These are the original teaching notes from this passage.
Romans 5:12-21
- The doctrine of Grace – Chapters 1-8
- All have sinned – Chapters 1-3
- Saved by faith alone – Chapters 4-5
- Victory over sin – Chapters 6-8
- Results of Faith…
- THEREFORE having been JUSTIFIED by FAITH – just as if we NEVER sinned – Romans 1:17
- There are FIVE benefits that come as a RESULT of our JUSTIFICATION:
- FIRST – we have PEACE with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…
- SECOND – we have access to the GRACE of God so that we can STAND before Him…
- THIRD – we have CONFIDENCE in the HOPE we will be in GLORY with God…
- FOURTH – we have CONFIDENCE our TRIBULATION is teaching us to ABIDE [perseverance]
- FIFTH – our HOPE does NOT disappoint – as God gives us His Holy Spirit – Romans 8:1
- Object of Faith…
- Because we were WEAK – and could NOT keep ALL of the Law – ALL of the time…
- Jesus came to live a PERFECT life – He FULFILLED the Law – Matthew 5:17
- Then in due TIME – He DIED to pay the price for our SIN – II Corinthians 5:21
- He DIED for the UNGODLY – to demonstrate the LOVE of God for us…
- Giving us the CONFIDENCE we will be saved from the WRATH to come…
- Because God has RECONCILED us to God through Jesus Christ!
- 1st – Sin to Death… vs. 12-14
- 1st – Death to all… vs. 12
- Therefore…
- Having given us the EXAMPLES of being JUSTIFIED by FAITH [Abrham and David]
- The RESULTS of being JUSTIFIED by FAITH [five things]
- And the OBJECT of our FAITH – Jesus who DIED to RECONCILE us to God…
- Paul is going to conclude this SECOND sub-section on FAITH…
- By giving us the CONTRAST between SIN and GRACE!
- One man…
- Therefore just as through one man sin entered the world – and death through sin!
- When God created the world everything was very GOOD [טוֹב מְאֹד] – Genesis 1:31
- There was NO sin – there was NO death – everything was PERFECT…
- But ADAM choose to eat of the forbidden fruit – Genesis 3:6
- The result was THE sin [singular] came [aorist] into the world [τὸν κόσμον]
- This is NOT talking about a specific SIN – but the SIN nature…
- And through [διά] that SIN nature [τῆς ἁμαρτίας] came DEATH!
- When God placed ADAM in the garden he could freely eat of ANY tree…
- Except the TREE of Knowledge – the day he ate of that fruit…
- He would DIE [מוֹת] spiritually – and eventually DIE [תָּמוּת] physically – Genesis 2:17
- All men…
- And thus death spread to all men – because all sinned!
- And since that day – the same SIN nature has passed onto ALL [πᾶς] men…
- Evidenced by the FACT that ALL [πᾶς] have sinned…
- And that through the SIN nature – DEATH came [εἰς] upon ALL [πᾶς] men!
- There is a modern debate about the origin of the SIN [nature verses nurture]
- Skeptics argue we are born GOOD – but are corrupted by our environment…
- But the Bible makes it clear – we are BORN sinners…
- A little baby is not a BLANK slate that can be molded into a GOOD person…
- They are little SINNERS that need salvation!
- We are NOT sinners because we SIN – we SIN because by nature we are SINNERS…
- That is why EVERY man is a SINNER – we are all the children of ADAM…
- And we have ALL fallen short of the perfect standard of God – Romans 3:23
- And the PENALTY for that SIN – is the same as it has always been – Romans 6:23
- We are born SPIRITUALLY dead [מוֹת] – and will one day PHYSICALLY die [תָּמוּת]!
- 2nd – Before the Law… vs. 13-14
- Not counted… vs. 13
- For until the law sin was in the world – but sin is not imputed when there is no law!
- The question might be asked – what happened BEFORE the Law of Moses…
- When people did NOT yet have the DEFINITION of sin…
- For up until the LAW [νόμος] – sin was [imperfect] STILL in the world…
- But it was NOT counted [ἐλλογέω] – because there was [present] NO law [νόμος]
- Not that it was NOT sin – but it was NOT a TRANSGRESSION [rebellion]!
