“A SURVEY OF THE BOOK OF ROMANS” ROMANS 5:12-21 THE NEED OF GOD’S PROVIDED RIGHTEOUSNESS IN VIEW OF ADAM’S INITIAL SIN

Paul, the grand Apostle of the book of Romans, has proven that both Jews and Gentiles were guilty before God because “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).  Thus, mankind who was under the sentence of sin, needed God’s provided righteousness offered through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ.  To gain God’s provided righteousness, mankind needed to be justified by faith; and when mankind places his faith in the finished work of Christ, he is said to be justified (declared righteous) (Romans 5:1).

In this superb section of Paul’s letter to the Romans (5:12-21), Paul will discuss the magnitude of Adam’s initial act of disobedience in the Garden of Eden and the impact his sin had upon the entire human race.  The impact of Adam’s initial sin in the Garden of Eden made all of us sinners (v. 12).  The sin of Adam was imputed to us all because Adam acted as the Federal Head of the human race.  When Adam sinned, we are said to have sinned in Adam; thus, God saw us all in Adam.  Thus, the one sin of Adam, brought death upon all of his offspring!  We are all made sinners by Adam’s sin.  We need to understand that we are sinners by imputation.  Adam’s one act of disobedience constituted us all sinners.  Because of Adam’s sin, the entire human race is under the sentence of death.

In verse 13, from Adam to Moses, sin was in the world, but at that time sin was not a transgression.  Although there was no specific law, mankind was still judged because he was a sinner.  Although mankind from Adam to Moses had not received the Ten Commandments, death still reigned because mankind was a sinner (v. 14).

By a contrastive nature, the transgression of Adam brought physical death to the entire human race with exception of Enoch and Elijah; on the other hand, through the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, grace abounded to many, even being available to all who might believe (v. 15).  Whereas one transgression plunged the race into sin; however, the one act of obedience and the death of Christ upon a rugged cross makes it possible for lost humanity to be saved (v. 16).

In verse 17, although death reigns like a tyrant over all, God’s free gift of grace will reign in life.  In verses 18-20, Paul is contrasting the principle of the imputation of sin and its result received through Adam with the imputation of righteousness and its result received through Christ.  The federal headship of both Adam and Christ is clearly contrasted!  Although sin has reigned through death, God has provided righteousness through Jesus Christ (v. 21).

May God Bless!