Romans 5:12-8:17
- The doctrine of deliverance from sin (Rom. 5:12 – 7:6)
- Our transfer into Christ’s race (Rom. 5:12-21)
- Identification with Christ means freedom from sin’s dominion (Rom. 6:1-23)
- Identification with Christ means freedom from the Law’s dominion (Rom. 7:1-6)
- The experience of a soul under law leading to deliverance (Rom. 7:7-25)
- The results that flow from deliverance (Rom. 8:1-17)
- Two Races: Adam’s and Christ’s (Rom. 5:12-21)
- Two Masters: Sin and Righteousness (Rom. 6:1-23)
- Two Husbands: The Law and Christ (Rom. 7:1-6)
- Two Natures: The Old and New Natures (Rom. 7:7-25)
- Two Principles: The Laws of Sin & the Spirit (Rom. 8:1-17)
- It took the blood of Christ to deal with our sins.
- it took the death of Christ to deal with sin.
- Justification declares a person judicially righteous.
- Sanctification makes a person practically holy. There is of course a positional aspect to sanctification in which a person is positionally holy, and that has nothing to do with their actions.
The Origin of the Sin-nature, Adam’s Headship (5:12)
Showing that Christ as Well as Adam is a Federal Head (5:13-17)
- v.15 The effect of what each head has done on his race.
- v.16 The standing given to each race by its respective head.
- v.17 The shift in power resulting from the actions of each head.
- v.18 The general force of what each head has done for all men.
- v.19 The effect of the obedience or disobedience of each head on his race.
“if this” ————— amplify ———–→ “then this” | |
Adam’s offense had a negative effect: it spread death to all in his race. | Christ’s death and resurrection had an enormous positive effect: it spread the grace of God and the free gift (of justification) to all in His race. |
Two many’s. The first “many” refers to all under Adam’s headship, the whole human race. The second “many” refers to the new creation race under Christ. This is different from the two “all’s” in v.18.
“if this” ————— amplify ———–→ “then this” | |
Adam’s one offense brought all in his race under threat of condemnation. | The gift of God has dealt with many offenses, resulting in justification for all in His race. |
Judgment vs. condemnation. Judgment means the sentence has been passed, condemnation means the punishment has been executed. This verse demonstrates that difference. See Darby translation on John 3:18.
17 For if by the offence of the one [man] death reigned by the one [offense], much rather shall those who receive the abundance of grace, and of the free gift of righteousness, reign in life by the one Jesus Christ:) v.17 Question: Does the free gift of God result in a shift in power (a new “reign”) as the offense resulted in the reign of death? The answer is “yes”. Once again, Paul is going to change two variables at once. He compares (1) the “size” of the contribution made, and (2) the resulting “reign”. We are looked at as reigning (not in a material sense, see 1 Cor. 4:8) in that we are liberated from the reign of sin and death. Our reigning is “in life” or in the sphere of life, by the life of Christ that we possess; a reign that will be fully realized only when we are glorified. The expression “much rather” denotes amplification. If it was worthy of Adam not to limit the consequences of sin to Adam who fell, then it was much more worthy to extend the effects of grace according to God’s nature and the glory of Christ.
“if this” ————— amplify ———–→ “then this” | |
Adam’s one offense resulted in death reigning over all in his race. | God has given an abundance of grace, which has resulted in Christians reigning “in life” – probably a future sense, similar to eternal life. |
The Transfer of a Soul from Adam to Christ (5:18-21)
Adam’s offense directed condemnation toward all men. | Christ’s act of righteousness (His whole life and death looked at as one unbroken act) directed justification toward all men. |
Adam’s disobedience resulted in a race of sinners. | Christ’s obedience (His whole life and death looked at as one unbroken act) resulted in a race of righteous men. |
“if this” ————— amplify ———–→ “then this” | |
The law caused sin to be magnified “abound” in notoriety. | The magnification of sin became an opportunity for God to “overabound” or double-magnify His grace. |
Sin has come to the throne on the principle of death’s power (universal over Adam’s race) ending in death. | Grace has come to the throne on the principle of divine righteousness (the work of Christ) ending in eternal life. |
Four Kings – kings are those who are in control:
- (v.14) Death reigns … all are doomed to die.
- (v.21) Sin reigns … all are helpless sinners.
- (v.17) We reign “in life” … we are in the sphere of triumphant life; fully realized in the future.
- (v.21) Grace reigns … God’s grace has overcome all.