- There is a large section of desert between Egypt and Sudan called Bir Tawil…
- It technically has NO government – and by extension – NO laws…
- But that does NOT mean someone could go there and STEAL or MURDER…
- Even in the absence of a LAW – those things would still be a CRIME!
- Before the LAW people were still SINNERS – even if there was NO Law to define it…
- The reason God gave the LAW of Moses was to bring clarity…
- The LAW came so men could more easily see their SIN…
- It made the PROBLEM more obvious – so we would be READY for the SOLUTION!
- Romans 3:20 – “For by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
- Death reigned… vs. 14
- Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses.
- Even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam!
- BUT [ἀλλά] – death was KING [βασιλεύω] from Adam until Moses…
- It dominated the lives [reigned] of EVERY person…
- Even over [ἐπί] those who did NOT sin [plural] like [ὁμοίωμα] Adam…
- Adam had a LAW [do not eat] and he REBELLED [παράβασις]!
- I Timothy 2:14 – “Adam was not deceived – but the woman being deceived fell into transgression.”
- Adam and Eve sinned in TWO very different ways…
- Eve was DECEIVED by the serpent [satan] and she FELL into SIN…
- Adam KNEW what he was doing – and he WALKED [βάσις] into SIN…
- Yet BOTH had the same result – their SIN lead to DEATH!
- It does NOT matter if we KNOW the Law of God – and we REBELL…
- It does NOT matter if we are IGNORANT – and just SIN…
- There are NO levels of SIN – and no VARIETY in the punishment…
- There is just the certainty that we are SINNERS – and the penalty is DEATH!
- The Type… vs. 14
- Who is a type of Him who was to come!
- Adam was NOT just the FIRST sinner…
- He was a TYPE [τύπος] of the ONE who is COMING [participle]!
- It would be easy to BLAME him for ALL the problems in the world…
- If ONLY he had NOT eaten that fruit – if ONLY he had no REBELLED!
- But the same CHOICE that was given to ADAM [obey the command]
- Is the same CHOICE that is given to each one of us TODAY…
- Do we put our FAITH in the COMING one – or go our own way…
- Before we point our FINGER – we need to examine our own lives!
- 1st – Death to all… vs. 12
- 2nd – Faith to Life… vs. 15-21
- 1st – The Contrasts… vs. 15-17
- Not the same… vs. 15
- But the free gift is not like the offense!
- Having established that we are ALL sinners [from the beginning]
- And that the PENALTY for SIN [any sin] has ALWAYS been DEATH…
- Paul points out that the FREE gift [χάρισμα] – from the root word GRACE [χάρις]
- Is NOT like the OFFENSE [παράπτωμα] – from the root word FALL [πίπτω]
- The GRACE of God is FAR greater than the FALL of men…
- He proves this by giving THREE contrasts – and FOUR comparisons!
- Offence vs. Grace… vs. 15
- For if by the one mans offense many died. Much more the grace of God.
- And the gift by the grace of the one Man – Jesus Christ – abounded to many!
- FIRST – the CONTRAST between the OFFENSE and GRACE…
- By the FALL [παράπτωμα] of ONE man [Adam] MANY died [indicative]
- Since this first argument is TRUE – everyone from Adam till today has DIED…
- MUCH more [πολλῷ μᾶλλον] – this second argument is even MORE true…
- The GRACE [χάρις] of God – through ONE man [Jesus Christ] – His GIFT [δωρεά]
- Has ABOUNDED to MANY by GRACE [instrumental]!
- We all have the ONE problem [Adam] – but God also has ONE solution [Jesus]
- The problem is SIN – but the solution is the GIFT of God…
- The GIFT is FORGIVENESS through Jesus Christ given by GRACE [χάρις]
- Therefore the problem is NO longer SIN – that has been taken care of [many have received it]
- The problem is us NOT being willing to receive the GIFT…
- God does NOT send anyone to HELL – Jesus came so NO one has to DIE – John 3:16
- But He will NOT force ANYONE to go to HEAVEN – we must CHOSE to receive His GIFT!
