If you look back on your life, can you see where one decision or one act of yours changed the whole trajectory of your life, maybe for good, or maybe for worse? Perhaps that one thing you did also affected not only your life, but the life of someone else, or perhaps several people. It might also have affected your family, maybe for several generations to come. In our Scripture today we will see how one person’s single decision to do something affected not just himself, but everyone from that time forward. Let’s look at what God’s Word can teach us from St. Paul’s letter to the church in Rome.
In this Scripture passage from Romans Paul explains why salvation must be by grace, and why the Lord Jesus’ work is fully sufficient. We will see that Adam’s sin brought death, condemnation, and ruin to mankind, but Christ’s obedience brings righteousness, justification, and life. His work does not merely undo Adam’s fall, it surpasses it.
As Paul begins, we learn that sin entered into the world through our first father, Adam, and death was the direct result of sin (vs. 12). This death is both a physical and spiritual death. Since each one of us is a descendant of Adam, not only will we each one day physically die, we have all inherited original sin, and are sinners ourselves.
Both sin and death reigned even when there was no written law to break (vs. 13-14). People do not die just because they personally violate the Mosaic Law. They die because they are from Adam’s race, and his guilt is imputed to them. Adam was a type, or figure of Him who was to come, which is speaking of the Lord Jesus. He is a type of Christ, not in character, but in function. Both act as representative heads whose actions affect all who belong to them.
As we see, Adam’s offense brought death to all. However, Jesus’ grace brings life (vs. 15). Paul emphasizes here that Christ’s work is not merely equal to Adam’s fall. It is much superior, as the apostle tells us that the Savior’s work was “much more”! His obedience overwhelmed Adam’s disobedience. We also read that God’s gift by His grace “abounded to many”. I am thankful that the “many” includes me, and that God's love has transferred me into the territory of His marvelous, infinite, matchless grace! No matter what life may bring, nothing can remove us from the realm of God’s grace.
When we read the account of Adam’s sin in Genesis, we see that it took just one act of disobedience to bring sin and condemnation into the world (vs. 16). Likewise, Jesus’ one act of obedience to God, specifically His death on the cross, brings justification. Justification is not earned. It is a gift, based on His obedience, not ours. Adam’s sin caused death to reign, but Jesus’ righteousness causes those who believe in Him to reign (vs. 17). This includes victory over sin’s dominion, a restored relationship with God, and eternal life.
Paul repeats that it was just one man’s one offense that brought sin and judgment upon all mankind (vs. 18). We might wonder why that is so. When we look in nature we see examples - just one tiny microscopic spore of a fungus can multiply and grow to millions of times larger, infecting a much larger area. One tiny speck of mold in a tiny corner of a loaf of bread, and very soon the whole loaf is moldy. One speck on one orange in a bag of oranges, and soon the whole bag has gone bad. One tiny growth of mold within the walls of a house, if left alone, very soon the whole house has mold. One single act of disobedience by Adam and sin grew so all people are sinners and stand condemned before God. However, the good news is that the one act of sinless Jesus provides eternal life to all who accept Him as Savior (vs. 19).
As we close this Scripture passage we see that grace is not threatened by sin (vs. 20-21). It is not limited by sin. Grace overflows beyond sin’s reach. Sin reigned in death, but now grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life for those who come to Jesus in faith. You don’t have to earn God’s favor. It is Jesus’ obedience, not yours, that secures your salvation. If you have accepted Him as Savior then sin is no longer your master, death is no longer your terror, and condemnation is no longer your destiny. God’s grace is stronger than your failures.
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