Romans 5:12-21 (Wednesday Evening Bible Study)

Romans 5:12-21

• Context:
  • We are continuing in Chapter 5 of Romans tonight. Beginning at verse 12. Which begins with the word “Therefore”, which means it is a continuation of the thought from the previous verses. Which show we are justified, saved and reconciled to God thru what Jesus has done. So now Paul continues with the theme of the assurance we can have in Jesus and what He did on the cross for us to bring us salvation.  The main way Paul does this is by contrasting Adam and Jesus.  The words “all & many’ are used 9 times in these verses and the word ‘one’ is found 13 times.  
• Romans 5:12-14
• 12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned. 13 In fact, sin was in the world before the law, but sin is not charged to a person’s account when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin in the likeness of Adam’s transgression. He is a type of the Coming One.
  • Who is the one man in verse 12 and what does his action bring about?
    • Adam, his sin of disobeying God’s one command 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” (Genesis 2:16-17 That one sin brought about death…to all people.
  • Why did death come to all people?
    • 2 reasons… Adam represented all of mankind in sense we all sinned in Adam. And secondly our own personal sins lead to death.
  • What Law is Paul referring to in verse 13?
    • The Law of Moses.  But were people without a sense of right and wrong?  No… In fact we see God held people accountable of their actions by the sending of the flood.  The witness of creation was general revelation for all people, moral conscience and special revelation passed to man from God had influence to. 
  • Look at verse 14 who are those who did not sin?
    • They are ones who did not break a command like Adam. In fact they did not sin at all…so who would fall into this group? Infants, small children the mentally impaired, not considered accountable for their actions.  But what happens to them? They die…why? Because of the sin committed representatively in Adam.  Does this mean babies will go to hell because of original sin? No…Jesus takes care of that by dying on the cross.
  • Who is the pattern of the one to come?
    • Adam himself.  And who is the one to come? Jesus!   What is the pattern? One man’s action brought sin, death and condemnation… Jesus’, one man’s, action will bring grace, justification, righteousness and life.
• Romans 5:15-16
• 15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if by the one man’s trespass the many died, how much more have the grace of God and the gift which comes through the grace of the one man Jesus Christ overflowed to the many. 16 And the gift is not like the one man’s sin, because from one sin came the judgment, resulting in condemnation, but from many trespasses came the gift, resulting in justification.
  • What is the difference between the gift and the trespass?
    • See verse 15 Adam’s Trespass brings death to many. The grace gift of God, Jesus Christ overflows or abounds or much more too many.  So God’s grace in Christ reached out to embrace all who have been affected by Adam’s sin and cancel it out.  The action of Christ’s death on the cross is greater and deals with what Adam brought about for the whole Human race.
  • Why is there no comparison of the gift of God to Adam’s sin?
    • See verse 16 Judgment followed sin and the gift overcome many sins and brings justification.  It is an argument from the lesser to the greater. The gift of Grace has to be greater the then the impact of Adam…so if Adam impacted the entire human race, the grace gift must do the same. It is much more than what Adam’s action brought. 
• Romans 5:17
• 17 If by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
  • When comparing one man’s action and result, to the other man’s action and result what do we see?
    • Trespass and death VS Jesus’ action, which is? The death on the Cross. Bring grace, righteousness and life. 
• Romans 5:18-19
• 18 So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is justification leading to life for everyone. 19 For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
  • As we look at these verses remember Adam was a pattern or type of Christ.
  • How are the act of one trespass, and one righteous act the same?
    • See verse 18 Both impact all people.
  • Who did the disobedience of one and the obedience of one impact?
    • See verse 19 The many… Adam made many sinners and  Jesus made many made righteous. This is how Adam is a pattern one action impacting all. Jesus’ one action dying on the cross impacting all.  (All and many need to be treated the same here in this context.)
  • Does Paul really mean the action of Jesus bring justification to all people?
    • Yes… The grace of Jesus takes care of  our representative sin in Adam.
  • Does this mean all people are saved?
    • No!…because we still have our personal sin.  Jesus can take care of that too. But we must have personal faith and trust in Jesus and obey what the gospel calls us to do to be in relationship in Christ.
• Romans 5:20-21
• 20 The law came along to multiply the trespass. But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness, resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
  • Paul has been talking about the one sin of Adam not introduces more sin.
  • What was the purpose of the Law of Moses?
    • See Galatians 3:24 It is the will of God, so we need to know that. But it was so sin could be clearly defined and seen for what it is. This made sin increase.  I hopes people would understand the law does not save. We all need a Savior.
    • Galatians 3:24
      • 24 The law, then, was our guardian until Christ, so that we could be justified by faith. 
  • What increased more than sin?
    • Grace…the only holding this back in man’s denial of his need for it.
    • Notice the final word is not the reign of sin and death but rather grace, righteousness and eternal life in Jesus.
• TAKE AWAY
  • We should be assured Jesus’ action on the cross is greater than sin coming into the world.  If  Jesus can  deal with that then He can save me from my  personal sins.
  • Life because of Jesus overcomes death. 
  • Knowing we are justified by faith in Jesus Christ gives us a sure foundation for hope.
  • Sin and death no longer rule over in Jesus.