author: Michael,Whitney
version: 1
orig. date: Aug 16,2008
Ok. Here is an attempt to inject
my understanding within the Romans
5passage.
Rom
5:12Wherefore, (having reviewed the
reconciliation available through Christ) we can see this (the
abbreviated view of the history of sin and grace)...
as
by one man sin entered into the world, and death entered
because of sin (affecting man spiritually in separation from God
as well as physical death resulting from acts of sin);
(so we
have the existence of sin that was of no benefit)
and
from this process death passed upon
all men, for that all have sinned:
Hence
we see a connection of Adam, sin and death
Rom
5:13Take note of this concept so you
will understand the whole argument:
For this
time before Moses until the law of
Moses sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed --to
people so as to declare them guilty -- when there is no
law.
Rom
5:14Nevertheless (disregarding the
aforementioned reconciliation and law ) death reigned
(spiritual death was the common destiny of
man) from Adam to Moses(Moses is
the one that brought the Law to Israel), even over them
that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression
(this subsequent sin would be sin without
Law or guilt), who (Adam) is the figure of him that was
to come.( Adam wasn't a type as pertains
to sin, but only as a single man who affected the course of
mankind after his acts)
Note:
Verse 14 shows that the discussion about the addition of the Law
is with respect to Israel. There was no Law, in this discussion,
until Moses, so until the Law of Moses came, there was no sin
imputed to those of Israel. And then it becomes apparent that
the Gentiles are not similarly benefited by the introduction of
the Law of Moses (The Gentiles were not the original recipients
of God's promises).
Now
compare Adam (with whom is the start of sin) against the
opposing or restorative act of Jesus that brings grace
Rom
5:15But not as the offence, so also is the free gift.
(alternately-- the gift doesn't have the same problems as the
offense) For if through the offence of one many be dead,
much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by
one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
Rom
5:16And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift ...
(again, grace to us was greater than the effect of the act of
Adam)
for the judgment was by one to condemnation
(the problems magnified to all men), but the free gift is
of many offences unto justification. (the
many problems were reduced and resolved through justification of
Jesus' blood --His blood met the need for justice and removed
the negative effects of sin, i.e. spiritual death)
Again
look how Jesus' gift outweighs the problems caused by Adam
Rom
5:17For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much
more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of
righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.
(Note
that righteousness is normally contrasted with sin -- and the
idea of reigning in life implies that we should not be a slave
of sin -- the argument is presented in the next chapter)
Now
there is shown condemnation contrasted to justification
Rom
5:18Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon
all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the
free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
Now
a contrast is made between disobedience and obedience.
Especially important is that this is the obedience of one man,
Jesus, not obedience of each of us...
Rom
5:19For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners,
so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
Rom
5:20Moreover the law of Moses
entered, that the offence might abound (This
was the imputation of sin that started with Moses) . But
where sin abounded, grace did much more abound
(this
is to say that grace through Christ was more effective than sin
through Adam):
The greatest
contrast has now been established between sin/death and
grace/life as follows:
Rom
5:21That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace
reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ
our Lord.
This is the basis for
the next verse Rom
6:1telling the Romans not to increase sin for the purpose of
increasing grace.