Understanding Original Sin: Adam, Christ, and Justification
Summary
In our exploration of Romans 5:12-21, we delve into the profound theological concept of original sin and its implications for humanity. This passage is pivotal in understanding the parallel between Adam and Christ, which is central to Paul's message. The entry of sin into the world through Adam brought death as a consequence, a reality that affects all of humanity. This death is not merely a natural process but a penal consequence of sin, highlighting the gravity of Adam's disobedience.
The phrase "because all sinned" is crucial, as it suggests a collective participation in Adam's sin, rather than individual acts of sin being the cause of death. This interpretation aligns with the historical and theological context of the passage, emphasizing that Adam's sin is imputed to all humanity. This imputation is not about inheriting a sinful nature alone but being judicially regarded as sinners due to Adam's transgression.
The parallel between Adam and Christ is essential. Just as Adam's disobedience brought condemnation to all, Christ's obedience offers justification and life to all who believe. This parallel underscores the doctrine of imputation, where Christ's righteousness is credited to believers, just as Adam's sin was credited to humanity. This understanding is foundational to the doctrine of justification by faith, which asserts that we are justified not by our own righteousness but by the righteousness of Christ.
The universality of death, even among infants who have not committed personal sins, further supports the idea of imputed sin. It demonstrates that death is a result of being in Adam, not merely personal transgressions. This teaching challenges us to accept the mystery of divine justice and grace, recognizing that our union with Adam brought sin and death, while our union with Christ brings righteousness and life.
Key Takeaways:
- The entry of sin through Adam brought death as a penal consequence, affecting all humanity. This death is not a natural process but a result of sin, emphasizing the seriousness of Adam's disobedience. [01:12]
- The phrase "because all sinned" indicates a collective participation in Adam's sin, rather than individual acts of sin being the cause of death. This highlights the concept of imputed sin, where Adam's sin is credited to all humanity. [05:25]
- The parallel between Adam and Christ is central to understanding justification. Just as Adam's disobedience brought condemnation, Christ's obedience offers justification and life to believers, emphasizing the doctrine of imputation. [07:30]
- The universality of death, even among infants, supports the idea of imputed sin. It shows that death results from being in Adam, not personal transgressions, challenging us to accept the mystery of divine justice and grace. [21:59]
- Our union with Adam brought sin and death, while our union with Christ brings righteousness and life. This profound truth calls us to marvel at the mystery of God's plan and the depth of His wisdom. [45:42]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:14] - Introduction to Romans 5:12-21
[00:47] - Sin and Death Enter the World
[02:16] - The Difficulty of "All Sinned"
[03:30] - Translation and Interpretation
[06:22] - Principles for Understanding
[08:05] - Explanation of Verses 13 and 14
[10:11] - Sin Before the Law
[12:03] - Universality of Sin and Death
[14:23] - Imputation and Law
[16:38] - Death Reigned from Adam to Moses
[18:37] - Infants and Sin
[21:40] - Why Children Die
[26:32] - Calvin's View on Sinful Nature
[30:54] - Imputation of Adam's Sin
[33:25] - Repetition of the One Offense
[37:28] - Summation of the Argument
[41:18] - The Parallel with Christ
[46:35] - Doctrine of Original Sin
[49:08] - The Mystery of Imputation
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Romans 5:12-21
- 1 Corinthians 15:21-22
- 1 Corinthians 15:56
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Romans 5:12 say about how sin and death entered the world, and what is the significance of the phrase "because all sinned"? [01:12]
2. How does the sermon explain the universality of death, even among those who have not committed personal sins, such as infants? [21:59]
3. What is the parallel drawn between Adam and Christ in Romans 5:12-21, and how does it relate to the concept of imputation? [42:36]
4. According to the sermon, what role does the law play in the context of sin and death as discussed in Romans 5:13-14? [16:02]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of imputed sin from Adam challenge our understanding of personal responsibility and collective guilt? [32:27]
2. In what ways does the parallel between Adam and Christ in Romans 5:12-21 deepen our understanding of justification by faith? [42:36]
3. How does the sermon address the mystery of divine justice and grace in the context of original sin and imputed righteousness? [46:55]
4. What implications does the universality of death, as discussed in the sermon, have for our understanding of sin's impact on humanity? [21:59]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on the idea that Adam's sin is imputed to all humanity. How does this affect your view of personal sin and collective responsibility? [32:27]
2. The sermon emphasizes the parallel between Adam's disobedience and Christ's obedience. How can this understanding of imputation influence your daily walk with Christ? [42:36]
3. Considering the universality of death, even among infants, how does this shape your perspective on the seriousness of sin and the need for salvation? [21:59]
4. How can the doctrine of justification by faith, as explained in the sermon, provide comfort and assurance in your spiritual journey? [42:36]
5. The sermon challenges us to accept the mystery of divine justice and grace. How can you cultivate a sense of wonder and trust in God's plan, even when it is beyond understanding? [46:55]
6. Reflect on your union with Christ as discussed in the sermon. What practical steps can you take to deepen this relationship and live out the righteousness imputed to you? [43:13]
7. How does the understanding of original sin and imputed righteousness impact your interactions with others, especially in showing grace and forgiveness? [46:55]
Devotional
Day 1: The Consequence of Adam's Disobedience
The entry of sin into the world through Adam brought death as a penal consequence, affecting all of humanity. This death is not a natural process but a result of sin, emphasizing the seriousness of Adam's disobedience. The gravity of this act is seen in how it altered the course of human history, introducing death as a reality for all. This understanding challenges us to recognize the weight of sin and its far-reaching effects. The passage in Romans highlights that death is not merely a biological end but a spiritual consequence of turning away from God. [01:12]
"For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive." (1 Corinthians 15:22, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways do you see the consequences of sin affecting your life and the world around you? How can acknowledging these consequences lead you to a deeper appreciation for Christ's redemptive work?
