The power of One over One

15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. 16 The Lord God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; 17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.”

What was the instruction, and what was the consequence if did not follow the instruction (vv.16-17)?

Genesis 3:1–2 NASB95

1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat;

Genesis 3:3–4 NASB95

3 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’ ” 4 The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die!

Genesis 3:5–6 NASB95

5 “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.

Genesis 3:7 NASB95

7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.

What choice was made (v.6)?

Genesis 3:23–24 NASB95

23 therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken. 24 So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life.

What was the consequences of the choice made (v.23-24)?

Sounds pretty harsh doesn’t it? The reality is choices have consequences, be them good or bad. Death entered into the world because of Adam’s sin. Eve was deceived, but Adam chose to sin, to break God’s covenant, to break relationship with God.

There are several views on original sin, and I think I will touch on them for just a minute

Total Depravity: Human nature is thoroughly corrupt as a result of the fall.

Original sin: All humans inherited it from Adam in consequence to his sin in the garden. All are guilty of original sin.

Total heredity depravity: Similar to total depravity, but adds in that we inherit the guilt of original sin.

We need to be very careful in looking at this passage so we have the right conclusion.

Paul looked at Genesis chapter 3 as historically true, historically accurate. Adam/Eve were real people. Paul believed the words of Jesus

Matthew 19:4–6 NASB95

4 And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6 “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”

David Guzik says

“According to Paul’s theme here in Romans chapter 5, you can’t take away the truth of Genesis 3 without taking away the principles that lay the foundation for our salvation.”

In this passage before us this morning we start to see the threads of “substitutionary atonement” One man taking on the atonement of another mans sin.

So, may we make an attempt, and yes, I said attempt to look at the following:

Our passage (Rom5:12-21)

The power of One (Rom5:12-14)

The power of One over one (Rom5:15-17)

The results of One over one (Rom5:18-19)

The summary of One over One (Rom5:20-21)

Our Passage

Simply Christians studying, gleaning, God’s word.

Romans 5:12–13 NASB95

12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned— 13 for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

Romans 5:14 NASB95

14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.

Romans 5:15 NASB95

15 But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many.

Romans 5:16 NASB95

16 The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification.

Romans 5:17 NASB95

17 For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:18 NASB95

18 So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.

Romans 5:19 NASB95

19 For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.

Romans 5:20–21 NASB95

20 The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

What general observations do you make in looking at this passage?

Any words that we should define?

Now may we get to our gleaning part? - here we go

How did sin enter and what was the consequences of sin (v.12)?

One man’s sin and the consequences was death through sin, death spread to all because of sin.

What reigned between Adam until Moses (v.14)?

Death reigned

What is Adam a type of (v.14)?

Adam was a type of Him to come, that him being Jesus!

How did grace come (v.15), and what were the consequences of it (v.16)?

It was a free gift, a gift from God, through One man, Jesus Christ. It abound to the many!

There are two reigns found (v.17) what are they?

By transgression (sin) death reigned

Righteousness reigned through the One, Jesus Christ.

How is justification resulted (v.18)?

Through righteousness, resulting in life to all men.

We see a contrast of “one’s” in (v.19) what are they?

What is bigger, greater than increased sin (v.20)?

Grace!

How does grace reign (v.21)?

Through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ.

The power of one

We have heard there is power in numbers, right? Well let’s look at the power of one this morning.

(Don’t have to read the passage below, just put it on the screen)

Romans 5:12–14 NKJV

12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—13 (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.

It is through one man that sin entered the world (v.12)

It is because of one man’s sin that death entered the world (consider 1Cor15:56)

1 Corinthians 15:56 NASB95

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;

The consequences of the sin is death, we suffer those consequences but not the guilt.

It is the law that makes us guilty, we will talk more about that in a bit.

Paul does not belabor about how it entered, but that it entered. Adam was responsible for the fall of man, human race, not Eve, she was deceived, he chose with knowledge

1tim2:14 “14 And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.”

We can know that sin and death are connected as noted before. and since all sin, all fall short, all die. We are made sinners by Adam’s sin, but guilty of sin by our own sin. You cannot negate saying, I’m not guilty because of someone else, then you can be saved by someone else either. You have to stand on your own merit. and We are not saved of ourselves are we?

Original sin, was sin because instructions given “do not eat” and they ate, but we are made sinners not by inheritance but by commission.

I like what Larry Deason, scholar, commentator said “Sinners are made by sinful societies and sinful choices not sinful genes. People become sinners by choice and practice.’

Now, David says born in sin, and we suffer death because of it. We suffer separation, spiritual death because of our sin. The law was too late to present sin and death and it is too week to save from sin and death too. Hence why we need Jesus the giver of mercy and grace.

(Transition) Paul presents Adam as a type, a representation of Jesus. Both Adam and Jesus were completely sinless men from the beginning, and both of them did things that had consequences for all mankind. And that is what we will look at now.

The power of One over one

Paul is going to contrast between Adam’s work and Jesus’ work in this portion of the scripture.

Romans 5:15–16 NKJV

15 But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. 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.

Romans 5:17 NKJV

17 For if by the one man’s 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.)

Paul’s contrast: Adam’s sin impact’s all, all die. But through Jesus gift, much more live by grace

Adams gift man had no choice; Jesus gift man must be willing to receive

Adams gift brought death, condemnation, judgment; for death reigned over man; Jesus gift brought grace and eternal life; and grace reigned through Jesus Christ in man (Jn10:10 Rom8:1)

In other words in Adam death reigned, in Christ we reign in life through Christ Jesus.

Jn10:10 “10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

Romans 8:1 NASB95

1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

We are justified by faith (Rom3:22-23)

We have been declared righteous (Rom5:1)

We have been reconciled (Rom5:10-11)

We can rejoice in hope (Rom5:2)

We have the gift of grace, of reconciliation, of hope, of righteousness through the One over one, Jesus Christ. For Christ is “much more” than Adam.

Results of One over one

Not all results are good results are they? Ever action has consequences, be them good or bad, so, let’s look together at the results of One over one.

Romans 5:18–19 NLT

18 Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. 19 Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.

With Adam it resulted in condemnation for everyone

With Christ act of righteousness it brought new life

With Adam it brought isolation from God

With Christ it brought justification and reconciliation

Our union with Adam made us sinners

Our union with Christ made us alive, and to reign in life through Him.

Now, let me pose a few quick questions before we close this morning.

What is the consequences of Adams sin?

What are the consequences of Jesus righteous act to those who believe?

What brought you into union with Adam?

What brings you into union with Christ?

Death entered in through Adam, you choose Adam and separation when you choose to sin and not choose Christ. So, chose wisely, we suffer today death because of Adam did not choose wisely. We have opportunity to live eternally with God, reconciled to God because of Jesus act of rightouesness when we choose Him!