- Condemnation vs. Justification… vs. 16
- And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned.
- For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation.
- But the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification!
- SECOND – the CONTRAST between CONDEMNATION and JUSTIFICATION…
- What came from the GIFT [δώρημα] is NOT like what came from the one who SINNED…
- For the result of the SIN was JUDGEMENT [κρίμα] that led to CONDEMNATION [κατάκριμα]
- But GRACE [χάρισμα] brings JUSTIFICATION to many who have FALLEN [παράπτωμα]
- CONVICTION is good – the work of the Spirit telling us to REPENT – John 16:8
- CONDEMNATION is bad – focusing on our failures – dwelling on our sin!
- When we are FOCUSED on our mistakes – we are NOT looking to Jesus…
- We are CONDEMNING ourselves – even though God says we are JUSTIFIED…
- We just NEED to get our eyes off ourselves – and put them onto Jesus…
- Remember His GIFT – trust in His GRACE that cover MANY offenses!
- I John 3:20 – “If our heart condemns us – God is greater than our heart.”
- Death vs. Life… vs. 17
- For if by the one mans offense death reigned through the one.
- Much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness.
- Will reign in life through the One – Jesus Christ!
- THIRD – the CONTRAST of DEATH and LIFE…
- By the FALL [παράπτωμα] of ONE man [Adam] death was KING [βασιλεύω]
- Since this first argument is TRUE – death has REIGNED since Adam – Romans 5:14
- MUCH more [πολλῷ μᾶλλον] – this second argument is even MORE true…
- Through the ABUNDANT Grace [χάρις] – and the GIFT [δωρεά] of righteousness…
- For those who receive the GIFT – they will [future] REIGN [βασιλεύω] in LIFE…
- Through the ONE man – who is Jesus Christ!
- Nicodemus came to Jesus at NIGHT looking for answers…
- Jesus told him in order to see the Kingdom of God – he needed to be BORN again – John 3:3
- We are BORN into a FALLEN world – where death REIGNS because of Adam…
- But if we are willing to receive the GIFT – there is a change in KING…
- We are BORN again – not PHYSICALLY – but SPIRITUALLY…
- And by abundant GRACE we are given NEW life…
- We are given the GIFT of righteousness [being right before God]
- So that we can LIVE forever with Him in heaven!
- 2nd – The Comparisons… vs. 18-21
- Therefore…
- Therefore – in light of these THREE contrasts…
- Because the GRACE of God is MUCH more than the FALL of man…
- Because His JUSTIFICATION is greater than our CONDEMNATION
- Because the FALL of man led to DEATH – but though His GIFT we MUCH more have LIFE…
- Paul concludes by giving to us FOUR comparisons!
- Offence and Righteous Act… vs. 18
- As through one mans offense judgment came to all men resulting in condemnation.
- Even so through one Mans righteous act.
- The free gift came to all men resulting in justification of life!
- FIRST – the COMPARISON of the OFFENSE and RIGHTEOUS act…
- [ὡς] just as: by the FALL [παράπτωμα] of ONE man [Adam]
- EVERYONE [πᾶς] was CONDEMNED [κατάκριμα] to death…
- [οὕτως] in the same way: by the RIGHTEOUS [δικαίωμα] act of ONE man [Jesus]
- EVERYONE [πᾶς] can be JUSTIFIED [δικαίωσις] and LIVE!
- If we got a BANK statement that showed a massive WITHDRAWAL …
- So HUGE that it meant we were NOT only poor – it put us in DEBT…
- If we stopped there and did NOT keep reading – we would be UPSET…
- But if we kept looking – and saw there was a SECOND entry…
- Not a WITHDRAWAL – but a massive DEPOSIT…
- So HUGE that is more than paid off the DEBUT – we were now RICH!
