David Bahn – Reflections

Romans 5:12-17

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— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 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.

15 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. 16 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. 17 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.

When I was in Sunday school a girl in our class asked me whether I believed in original sin. I didn’t realize I had the option! I just assumed that because of the sin of Adam his sinful nature was passed down to all people. I didn’t have a very developed theology of this, but simply embraced the idea of its reality. In these verses Paul unfolds the implications of Adam’s sin: its consequences for all people. Death spread to all people because all sinned. It is a fact. All are under the judgment of God for their sin. That, too, is a fact. Struggle as we might try against it, it stands true.

Then, however, there is the other truth that brings joy to the sinner’s heart. For the sake of one man, Jesus Christ, God grants the free gift of justification. In the face of our sins, and because of Jesus’ act of righteousness in our behalf, God declares us righteous. We are saved. The most grave consequence for our sin has been set aside. We who have received the more-than-enough grace of God and the free gift of righteousness will reign in life through Jesus Christ. This is extraordinarily good news: For Christ’s sake, God forgives us all our sins, and declares us righteous. The gift is better than the consequence. Thanks be to God!