From Adam's Fall to Christ's Redemption: Assurance of Salvation
Summary
In our exploration of Romans 5:18-19, we delve into the profound theological truths that Paul presents regarding the universality of sin and the assurance of salvation through Christ. These verses serve as a summary of Paul's argument, emphasizing the contrast between Adam's disobedience and Christ's obedience. Through Adam's single act of disobedience, sin entered the world, and all humanity was consequently judged and condemned. This is not merely a matter of being treated as sinners but being constituted as such, placed in the category of sinners by God's judicial act.
Conversely, through Christ's obedience, we are not only forgiven but are constituted as righteous. This righteousness is not based on our actions but entirely on Christ's obedience. The assurance of our salvation is rooted in this truth: just as we were made sinners through Adam, we are made righteous through Christ. This federal headship, where Adam and Christ represent humanity, underscores the certainty and finality of our justification by faith. Our salvation is secure because it is grounded in Christ's obedience, not our own merits.
Understanding this truth is crucial for our assurance of salvation. It shifts our focus from our feelings and actions to the objective reality of being in Christ. We are no longer under the law but under grace, and our relationship with God is now one of love rather than legal obligation. This assurance should lead us to live lives of gratitude and holiness, not out of fear of condemnation, but out of love for the one who has redeemed us.
Key Takeaways:
1. Federal Headship and Sin: Adam's disobedience brought sin and condemnation to all humanity. This federal headship means we are constituted as sinners not by our actions but by Adam's. Understanding this helps us grasp the depth of our need for salvation. [19:32]
2. Christ's Obedience and Righteousness: Just as Adam's sin made us sinners, Christ's obedience makes us righteous. Our righteousness is not based on our deeds but entirely on Christ's obedience, providing us with assurance of salvation. [26:54]
3. Assurance of Salvation: Our salvation is secure because it is based on Christ's obedience, not our own merits. This assurance allows us to live confidently, knowing that nothing can separate us from God's love in Christ. [37:50]
4. Living in Grace, Not Law: Being in Christ means we are no longer under the law but under grace. Our relationship with God is now one of love, and our failures do not change our standing as righteous in Christ. [39:31]
5. The Transformative Power of Assurance: Understanding our position in Christ transforms our lives. It leads us to live in gratitude and holiness, motivated by love for God rather than fear of condemnation. [45:32]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:18] - Introduction to Romans 5:18-19
- [01:42] - Summary of Previous Arguments
- [02:24] - Analysis of the Passage
- [03:40] - Universality of Sin and Death
- [05:22] - Contrast Between Adam and Christ
- [07:38] - Completeness of Justification by Faith
- [10:19] - Assurance of Salvation in Christ
- [12:34] - Federal Headship: Adam and Christ
- [14:46] - Judicial Standing Before God
- [19:32] - Made Sinners Through Adam
- [26:54] - Made Righteous Through Christ
- [35:28] - Salvation in Christ Alone
- [39:31] - Living Under Grace
- [45:32] - Transformative Assurance in Christ
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Romans 5:18-19
- 2 Corinthians 5:21
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#### Observation Questions
1. What does Romans 5:18-19 say about the impact of Adam's disobedience on humanity? How does this compare to the impact of Christ's obedience? [00:39]
2. According to the sermon, how does Paul use the concept of federal headship to explain our standing before God? [12:34]
3. In 2 Corinthians 5:21, what exchange is described between Christ and believers? How does this relate to the concept of being made righteous? [32:16]
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#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of being "constituted as sinners" through Adam challenge or affirm your understanding of sin and its consequences? [19:32]
2. What does it mean to be "constituted as righteous" through Christ, and how does this affect a believer's assurance of salvation? [33:25]
3. How does understanding our position in Christ, as described in the sermon, transform our relationship with God from one of legal obligation to one of love? [39:31]
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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt condemned by your actions. How can the truth of being made righteous through Christ change your perspective on that situation? [26:54]
2. In what ways can you shift your focus from your own actions to the "objective reality of being in Christ" in your daily life? [26:39]
3. How can understanding the assurance of salvation through Christ's obedience help you live a life of gratitude and holiness? [45:32]
4. Identify an area in your life where you feel under the law rather than under grace. How can you remind yourself of your new standing in Christ? [39:31]
5. Think of a specific relationship where you struggle with feelings of condemnation. How can you apply the sermon’s message of love and grace to transform that relationship? [39:31]
6. How can you practically live out the transformative power of assurance in Christ in your community or church? [45:32]
7. What steps can you take this week to deepen your understanding of being "in Christ" and how it affects your identity and actions? [35:28]
Devotional
Day 1: The Weight of Federal Headship
Adam's disobedience brought sin and condemnation to all humanity, a concept known as federal headship. This means that we are constituted as sinners not by our individual actions but by Adam's singular act of disobedience. Understanding this helps us grasp the depth of our need for salvation and the profound impact of sin on humanity. It is a humbling realization that our standing before God is not based on our personal deeds but on the actions of our representative head, Adam. This truth underscores the necessity of a savior and prepares our hearts to appreciate the redemptive work of Christ. [19:32]
"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." (Romans 5:19, ESV)
Reflection: Consider how the concept of federal headship affects your understanding of sin and salvation. How does this perspective change the way you view your need for Christ today?
