Romans 5:12-19
12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned— 13 sin was indeed in the world before the law, but sin is not reckoned when there is no law. 14 Yet death exercised dominion from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who is a type of the one who was to come. 15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one man's trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many. 16 And the free gift is not like the effect of the one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification. 17 If, because of the one man's trespass, death exercised dominion through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness exercise dominion in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. 18 Therefore just as one man's trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man's act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all. 19 For just 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.
Reflection- What?
What in the world is Paul saying here? Spin my head and send me out Paul! So, I'm going to attempt to dumb this down a little so that I and maybe you can understand enough to ask questions of God. It's as if sin takes on it's own character and becomes Sin in some way in this passage. And Sin enters into this world through the disobedience of Adam. Adam chose to try to be like God, and in this attempt, Adam sinned. So along with this Sin that has come into this world through Adam, comes the consequence to Sin which is death. So, now we have Sin and it's consequence, death that rules the world.
And Paul rightly points out how we all are involved with this Sin. We all are like Adam in this respect. We all are intimate with Sin and we all deserve the consequence of this involvement with Sin in death. So, we all are in it with Sin and we all deserve death, not just through what Adam had done, but because we all have now sinned ourselves. In fact we were born into Sin and death.
So, by a single act, Sin entered into this world through Adam. Likewise, by a single act Grace and Forgiveness have entered into this world through Jesus. I see this as more than a single act however. I see it as a triple act. Jesus comes to us. Jesus dies in our sin for us. Jesus arose from the death of our sin for us. Summed up however all in the one act of God giving us Jesus.
Jesus establishes grace and life which trumps what Adam established in sin and death. Therefore our eternal death is changed through Jesus into eternal life by his coming, death and resurrection. So, just as one man, Adam, brought forth Sin into this world, one Man, Jesus, brought forth forgiveness and life.
Now, having stated all of this... let the questions begin... let the struggle with God start... let the prayer commence. It's all good... to listen to God. Thanks be to God!
Here is one of my favorite songs that reminds me of the mystery of the love of God pointed out in this passage of scripture.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmY3jSugNBU
Prayer
Lord, what you have done for all people through Jesus is a mystery and a question mark. I know for myself, I deserve death. Yet, you give forgiveness and life. We need to talk about this a little... maybe a lot... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
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