Tradition teaches us that sin is “a violation of divine law.” And tradition teaches us that we are all sinners because we have violated the law. While we do commit and/or practice sin, we are not sinners because of either of these reasons; we are actually sinners because we have a sin nature, a nature that was created by Adam. You see, when Adam fell, the entire human race was constituted or formally established as sinners.
“For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners” (Romans 5:19).
It was by one man’s disobedience that we were made sinners. Adam was the first man and the forefather of the entire human race (Genesis 2:19) and the consequences of his disobedience affected all mankind. The belief is that when he sinned, it was as if we all had sinned at the same time. And at the same time, “death was passed upon all men” (Romans 5:12). For it was at this point in time that the phrase, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) took on its meaning.
We know from scripture that by man, Adam, came sin and with sin came death. These things were passed to all mankind, so that all mankind were guilty of sinning and all mankind would die. The fact that God would impute the disobedience of one man to the entire human race may seem a little unfair to many of you. It really is not as unfair as you think.
“For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (I Corinthians 15:21-22).
God offers to impute the righteousness of Christ to the account of a believer, making that person’s record as good (or as perfect) as Jesus Christ’s just as he imputed the sin of Adam to the account of all of mankind making everyone sinners. Imputed righteousness in place of imputed sin; sounds fair to us. Death came into the world because of what man (Adam) did. And it is because of what this other man (Jesus) has done that now there is the resurrection from the dead. Everyone dies because all of us are related to Adam, being members of his sinful race, and wherever there is sin, death results. But all who are related to Jesus Christ will rise again, as members of his spiritual race. Death came into the world because of what man (Adam) did. And it is because of what this other man (Jesus) has done that now there is the resurrection from the dead.
By one man’s disobedience, sin entered into the world. And with that sin came death, spreading throughout the world; for all die because of Adam. And because of Adam, everything began to grow old and die. But by one man’s obedience, sin’s curse was defeated. And with that defeat came the resurrection of the dead, for in Christ shall all be made alive. But now we want to look at the contrast between the one who started all of this and the one who ended all of this.
“… so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous” (Romans 5:19).
Adam’s sin brought punishment to all, causing all to become sinners because he disobeyed God. It was the righteousness of Christ that made man right with God again so that they could live. Christ gave many the opportunity to be made acceptable to God; all because he obeyed.
The free gift of God does not work the same way that the transgression of man did. Because of one man’s sin, the death penalty was brought to many but this free gift of God is so much more. This gift, a gift of grace, is given by the righteousness of Jesus Christ. He has taken away all sin and replaced it with glorious life. But this gift does not have the same effect as the sin of the one, Adam. Adam provoked a judgment that resulted in the condemnation of everyone. The gift of grace, however, resulted in the justification for a multitude of transgressions.
Again, you are not a sinner because you commit and/or practice sin, you are sinner because of the sin nature that was created and passed down by Adam when he fell. By accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and savior, you be in Christ and Christ be in you. When you are in Christ and Christ in you, then your sin nature is changed and you become a new creature or creation. And as a new creation, your old sinful nature be passed away and a new nature is created in you, a justified and upright nature, a nature that is Christ-like.
We pray that today’s inspirational message will give you a new perspective on this thing called “sin.” We pray that that this message will bless you, inform you, and that you will be the better for having read this message. If blessed, please share so that others may be blessed as well. Amen.
Enjoy your blessings - KW
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