Have you inherited any characteristics from one of your parents or another ancestor? Perhaps your hair or eye color, or your basic body shape. You also may have inherited some of their personality traits or habits. Hopefully they may have been good and positive ones, but sometimes they aren’t. Sometimes we inherit a lot of problems and troubles from those before us. In our Scripture today we read of something we inherited from one of our ancestors, that being our sin nature which came to us from Adam. What can we do about that? Our Scripture gives an answer to that, as well.
As our Scripture today from the Book of Romans opens, we read about how Adam, our first ancestor, passed to all of his descendants the inherent sinful nature he possessed because of his first sin. When Adam took and ate of the forbidden fruit, he sinned, and passed that sinful nature down to all mankind (vs. 12). His sin transformed his inner nature, and brought spiritual death and depravity. That sinful nature was passed on to all mankind.
We might question why we should be punished for something that an ancestor did. Generally most societies do not punish the child for the parent’s transgressions. So why would God punish all mankind with death because of something Adam did? Each of us confirms our solidarity with Adam by our own sins each day. We are prone to sin and thus are judged for the sins that we commit. Death was the result of Adam’s sin, spiritual death immediately, and then physical death following, and it is the result of all the sins we commit, as well.
The Law points out our sin, and it places the responsibility for it on us (vs. 13-14). But unfortunately that same Law offers no remedy. So what can we do? God gave us a remedy! Because of one person, the mutual ancestor of each of us, Adam, brought sin down to every one of us. God sent us one Person, the Lord Jesus Christ, to bring us the free gift of His righteousness. God is not waiting for us to sin so that He can clobber us. He is in the business of grace, forgiveness, and restoration. We need to recognize our sin is not acceptable, and come to Jesus in faith and repentance.
We are not being unjustly punished for something that we didn’t do, some transgression that an ancestor committed. All men, without exception, bear the guilt of sin, and are subject to death - spiritual, physical, and eternal, unless they come to the Lord Jesus for salvation. Adam committed one act of sin, which brought death upon all mankind. All of us reap the results of Adam’s sin. We inherited his guilt, a sinful nature, and God’s punishment.
The Lord Jesus had one act of obedience, one act of redemption, which brings life, grace, and righteousness to all who turn to Him (vs. 15). Because of Jesus, we can trade judgment for forgiveness, and our sin for Jesus’ righteousness. We can become part of His family, which begins with forgiveness, and leads to eternity. Adam’s sin brought universal death. However, Jesus’ sacrifice brought salvation to those who believe (vs. 17).
Not everyone will be saved. Salvation only comes to those who put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 1:16). Salvation is offered to all, but not all accept. Since everyone is descended from Adam, we all have inherited his sin nature. Jesus came to bring the gift of His righteousness to all, but as it is a gift, we have to accept it. We do not work for a gift. A gift is freely given, but must be accepted.
Why do some people think that a product they pay for is always going to be superior to anything they can receive for free? Some struggle to accept that salvation is a gift. They want to do something to earn it, they want to work for it. The price of salvation is sinless perfection, and no one can achieve that. Only the Lord Jesus Christ could pay that price. We have the sinful nature inherited from Adam which brings death. God provided the remedy for that through the obedient act of the Lord Jesus and His gift of righteousness. Will you accept that gift today?
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