Lesson 64

Grace Reigns in Life Over Sin's Reign of Death

Romans Chapter 5:12-21

Intro:

 

- This passage is going to make it very clear, that from the DVPT, man is by nature, evil. 

 

If each one was tested individually the result would have been the same -- disobedience!!

But more important by condemning the human race through one man, Adam, God was then able to save the human race through the one Man Jesus Christ.

 

Some things to consider as we begin looking at this passage;

1. Paul is not quite ready to move away from justification yet; still some more to say about it before he moves on to the next aspect of salvation - sanctification.

 

- Paul has clearly presented that faith in Christ is the only way of salvation Paul now with this next block of verses, 5:12-21, is going to answer a new question.

 

2. The question is Why is man a sinner? How did man get that way?

 

 

- So the thrust of this context, the thesis of this passage is going to be that man is a sinner because he is born a sinner and that is because of the consequence of the original sin of Adam imputed to him.

 

3. Adam brought sin to the human race.

- Paul's proof of this is that where there is sin there is death;

 

- For the believer death is not a tragedy but the next step in their eternal life; a necessary step to being face to face and ultimately in a resurrection body like His.

 

4. Contrasted and compared with this is the Provision of Christ; His countermeasures to the reality of sin and death.

 

 

5. Outline:

1. The link with Adam  5:12-14

2. The link with Christ 5:15-21

3. Main thesis or statement of BD is found in 5:12,18,19

 

we all start here

        Old Creation                                                      New Creation

In Adam                                                     In Christ

by one man vs:12                                        by one man vs:15

One Act                                                      One Act

     of disobedience vs:19a                                Obedience of the ONE vs:19b 

          Result                                                         Result

          Condemnation  vs:18                                   Declared Justified/ Righteous 

                                                                            vs:16,18,19

                                                                             Have eternal life   vs:21  (eij)        

          Reign                                                          Reign   

          sin reigns in death vs:21a                             +R reigns in life  vs:17 (f2)

                                                                             Grace reigns through righteousness

                                                                             resulting in Eternal life vs:21b

 

Note:

If man's condition is one of being an unbeliever, under condemnation he then falls under Adam.

If man's condition is one of being a believer, therefore is acquitted, having a right standing before God and then he falls under Christ.

 

Another important thread that runs through this passage is seen in the word "reign"  basileuw word used lit. of a king ruling;

 

#1. death reigns  5:14 also vs:17  

#2. sin reigns  5:21a  to verify only need to check our own life; OSN

#3. Grace reigns  5:21b  antidote to sin reigning

#4. Life reigns  "gift of righteousness will reign in life" 5:17b

 

Why is Man a Sinner??  Born a Sinner!!  The Real Story of Roots!!

 

1. The link with Adam  5:12-14 

Therefore;  Dia. tou/to draws a conclusion from something previous; because of this

 

just as = begins a comparison which he doesn't finish here;

one man = Who is the one man??

 

sin entered into the world  

- The sin; Adam's org. sin which resulted in judgment , receiving a sin nature;  

 

- the verb entered is aorist; speaks of an historic event in time.

 

- Adam actually was not the first to sin, Eve was, but Adam being created first, was established by God as the head of the race and was held responsible by God; she was deceived; Adam sinned.

 

 

- the world;  ko,smoj  does not refer to the physical earth; but the world of people, the human race as a whole.

 

and death through sin  

- The first consequence of sin and the judgment that followed is death;       

 

- Death = separation; 1st it was spiritual, separation from God;  process of dying physically began. 

 

- Why is physical death important and emphasized here??

Believe that it is because physical death is the overt proof of the reality of spiritual death.