One Man In Romans 5

Feature 2 –June 2019 – Grace & Truth Magazine

One Man in Romans 5:12-21

“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.” —Romans 5:12-21 ESV (italics added for emphasis)

Romans shows that God is good and righteous but that all humans, except Christ, have failed. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23 NKJV ). Our sins (plural) separated us from God. The whole human race is guilty before Him and without any remedy.

God is always right, including when He condemns sinners and when He declares repentant sinners just (vv.10,24). He provided a solution to man’s hopelessness by sending His Son to be “a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness” (v.25). In His forbearance God passed over the believers’ sins committed before the cross, and He justifies everyone who repents and has faith in Jesus now (vv.25-26). Why? It is because He found in the Lord and His accomplished work full satisfaction regarding the sins and guilt of the whole human race.

By virtue of Christ’s shed blood God provides in His grace remission, or forgiveness, for everyone who believes, repents and confesses his sins. God declares such a person “just,” or right with Him (4:16-25), “having now been justified by His blood” (5:9). Abram, the father of all believers, is one example, for God declared him righteous because he believed in Him (4:3; Gen. 15:3-6; see Ps. 32:1-2). This is wonderful news! Romans 5:1-11 builds on these points and shows how each believer is blessed, having a bright future despite sorrows and trials in this world.

A Deeper Problem
The problem goes beyond our sins. We have an old nature, or indwelling sin, which Scripture identifies as “sin” (singular). It is tied with the old man of sin, for the old nature gave character to his actions, like a tree that produces only bad fruit. The sin nature cannot be improved, change itself or do anything good.

God’s remedy was judgment because He cannot forgive the sinful nature; it has to be removed. He, the holy and righteous God did this, judging it in Christ, our Substitute, in His sufferings during the three dark hours on the cross (Mt. 27:45-46). God, in His eyes, removed it in the death and burial of Jesus, the One who knew no sin and never committed any sin (2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Jn 3:5; 1 Pet. 3:18; Ps. 22; Isa. 53). God’s grace triumphed, a wonderful victory!

From our perspective, this victory is not yet fully realized. While the old man has been judged and put to death, the old nature remains in us until we are taken to be with the Lord Jesus. Only then will we fully recognize His victory for us in Christ.

A New Condition
Expanding on this, the apostle wrote about justification and a new condition (Rom. 5:12-8:39). God not only declares us righteous, our sinful actions – past, present and future – now forgiven, but we also have a new condition before Him. This is because of our identification with Christ, who died and rose again on our behalf (Rom. 8:28-34; 2 Cor. 5:15), as the Head of a new race or family. In other words, God has taken a very radical approach. He transfers the believers of Adam’s race we are all Adam’s descendants and puts them under a new Head, Christ, the Leader of a new generation. Thus God has transferred us from Adam to Christ.

Furthermore, Romans 6 teaches the transfer from the old taskmaster Satan, who held us in bondage through sin to the new Master, our Lord Jesus Christ, whom we may serve with love. Romans 7 describes how God identified us with Jesus as a new Husband, and we discover that all our resources are in Him rather than in ourselves or our own efforts. We learn by faith to commit to Him in love and obedience, doing so in the power of the Holy Spirit, who attaches us to Christ and to Him alone. The Spirit helps us to make good use of all the resources we have in Him (Rom. 8).

Substitution is Christ’s work for us, identification highlights God’s work with us. Sanctification is found in Romans 8, for God has set us apart for Himself, implying His work in us to transform us (12:1-2). This transformation takes place in various realms (Rom. 12–16). Romans does not present the believers as risen but as identified with the risen One while we are in the flesh – in a body that can and does sin.

A Transfer Was Needed
Paul elaborated on our sinful condition and showed God’s solution, namely death: “... just as sin came into the world through one man ... and so death spread to all men because all sinned” (5:12 esv). The reference is to Adam, not a prehistoric man as in popular theories but the historical Adam created by God and called the first Adam (Gen. 1-2; 1 Cor. 15:45). Paul referred to the whole human race as being “from one man” (Acts 17:26) and taught that through him sin entered the world (Gen. 2:17; 3:1-6). Adam’s disobedience and rebellion brought death in three aspects:

