One school assignment, usually in Middle School, is to compare and/or contrast certain items. This might be an essay assignment, or perhaps in science class, where the student makes observations, and writes down the comparisons or contrasts. Comparing is when one identifies the similarities between two or more objects, and contrasting identifies their differences. In our Scripture today from the Book of Romans, the Apostle Paul did this. Perhaps remembering back to his own school days, Paul sought to instruct his readers by mostly contrasting two different people, and how the one did a certain action, bringing about a certain result, and the other did another action, bringing about a different result. As we look into our Scripture we will see the two people, their differences, and what it means for us.
The two people who Paul was contrasting in these verses today are Adam and Jesus. Adam committed an act of sin when he disobeyed God and ate of the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, thus bringing sin into the world. Jesus also did one act, when He came to earth and died upon the cross for our sins, thus bringing salvation to all who believe. As we look more closely at these two, we will see the contrast between the condemning act of Adam and the redemptive act of Jesus Christ.
When Adam decided to disobey God, and eat the forbidden fruit, his willful disobedience didn’t just affect himself. That act of sin was passed down to all of his descendants for generations to come. All men bear the guilt of sin because of Adam’s one act, and are subject to death (vs. 15). Now we contrast that act with the one act of Jesus. Jesus had an act of obedience, an act of sacrifice and grace, when He died upon the cross for mankind’s redemption. Through that act, all who believe and accept Jesus as their Savior, receive eternal life. The One Man, Jesus, nullified the offense of the one man, Adam. Jesus’ one act of redemption was immeasurably greater than Adam’s one act of condemnation.
Paul continues on in stating that Adam brought upon all men condemnation for only one offense - his willful act of disobedience (vs. 16). The contrast here is that Jesus delivers all believers from condemnation of many offenses. Those who accept Jesus have all their sins forgiven, not just one or two, or just sins just like what Adam’s was, but all. Looking back over a lifetime, most of us can say we have sins too many to count, yet each and every one of them are forgiven through the one act of Jesus.
Adam’s sin brought universal death (vs. 17). Jesus’ sacrifice brought righteousness and salvation to those who believe in Him. Salvation and righteousness are gifts from God which come solely through Jesus Christ, and are received by faith. Jesus’ one act, in contrast to Adam’s one act, also brought us grace, and not just grace, but an abundance of grace!
The judgment of condemnation came to all men because of Adam’s sin, but the gift of eternal life came through Jesus (vs. 18). This verse does not mean that all men will be saved. All men are condemned in Adam, but only those who believe and accept Jesus are saved. Why do some people want to pay for something that is freely given to us? Salvation was paid for by Jesus, and given freely to those who receive Him as Savior. Some want to do something to earn salvation, but we can’t afford it, as the price is perfection.
Adam was humanity’s representative. When he sinned, all sinned. Sin passed on to the human race. We have all reaped the results of Adam’s sin. We inherited his sinful nature, guilt, and God’s punishment. Through the obedience of One, Jesus, we can be declared righteous. Because of Jesus, those who call upon Him receive His forgiveness and His righteousness.
In closing, I will mention a little sideline. Bible scholars agree that the Apostle Paul was a very educated man, with an advanced education. In reading through the Book of Romans, we see that Paul spoke of Adam as a real and literal person, not as some mythical or fairy tale character. Paul spoke of Adam in the same sense as he spoke of Jesus, both as real and literal people, not as some myth. Paul believed the Bible as literal. So did Jesus, when He mentioned some people that nonbelievers hold as myth, such as Noah and Jonah. Since they believe the Bible, we ought to as well!
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