READ Romans 5:12-21

I hope you are well and enjoying living in the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit.  As we share the following three verses with you, the subject is one. Verses 13 - 17 are a long parenthesis, so it is possible to make sense of the passage without the parenthesis.  Romans 5:12, "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. 18Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.  19For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." 

The source of sin is noted in Romans 5:12. We know from the book of Genesis that this one man is Adam.  God promised Adam that he would die, if he disobeyed His command concerning the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:17).  The tragic truth is that sin was introduced into the world by one man.  Humankind is sinful both by nature and by choice.  Not one of us are born into this world without a sin nature, not one of us has lived life without choosing to sin. The truth here is doubly obvious, because all have died, then all must have sinned.  Conversely, because all have sinned, all have died.    

The "therefore" of Romans 5:18 connects back to verse 12, "Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.  19For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous."  As by the sin of one (Adam), judgment came upon all men to condemnation, even so by the righteousness of One (the Lord Jesus Christ) shall come justification upon all men (who will receive it). For by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

People are slow to acknowledge their sin and their sin nature.  It is vital for salvation that people first understand his or her sinfulness before they will turn to the Savior for forgiveness.  You have heard before, "You can't win someone to Christ until they realize they are lost in their sin."

May we have the joy of sharing the good news of the Gospel with those who need to hear.

Your Friend and HIS,

Pastor Abbott

MEDITATIONS

1.  How has Adam’s original sin affected the world and humanity?

2.  What does it mean for man to have a sin nature?

3.  What is the worst thing you can think of that is the result of sin?

4.  What has God done to intervene on your behalf?