Romans 5:12-21

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

There are two powerful truths in this passage that I would like to discuss. First, there is the painful truth that all men were made sinners by the sin of Adam. Hypothetically, we all would have turned from God anyway, but Paul is clearly teaching in this text a type of federal headship. All of Adam’s descendants were doomed to death because of his action. If anyone has an argument against this, something like “Why am I getting punished for Adam’s sin?” There are several responses. First, the Word of God teaches this, so don’t argue with God’s Word. Second, I heard a teacher say once, “We all would not only have eaten of the tree, we would have been making jam, and pie, and selling it to make a profit.” And third, if we have ever sinned, we have no argument here. But there are some implications that need to be explored.

One implication is that babies are sinners. There is a common belief that babies are innocent. Maybe the are unstained as of yet by the world. Maybe they are innocent in relation to other people who have had opportunity to sin. But babies are not innocent in the eyes of God, as they were made sinners in Adam’s transgression. Thus, what do we believe about babies who die? There is the infamous passage of Jesus concerning the kingdom of heaven such that it seems apparent that children are saved. I believe this is true, but we need to make sure we believe this for the right reasons. When a baby dies, he or she is saved not by innocence, but by the mercy and grace of God. He is good.

Another implication about babies is that they soon start expressing their heritage as they have opportunity to sin. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing three boys begin to disobey at least as early as their first birthday. This means that spiritual tutelage cannot begin too early. I am constantly speaking to my five year old concerning his sinful nature and his need to repent and turn to Christ. They need to understand at an early age who they are in Adam and who they need to become in Christ.

The glorious connection that this passage makes is that though all men died in Adam, all can live in Christ. Christ is in effect a second Adam. Christ is accomplishing correctly what Adam failed to do. The temptation in the desert was in many ways a recreation of the temptation in the Garden. The requirement for being in Adam’s family is birth. One must only be born to be placed under the headship of Adam. However, the requirement for being in Christ’s family is birth as well, birth from above. This birth is what takes place when someone believes the promise of the gospel, and places their faith in Christ. At this moment a transfer of heritage takes place. Christ bears the heritage of death introduced by Adam, and the believer bears the heritage of life as a son or daughter of Christ.

The biblical unity here is beautiful. I am often taken aback by the literary artistry of the Bible. Here it is tragic and sweet at the same time. The tension created in Genesis continues for 4 millennia only to be resolved in a most astounding manner by a first century A.D. Rabbi/carpenter. Our heritage was hopeless, but that is fine because He has given us His heritage. Let us cling to Christ today and the life He has introduced into the world of death.