1. Moral. At the moment Adam and Eve took and ate from the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil they died morally and were separated from God. Their relationship was restored because of the sacrifice that God provided and through their faith (Gen. 3:20-21). Because of this one sin of Adam’s, from the moment a baby is born it belongs to the realm of death. Faith rescues from death.
2. Physical. Adam and Eve died many years later (5:5), which is the second aspect of death. When one dies as an unbeliever he or she enters the domain of death in a temporary dwelling place (Hades) without any possible rescue, but believers go to Paradise (Lk. 23:43).
3. Eternal. The ultimate phase and final result of an unbeliever’s disobedience is eternal separation from God, called “the second death” (Rev. 20:14). This is the consequence of one sin that entered the world (Rom. 5:12). However, believers will be forever with the Lord (1 Th. 4:17). Babies who die will also be in His presence (consider 2 Sam. 12:23).

We find tremendous contrasts. For example, when the Lord Jesus entered this world He came to do God’s will (Ps. 40; Jn. 4:34), whereas Adam transgressed shortly after being created, doing his own will. Also, between the families of the first Adam and the last Adam our Lord Jesus, the second Man some parallels exist, but more importantly there are many contrasts as to origins, actions and results.

God’s Verdict
God sees all human beings in the first man, Adam, who sinned. Because of his one disobedience offense, or transgression death entered the world and reigned from that generation onward. When a baby dies, he or she dies because of being a descendant of Adam, and every person is seen in that light. God said, “All sinned” (Rom. 5:12), for since the fall (Gen. 3) God has seen the whole human race as sinners – seeing them in Adam, in whom all die (1 Cor. 15:22).

The tense of the Greek “all sinned” is aorist, meaning “once and for all.” Therefore, all of Adam’s descendants are included. That is why a baby who has never yet committed a sin is seen as linked to Adam’s sin sometimes called “the original sin” with all its consequences. While Romans 3:9-23 speaks about personal sins, Romans 5:12 indicates the whole human race is linked with its head, Adam.

To illustrate this, look at Abraham when he met Melchizedek (Heb. 7:1-10, Gen. 14:18-21). The author of Hebrews states that the Levites, Abraham’s descendants, were seen in Abraham when he offered tithes to Melchizedek. Similarly, the Levites who take tithes according to the law were already seen in Abraham when he was giving tithes to Melchizedek, hundreds of years before the first Levite was born. This may help us to understand the point that in Adam, after his fall, all his descendants are seen as transgressors. This very serious conclusion shows why God transferred the believers from Adam to Christ. Praise His name!

The Law And Accountability
Romans 5:12,18 are connected, but verse 15 introduces thoughts about “many” instead of “all.” As we saw already, sin came into the world (Gen. 3) and soon things deteriorated; Cain killed his brother (Gen. 4:8). After this, one person died after another (Gen. 5–6). God had believers throughout the various generations who also died, which shows the serious consequences of sin. Yet sin was not yet accounted, or taken into account, as was the case under the Mosaic law. The consequence of sin was there, namely death, but the law came in limited to Israel to show the character of sin as offense, a transgression.

The apostle Paul confirmed that sin causes death, as James also explained (Jas. 1:13-15). Paul, however, added the matter of transgression: “Death reigned from Adam until Moses, even upon those who had not sinned in the likeness of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of Him to come” (Rom. 5:14 JND). The consequence of sin is death – a tyrant-ruler-king who ruled from Adam until Moses. Even before the law came, death reigned with the one exception of Enoch (Gen. 5:24), a type of the raptured Church. The general principle is established in Romans and summarized in Paul’s teaching about death and resurrection: “For as in Adam all died, even so in Christ all shall be made alive” (1 Cor. 15:22 NKJV). Therefore we see Christ as Head of a generation of the living.

In one sense Adam as head was a type of the One to come: Christ (Rom. 5:14) as Head of a family. Nevertheless, Adam was linked to death whereas Christ brought life. Besides this, Christ is presented as Head ruling over all the nations in the millennium (Eph. 1:9-12), and He is now seen as Head of the body of Christ (1:22), but these aspects of His headship are not our present topic. In Romans 5 Christ is shown as the Head of a new generation of those who believe and live, having been justified, to praise Him now and forever.

