“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:… therefore 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. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”
In this scripture Paul compared two men and the results of their lives. The comparison reveals the wonderful plan of salvation that the LORD has provided. Through one man, the human race fell into ruin. Through the other, reconciliation with God was accomplished. Those two men are Adam and Jesus.
Through Adam sin entered the world. The story is told in Genesis 3. He disobeyed the Lord’s command to not eat from the tree, which is recorded in Genesis 2:16, 17. Adam heard the Lord tell him this. But, when Eve was approached by the serpent, in Genesis 3: 2, 3, changes had been made to the command. So, she and Adam ate from the tree, disobeying God’s command. And Romans 5 makes it clear that Adam was the one who failed. Through him sin entered the world.
Ever since God gave commands to mankind, mankind has continually disobeyed God. It was true with Adam, it is true to this day. This is evidence of the sin nature that was passed from Adam and Eve to all of mankind. Sin has so impacted mankind that everything we touch is affected. No matter how well-built a building may be, it will one day be torn down and replaced. This is evidence of the sin nature. Further, our sinfulness is in the context of knowing God’s commands. Most people can quote the Ten Commandments, or at least their societies reveal the impact of the Ten Commandments on them. But, speaking of mankind, Paul wrote in Romans 1:32, “…who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” Through Adam sin entered the world.
The Lord told Adam that the penalty for eating from the tree was, “in the day that you eat from it you will be doomed to die.” Above, Paul told the Romans that through Adam’s sin, “…death (entered the world) by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned…” From the history of the human race we see that everyone will die. The ways and means of death are everywhere around us. We cannot hide from it. This is evidence of the sin nature that we all have. Even God Himself, when He came to earth, died.
Which gets us to the second person Paul Who was speaking of in Romans 5: Jesus. Paul said, “…by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” What a contrast of events. Adam’s disobedience had a result. Here we find that Jesus’ obedience also had a result.
Speaking of Jesus, Paul used the same word in Philippians 2:5-8 we read, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
Obedience requires an object. And it was His Father who Jesus obeyed. This is clearly seen in the Garden of Gethsemane, “And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt… He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. (Matthew 26:39, 42)” By the end of that day, He was obedient unto the death of the cross. But He did not die for any sin He had committed, because He knew no sin. He was made sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21).
So, through Adam’s disobedience many became sinners, and through Jesus’ obedience many were made righteous. Sinners made righteous! Dead made alive! Because of Jesus!
But this righteousness is not universally applied. John 1:12 tells us, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:…” And in John 3:17, 18 Jesus said, “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
“…therefore 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.”
Gone is all my debt of sin,
A great change is wrought within,
And to live I now begin,
Risen from the fall;
Yet the debt I did not pay—
Someone died for me one day,
Sweeping all the debt away—
Jesus paid it all.
Refrain
Jesus died and paid it all, yes,
On the cross of Calvary, Oh
And my stony heart was melted
At His dying, dying call;
Oh, His heart in shame was broken
On the tree for you and me, yes,
And the debt, the debt is canceled,
Jesus paid it, paid it all.
Oh, I hope to please Him now,
Light of joy is on my brow,
As at His dear feet I bow,
Safe within His love.
Making His the debt I owed,
Freedom true He has bestowed;
So I’m singing on the road
To my home above.
Refrain
Sinner, not for me alone
Did the Son of God atone;
Your debt, too, He made His own,
On the cruel tree.
Come to Him with all your sin;
Be as white as snow within;
Full salvation you may win
And rejoice with me.
Refrain (M. S. Shaffer)