Romans 5:12-17

This passage talks about the contrast between Adam and Christ, first man and God-man. Two people, two acts, shape the destinies of all mankind. There are three movements in Romans 5:12-17:

12-14 Adam and Christ Introduced

15-17 Adam and Christ Contrasted

18-21 Adam and Christ Compared (next week)

First movement, Adam and Christ introduced. Read Romans 5:12-14. Sin came in through one man, Adam. Not through Eve, as the man or husband Adam was held responsible. Husbands are held responsible before God for the spiritual life of their family. In 12b it says "and so death spread to all men because all sinned." The point of this is to say that death spread to all men because all sinned in Adam. Adam was our representative, when he sinned we sinned. Read Romans 5:13-14. The point is: from Adam to Moses people sinned. But these sins were not counted against them because there was no law yet. Yet, there was still death. Why? Because all men sinned in Adam. We were charged with sin when Adam sinned. All of us. In the context of verses 12-21 there is much emphasis (five times) that it references "sin of one man". (vs. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19). The whole analogy between Adam and Christ in this passage is based on truth. Adam was our representative in sin. We sinned in Adam. All humans. Christ was our representative in life. We are made alive in Christ. All believers. We died because we were connected to Adam, by birth. We will live because we are connected to Christ, by faith. The Bible teaches "original sin", we sinned in Adam, we were born into sin. Born with a sin nature and the penalty is death. I may not like it when Adam sinned and his sin was charged to me. But I do love it that when Christ paid for sin, that was given to me. Without this representative or federal headship, with Adam and Christ, we could never be saved, because we would have to die for our sins.

Second movement, read Romans 5:15-17. Three contrasts:

15 Adam Sinned Many died. Christ Obeyed Many saved.

16 Adam Sinned Condemnation. Christ Obeyed Justification.

17 Adam Sinned Death reigned. Christ Obeyed We reign in Life.

If we are in Christ, and have received abundance of grace, then we need not be dominated by death and sin. We don't have to serve sin anymore, don't have to fear death. We reign in life, because of the cross we are set free. We don't have to be defeated by sin anymore, we have the victory. Stop listening to the lies of the enemy, you don't have to give in anymore. Because of the cross and Christ you have been rescued. We need to stop listening to ourselves and start talking to ourselves more.

Discussion Questions:

1. What sin is God calling you to surrender right now?

2. What are some of the things you need to stop listening to and start speaking some truth to? What is that truth?