King And Ruler
In Romans 5:14,17 we met the first ruler who rules as king: death. Sin is also a ruler who reigns “in death” (v.21). These verses teach that now grace is reigning through righteousness, leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amazing! On the one hand sin is reigning the old order of things connected with the first Adam and death. On the other hand grace is reigning, the new order linked to Christ. In contrast to death reigning through one man, Adam, we will reign as kings in life, and it is through the one Man, Jesus Christ (v.17). The believers will reign, intimately linked to the risen Christ. Grace relates to Christ’s resurrection, for we are already seen as reigning. The Lord has overcome the reign of sin and death!

Two Acts
“Shall not the act of favor be as the offence? For if by the offence of one the many have died, much rather has the grace of God, and the free gift in grace, which is by the one man Jesus Christ, abounded unto the many” (v.15 JND). Two acts are contrasted, the offense and the act of favor. The act of favor is what Christ has done in His coming and His work on the cross, whereas the offense is Adam’s initial sin.

Ponder for a moment the various words used for sin. “Through one man sin entered the world” (v.12 NKJV), has the common word for “sin.” It means, “to miss the mark,” and occurs many times, including the sin offering in the Hebrew text of the Old Testament. Romans 5:14 has the word “transgression.” Adam’s “transgression” was a sin but more than that; it was also a trespass against God. This word “transgression” (Gr. parabasis) is used seven times in the New Testament and implies breaking the law or something that God had imposed, a violation of a rule that God established. We learn that the law was added “because of transgressions” (Gal. 3:19), and of Adam it is said that he transgressed while Eve was “deceived” (1 Tim. 2:14). The word “offense” is used 16 times in Paul’s writings besides three in the Gospels meaning a missed step, a wrongdoing, a violation. This word occurs in “who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification” (Rom. 4:25). From Adam until now, sin is a matter of doing wrong, of transgression. “All have sinned [missed the mark] and fall short of the glory of God” (3:23).

Opposed to that act of disobedience which leads to death is one of favor, or free gift, a one-time act of obedience, as we find in Romans 5:19. Many have died as a result of what Adam did, with the two exceptions of Enoch (Gen. 5:24) and Elijah (2 Ki. 2:11). Compare this with “the grace of God, and the free gift in grace, which is by the one man Jesus Christ, abounded unto the many” (Rom. 5:15 JND). What tremendous contrasts in source, actions and results. One head and his acts resulted in death, whereas another Head and His actions resulted in an abundance of grace to those who accept it by faith.

Condemnation Or Justification
Grace abounded, more than that, it super-abounded, for Romans 5:12-21 shows not only contrasts in action and results but also in volume. We have two heads, two acts and two different effects. Adam sinned in disobedience, and the consequence was judgment and condemnation. Christ in perfect obedience, in an act of favor, gave Himself as the supreme Sacrifice, leading to our justification.

The word “justification” is used here in view of our new condition. First, we found justification in connection with our actions (v.1), but now it relates to this new condition we have before God. Romans 6–8 develops this further with the concept of sanctification, a life dedicated to God. Justification as to our acts and condition settles the relationship with God once and for all. It affected our lives when we were saved and initially sanctified, and it also impacts a whole life of sanctification and devotedness, leading always closer to God.

Paul interrupted himself to show the two different heads, actions and results as being under two different rulers: sin or grace (5:15-17). Then he went back to his initial thought of verse 12 and came to his conclusion: “one trespass led to condemnation for all men” (v.18 ESV). Here we see the scope of disobedience, as it affects all men under the first head because it leads to condemnation for all men. In contrast, “one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men” (5:18). It is available to all a very wide scope but it comes over all who believe (3:22), meaning the many who believe and are made righteous. The “many will be made righteous” (5:19) and the phrase “justification ... life” (v.18) means being set right with and before God, resulting in life. This is because of the accomplished work of the Lord Jesus.

The one man (v.19) negatively affected the whole human race, except Christ – a perfect Man, born of a woman (Gal. 4:4). He is not seen as Adam’s descendant – although technically He was (Lk. 3:38) because He was the exception without sin or disobedience. “So by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous” (Rom. 5:19); the “one man” obviously is Christ.

Some have thought that “one man’s obedience” only refers to Christ’s life of obedience. They point out Psalm 40:7-8, which says, “I have come ... to do Your will, O My God,” and when He said, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me” (Jn. 4:34). However, could this have resulted in our being constituted righteous? No. The holy, righteous life of the Lord Jesus, perfect for the glory of God, could not make us righteous; it could only condemn us.