Day 2: The Gift of Righteousness Through Christ
Just as Adam's sin made us sinners, Christ's obedience makes us righteous. This righteousness is not based on our deeds but entirely on Christ's obedience, providing us with assurance of salvation. In Christ, we are not merely forgiven; we are declared righteous. This is a profound truth that shifts our focus from our own efforts to the completed work of Christ. Our assurance of salvation is rooted in this reality, allowing us to live confidently, knowing that our standing before God is secure because of Christ's obedience. [26:54]
"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." (Romans 5:19, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on the fact that your righteousness is based on Christ's obedience, not your own. How does this truth impact your daily walk with God and your sense of security in Him?
Day 3: Assurance in Christ Alone
Our salvation is secure because it is based on Christ's obedience, not our own merits. This assurance allows us to live confidently, knowing that nothing can separate us from God's love in Christ. It is a liberating truth that frees us from the fear of condemnation and the pressure to earn our salvation through works. Instead, we can rest in the finished work of Christ, knowing that our salvation is secure and our relationship with God is one of love and grace. This assurance should lead us to live lives of gratitude and holiness, motivated by love for God rather than fear of judgment. [37:50]
"For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39, ESV)
Reflection: How does the assurance of your salvation in Christ alone influence your daily life and interactions with others? What steps can you take to live more confidently in this truth today?
Day 4: Living Under Grace, Not Law
Being in Christ means we are no longer under the law but under grace. Our relationship with God is now one of love, and our failures do not change our standing as righteous in Christ. This truth transforms our understanding of obedience and holiness, shifting our motivation from fear of punishment to love and gratitude for God's grace. Living under grace means that we are free to pursue holiness out of love for God, knowing that our failures are covered by Christ's righteousness. This freedom should lead us to a deeper relationship with God and a more authentic expression of our faith. [39:31]
"For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace." (Romans 6:14, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways are you still living as if you are under the law rather than under grace? How can you embrace the freedom of living under grace in your daily life?
Day 5: The Transformative Power of Assurance
Understanding our position in Christ transforms our lives. It leads us to live in gratitude and holiness, motivated by love for God rather than fear of condemnation. This assurance of our salvation is not just a theological concept but a transformative reality that impacts every aspect of our lives. It changes the way we view ourselves, our relationship with God, and our interactions with others. As we grow in our understanding of this truth, we are empowered to live more fully for God, reflecting His love and grace to the world around us. [45:32]
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)
Reflection: How has the assurance of your position in Christ transformed your life? What specific areas of your life still need to be transformed by this truth, and how can you invite God into that process today?
Quotes
"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 far as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." [00:25:23]
"Justification by faith is something that leads to certain inevitable results, that's what he's setting out to prove. He started off you remember by saying therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God we stand in this grace into which we've had access and we rejoice in hope to the glory of God." [00:488:28]
"Our salvation is secure because it is based on Christ's obedience, not our own merits. This assurance allows us to live confidently, knowing that nothing can separate us from God's love in Christ. The great theme of chapters 5, 6, 7 & 8 is assurance of salvation and we must never forget that." [00:582:93]
"Because of that one sin of Adam, the whole of mankind are treated as sinners. That's the same, that's what he's telling us. Now that's the thing you see he said originally in verse twelve by one man sin entered into the world and death by sin and so death passed upon all men for that all sin." [00:860:54]
"As by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Yes, these are the people belong to Christ, these who are made righteous, these were believed in him they are made righteous give to the word made its full content constituted put into the category." [00:1883:91]
"We are not only forgiven, we are regarded as righteous, we are constituted as righteous persons. I emphasize that Paul didn't say that we were constituted sinful, we were constituted sinners, sinners as prisoners yarn on the other end we must realize that it means that we are regarded as the righteous persons." [00:2021:98]
"Now then let me again put it in this form we must not think of our salvation in two atomistic Amina, we must get hold of this idea that our salvation is entirely in Christ and what saves us is that we are put into him, we mustn't as it were think of God dealing with us one by one." [00:2127:33]
"Obviously my salvation must be certain unsecure and nothing can ever upset it if God has made the judicial pronouncement with respect to me that because I am in Christ that he regards me as a righteous person well I am a righteous person and I will go further I shall always be a righteous person." [00:2266:22]
"Look at it all exclusively entirely in Christ even as before it was all entirely and exclusively he and his one transgression I don't know the you feel like I feel I want to thank God that he ever by the spirit led the Apostle Paul to emphasize this point about abdomen Christ." [00:2782:42]
"Because of that one disobedience of Adam that we were made sinners and it's a fact about the whole of the human race all belong together look at the other side users look at this other fact look what is true of all that are in Christ and see that it is equally certain and equally affect." [00:1527:62]
"Now this is God's judicial Act God made men and he decided to appoint Adam as the representative of the entire human race he has a perfect right to do so and he did and he decreed that the whole humanity should be there represented and should suffer the consequences of that man's actions." [00:1392:86]
"Now then listen to this this is the thing the Apostle wants to bring out you see this is the assurance he wants to give them so what he's saying in effect is this as all that as happen to you in adamant is a fact, well I says Paul that all that has happened to you in Christ is also a fact." [00:1480:09]
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