Romans 5:12-14 - The Typical Gospel

This is arguably the most important passage in the Bible.

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Romans 5:12-14 (NIV)

CONTEXT: Though it's usually not often recognized as such, this passage is quite possibly the most important in the entire Bible. It sets the context for the entire gospel. Consequently, it becomes the key by which the whole rest of the Bible ought to be interpreted.

12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—

13 To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come.

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Canons of Dordt

Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election

Point 2 - Limited Atonement

Point 3 - Total Depravity

Article 2: The Spread of Corruption

1. Human beings brought forth children 

   1. of the same nature as themselves after the fall. 

   2. That is to say, being corrupt they brought forth corrupt children. 
      

2. The corruption spread, by God’s just judgment, 

   1. from Adam and Eve to all their descendants—

   2. except for Christ alone—

   3. not by way of imitation 

      1. as in former times the Pelagians would have it 

      2. but by way of the propagation of their perverted nature.

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Summary

This isn't the first time this year that we've read today's passage together. It was, in fact, the very first passage we read this year, and because of its importance, there's a good chance we'll land on it again before we wrap the 2025 season up.

You may have a ton of questions about why this world which God created good and perfect is now broken and riddled with sin, but one thing you don't need to wonder about is how it got this way. Your Sunday School instinct might be popping up right now, eager to offer that explanation. It was the Serpent in the Garden, right?

Well, kinda... sorta... actually, no! We often ascribe way to much power to the devil. The Serpent simply served up the suggestion, and although he certainly is sinful, he wasn't the one who corrupted creation. Paul here, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, explains that sin entered the world through one man. It was Adam's fault. And since Adam represented you and me, it actually was our fault.

Just to add emphasis to that last point - that you and I share the blame right alongside Adam - Paul explains that death came to all people - not just Adam - because all sinned. It's not just that we sinned afterwards, but that in that fateful moment in the garden, when Adam sinned, we all sinned.

If you're curious as to why Adam is implicated when it was Eve who took that first bite, Paul explains this as well. Adam, writes Paul, broke the command. God set the conditions for the covenant He entered into with Adam (and subsequently us) - to work the garden and keep it holy and to not eat from the tree in the middle of the garden. These commands were given to Adam before Eve had even been created. Still curious? Dig Deeper.

  Dig Deeper  

We began by noting that this passage sets the context for the entire gospel (Good News), but so far, all we've seen is how it explains the bad news. But this passage delivers all of its good news in one key word.

Adam wasn't just the one who sinned by breaking a command. He was also the pattern of the One to come. You'll at least be able to figure out the Greek word Paul used there: typos. As one lexicon defines it, a typos is "a model or example which anticipates or precedes a later realization—‘archetype, figure, foreshadow, symbol.’"

What this means is that Adam is not the only option we have to represent us. There would be another, and that would of course be our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

This is the gospel: All who are represented by Adam fail to meet God's covenant requirements and are cast out of paradise, but everyone represented by the new Adam - Jesus Christ - have the perfect righteousness required to satisfy the covenant and have peace with God.

Christ's grace is stronger than Adam's sin.

AAA Prayer (About)

• ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our covenant God and Father,

• ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Thank God that although you share in Adam's guilt, you also share in Christ's perfect righteousness;

• ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

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Read the New Testament in a year! Today: Philemon