Christ’s sacrifice was also needed. Of course a life of obedience marked Him, but “one Man’s obedience” (v.19) refers to Him as giving Himself as He spoke about laying down His life, “This charge I have received from My Father” (Jn. 10:18). That is what this obedience means: one act He committed when He gave Himself (consider Phil. 2:8).

Paul interrupted himself again, “Now the law came in” (Rom. 5:20). It came to show that sin is not only sin but also an offense (consider Gal. 3). The law made sin more pronounced and serious; it showed sin in its character of transgression. It also provoked those under it to commit more sins (Rom. 7). The law is holy, just and good (v.12), designed to bring life, but it was God’s way to show the seriousness of sin, that we will not improve no matter how we try (vv.18-24). Thus, offenses abounded, but “where sin abounded” (5:20 NKJV), grace super-abounded.

When man has completely failed, he is cast entirely on God (7:24-25). Only then does God come in, in sovereign grace, while maintaining man’s responsibility. Peter referred to what man had done in committing Christ into the hands of sinners – murderers – while at the same time God’s counsel was fulfilled (Acts 2:23). It remains a great mystery to the human mind as to how the two go together, yet the superabundance of grace has the victory. Praise God!

Sin And Death Reigning
King Saul represented the demands of the law, whereas in David we have an illustration of the reign of grace, for he reflected the Messiah. There was a lot of energy with Saul and his reign as he had great power, yet he was not able to face Goliath. In David we see the super-abounding power of God’s grace leading to eternal life (see Ps. 132–133).

Grace goes together with Christ’s obedience, the one act. Death was reigning, now grace is reigning through righteousness, for God did not compromise His righteousness in any way. God does not shut His eyes to just let things go; grace always maintains God’s righteousness. Only God can bring “the two lines” together in harmony grace and truth, light and love with the result that it leads to eternal life. Does that mean that we have yet to receive eternal life?

Eternal Life
Paul dealt here with the realm where we are going. As believers we have a new Head, but He is also the One who leads us into the new realm of eternal life. In Christ we already belong to that new realm and enjoy eternal life (Jn. 3:16), even though in a limited way. Eternal life is the realm where Christ reigns without any opposition. Already grace is super-abounding and we enjoy life in its true character, but here in Romans we are seen as being on the way to that realm (v.21). We get there through Jesus Christ, for everything we have is through Jesus Christ.

Notice the term “life” (Rom. 5:17-18), and “raised from among the dead, Jesus our Lord” (4:24 JND). Also, the Lord’s full name is used in 5:21, “Jesus Christ our Lord” the true Man, Jesus; the true Anointed, Christ; who is our Lord. That is all implied and needed in order to lay hold of these things. Christ links us together under Himself who is the Head of the generation of believers and our Lord. We must submit to His lordship to enjoy the benefit of these wonderful truths.

Closing Remarks
Today, grace is reigning through righteousness (Rom. 5:21). In the millennium, under Christ’s public rule, righteousness will reign (1 Tim. 6:15; Ps. 72). In the eternal state (2 Pet. 3:13) righteousness will dwell, and all things and everyone will be in tune with God. God never compromises, for He is light, and will always maintain His rights. As for us, the enjoyment of these wonderful blessings and of eternal life is through Jesus Christ our Lord, God’s “one Man” (Rom. 5:12-21). We already belong to the new creation (2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 6:15; Eph. 2:10,15, 4:24; Col. 3:10-11) whereas God will publicly introduce the new creation the new heaven, the new earth and the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:1-7). This will be after the coming millennial reign will have run its course, but we praise Him now and forever.

By Alfred Bouter

Sins are only the effect of a cause, and the Lamb of God came to take away the individual’s sins and to deal with the sin question as a whole. God “hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin” (2 Cor. 5:21 KJV). He is not only the bearer of our transgressions, He not only atoned for all our acts of sin, but He died for what we are as sinners by nature. I have been guilty of many sins which I have had to go to God and confess, and I know those sins have all been forgiven. But within this heart of mine there are tendencies to sin that are worse than any act of sin I have ever committed. This is true of us all. Sin dwells in us. Christ died to put away sin, not merely sins. He died because of what we were. He took our place. He was made sin for us, and sin as a barrier was taken away. Now the vilest sinner can come into the presence of God and find forgiveness. Do you know “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (Jn. 1:29)? —H. A. Ironside, Addresses On The Gospel Of John (adapted).