic heredity and just have a slight lean towards sin, but by their free will they can choose not to sin, also contradicts the Apostle Paul here 

II. The representative actions of Adam and Jesus have a significant difference vs. 15-17

A.    Jesus did much more for His people than remove legal guilt from their record. He also satisfied God’s wrath against all their personal and willful sins against God

B.    Jesus transfers his perfect righteousness to His people as a free gift of grace

C.    Justification results in the person now reigning in abundant life both currently and in the future glory through the continual work of Jesus in heaven on their behalf 

III.  The representative actions of Adam and Jesus and our legal status vs. 18-19

A.    Adam’s sin resulted in the condemnation of all he represented by a transfer

B.    Jesus’ cross-work resulted in the justification of all He represented by a transfer 

IV. Law and Grace for those connected to Adam and Jesus vs. 20-21

A.    The revealed law of God increased every human’s guilt before God and everlasting punishment (death) under the reign of Adam (and thus sin)

B.    The revealed grace of God super-abounded by transferred righteousness, bringing loving favor and everlasting life to all those under the reign of Jesus the Messiah and Lord—the believer/slave’s Master