LAW AND GRACE

Romans 5:12-21

By Davis Woodbury

Adam and Christ Contrasted

12 When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. 13 Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law to break. 14 Still, everyone died—from the time of Adam to the time of Moses—even those who did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. Now Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come. 15 But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. 16 And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. 17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:12-17 - NLT)

This is not an easy passage to read and understand. It is as if Paul, as he writes, gets side-tracked in this thinking. William Barclay has tried to edit it into a more understandable text:

"By the sin of Adam all men became sinners and were alienated from God; by the righteousness of Jesus Christ all men became righteous and are restored to a right relationship with God." Paul, in fact, said this very much more clearly in 1 Corinthians 15:21: "As by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive." (William Barclay)

Like most sin, Adam and Eve’s sin was not personal, it impacted others. When, by their disobedience they clearly defied God, sin entered the world and spiritual death spiritual followed for every one of their descendants. By their disobedience they condemned all who came after them to a life dominated by sin. Until the Law of Moses was given humanity lived in sin and disobedience to God but it was not counted as sin because no law had been given to break. All still died, even those who had lived good lives. Adam was a representation, a symbol, of Jesus who was yet to come.

Paul is at pains to point out there is a striking divergence between Adam and Jesus. Adam, by his disobedience, brought death, suffering and misery to all his descendants. But God’s gift of forgiveness and grace brought reconciliation and membership in the family of God to all who accept Jesus and his way of redemption.

In verses 16-17 Paul once again draws a distinct difference between the gift Adam brought to humanity and the gracious gift God offered through Jesus Christ. Adam’s gift brought death, misery and suffering but God’s wonderful of Jesus brought forgiveness, grace, mercy, justification and reconciliation with the Father God, even though we are guilty of great sin.

18 Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. 19 Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous. 20 God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. 21 So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:18-21 - NLT)

Paul is reinforcing his point by reiteration. The sharp disparity between the gifts is duplicated. One man’s sin brings condemnation for all humanity, but the free gift given though Jesus gives all the opportunity to belong again to God’s family. Not only are we now in a right standing with God we have embarked on a new and enhanced life and lifestyle; the kingdom lifestyle, a lifestyle strengthened by the knowledge that we are God’s children.

The law was given by God so that humanity might know and understand how sinful they were. But God offered a way back to him that did not depend on the law but rather on the grace that comes through the death and resurrection of Jesus. The law cannot be ignored or devalued, it simply means that by its presence, like David, we acknowledge our sin and it is ever before us. (Psalm 51:3) The reality is that it is impossible to profoundly appreciate grace until we have faced up to the enormity of our sin. If our sin is ever before us we will never lose the amazingness of grace.

Paul's triumphant argument is that, as mankind was solid with Adam and was therefore condemned to death, so if humanity chooses to be solid with Christ it therefore can embrace real and eternal life.

In chapters 6 and 7 Paul goes into lengthy and sometimes convoluted discussion on law and sin. In reading these chapters we need always to keep in mind the preceding chapters and Paul’s teaching on justification by faith. We need to keep in mind the perspective that the Christian who has committed their life to Christ is under grace and not law.

In the closing verse of Romans 5 Paul sums up the thrust of his argument: Sin had entered in the world of humanity through the direct disobedience of Adam. However, God had resolved the impasse and given humanity the choice of coming into a right standing with Him through the redemptive life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.