- It might NOT seem FARE that we are all CONDEMNED to hell…
- We did NOT chose to be BORN into a FALLEN race – chose to be a SINNER…
- But if that is ALL we see – we are MISSING the best part of the story…
- Yes we are BORN into DEBT [spiritually] – but someone made a DEPOSIT for us…
- And His RIGHTEOUS act [cross] was more than enough to NOT just pay off our DEBT…
- It made us CHILDREN of the KING – it gave us HEAVEN – Luke 12:32
- Obedience and Disobedience… vs. 19
- For as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners.
- So also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous!
- SECOND – the COMPARISON of OBEDIENCE and DISOBEDIENCE…
- [ὥσπερ] just as: by the DISOBEDIENCE of ONE man [Adam]
- DISOBEDIENCE [παρακούω] – Adam was not willing [παρά] to LISTEN [ἀκούω]
- Therefore MANY were made [passive] SINNERS
- [οὕτως] in the same way: by the OBEDIENCE of ONE man [Jesus]
- OBEDIENCE [ὑπακοή] – Jesus was willing [ὑπό] to LISTEN [ἀκούω]
- Therefore MANY will be made [passive] RIGHTEOUS [δίκαιος]!
- Adam was told NOT to eat of the TREE – and he did NOT listen – Genesis 3:6
- Because he believed the LIE of the enemy [be like God]
- Jesus was told to take the CUP of wrath from the Father – Luke 22:42
- He did NOT want to DIE – but concluded NOT my will but Yours be done!
- We could learn a LOT from the example of Adam and Jesus…
- ONE would NOT listen to the WORD – and it ruined the world…
- ONE submitted to the WORD – and it saved the world…
- When God is speaking to us – it is ALWAYS for our GOOD…
- His WORD is always TRUE – and when we OBEY it we will be BLESSED!
- Sin and Grace… vs. 20
- Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound.
- But where sin abounded – grace abounded much more!
- THIRD – the COMPARISON of SIN and GRACE…
- The LAW [νόμος] was added [παρεισέρχομαι] – to COME [ἔρχομαι] along SIDE [παρά]
- So that the FALL [παράπτωμα] of man might ABOUND [περισσεύω]
- Because once we KNEW the Law – we could see just how FALLEN we were…
- But where SIN abounded – GRACE [χάρις] was MORE [ὑπέρ] abundant [περισσεύω]
- This is the APEX of the argument of FAITH over the LAW…
- The TRUTH Paul has been building to over FIVE chapters…
- The RULES could ONLY magnify our FALLEN nature – they CANNOT make us GOOD…
- The solution is ONLY found in the SUPER abundant GRACE of God!
- Back in the day when someone made a MISTAKE they used WHITEOUT…
- But you could still tell something was WRONG – the evidence was still there…
- That is why the DELETE key is so much more POWERFUL…
- It does NOT make a difference how many MISTAKES we make…
- We can always hit DELETE – and it is like they NEVER happened!
- The LAW can tell us we make the MISTAKE…
- But the GRACE is like the DELETE key – it REMOVES any MISTAKES from our lives…
- And there is NO sin that God cannot REMOVE [forgive]
- No matter how many time we make the SAME mistake – it can be DELETED…
- GRACE is able to remove EVERYTHING we will ever do wrong!
- Death and Eternal life… vs. 21
- So that as sin reigned in death – even so grace might reign through righteousness.
- To eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord!
- FOURTH – the COMPARISON of DEATH and LIFE…
- [ὥσπερ] just as: SIN was the KING [βασιλεύω] and brought DEATH…
- [οὕτως] in the same way: GRACE might [subjuntive] be the KING [if we let it]
- Giving us RIGHTEOUSNESS [δικαιοσύνη] – so we can have ETERNAL life…
- Through [διά] Jesus Christ – who is our Lord [κύριος]!
- Here in lies the CHOICE – all of us are SINNERS – the children of Adam…
- So we are BORN into a BROKEN world where SIN rules…
- But the GRACE of God is available to EVERYONE who wants it…
- All we have to do is CHOSE [subjuntive] to have a NEW King…
- If we will LISTEN and BELIEVE – we will be SAVED!
- 1st – The Contrasts… vs. 15-17