Day 2: Collective Participation in Adam's Sin
The phrase "because all sinned" indicates a collective participation in Adam's sin, rather than individual acts of sin being the cause of death. This highlights the concept of imputed sin, where Adam's sin is credited to all humanity. This theological concept challenges the modern understanding of individualism, reminding us that we are part of a larger human story. The imputation of Adam's sin means that humanity shares in the consequences of his disobedience, underscoring the need for a Savior who can redeem us from this inherited condition. [05:25]
"Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned." (Romans 5:12, ESV)
Reflection: How does understanding your connection to Adam's sin change your perspective on personal responsibility and the need for community in your spiritual journey?
Day 3: The Parallel Between Adam and Christ
The parallel between Adam and Christ is central to understanding justification. Just as Adam's disobedience brought condemnation, Christ's obedience offers justification and life to believers, emphasizing the doctrine of imputation. This parallel reveals the profound truth that through one man's act of righteousness, many are made righteous. It highlights the transformative power of Christ's obedience and the hope it brings to those who believe. The imputation of Christ's righteousness is a gift that redefines our identity and standing before God. [07:30]
"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." (Romans 5:17, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle to accept the gift of Christ's righteousness? How can you begin to live more fully in the freedom and life that Christ offers?
Day 4: The Universality of Death and Imputed Sin
The universality of death, even among infants who have not committed personal sins, supports the idea of imputed sin. It shows that death results from being in Adam, not personal transgressions, challenging us to accept the mystery of divine justice and grace. This teaching invites us to trust in God's wisdom and the redemptive plan He has set in motion through Christ. It calls us to a deeper faith that acknowledges the complexities of sin and grace, and the hope that is found in Christ alone. [21:59]
"For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead." (1 Corinthians 15:21, ESV)
Reflection: How does the reality of imputed sin and the universality of death shape your understanding of God's justice and grace? What steps can you take to deepen your trust in God's redemptive plan?
Day 5: Union with Adam and Christ
Our union with Adam brought sin and death, while our union with Christ brings righteousness and life. This profound truth calls us to marvel at the mystery of God's plan and the depth of His wisdom. It invites us to reflect on the transformative power of being united with Christ, which offers a new identity and purpose. This union is not just a theological concept but a lived reality that impacts how we view ourselves and our relationship with God. [45:42]
"For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive." (1 Corinthians 15:22, ESV)
Reflection: How does your union with Christ influence your daily life and decisions? What practical steps can you take to live more fully in the reality of this union?
Quotes
Sin entered into the world and that death came into the world as the result of sin that death is not a part of the natural process of life but is something that has been imposed penally upon mankind because of sin. Sin has brought in death, death by sin, and furthermore that death has passed upon all men, has spread into the life of everyone born into this world. [00:01:19]
The universality of death is due to and the result of the fact that all sin. That is what he's saying. Now there's no disagreement about that. Everybody's got to agree with that. Death passed upon all men because all sin. The explanation of the universality of death is the fact that all sin. [00:08:45]
Death reigned from Adam to Moses even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression. Now we needn't go any further because the remainder is perfectly clear who is the figure of him that is to come. Now then, what does he mean by this? What does he mean by saying until the law? [00:09:41]
Sin can and did exist prior to the giving of the law through Moses. That's perfectly plain. That's the thing he's going to establish. And then he makes it still more clear by putting it like this at the beginning of verse 14. He says though sin is not imputed where there is no law, nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses. [00:16:29]
Death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression. What does this mean? Here are two possible points of view. I'm not at all sure but that I accept both of them. There are some who say this, that this even here is an exposition of what he's just been saying. [00:17:43]
The death of children there, these infants, therefore, is due to sin. But they have not committed acts of sin, and yet they die. And that proves that they're guilty of sin. How do you explain this? Now that is the problem. The answer the Apostle himself gives you, see, is this phrase at the end of verse 12. [00:21:51]
The reign of death, death passing upon all men, according to the Apostle, proves that. And he does it in this way. Death is always a part of the punishment of sin. Death always therefore presupposes guilt and condemnation. Death is universal even in the case of infants who have not committed any actual sin. [00:31:00]
The fact that death has come upon all is proof of the fact that all sinned. Death is the result of sin, and therefore he says all sinned, and all sinned there in Adam. Now let me prove this to you. I prove it by going on with a section. It's not dependent only upon verses 12, 13, and 14. [00:33:19]
The parallel is with our Lord and his work, and it compels us to say what I've just been saying. The whole paragraph is concerned about justification and the finality of justification. So what he is saying I can put briefly like this: as Adam's one act of disobedience has made sinners of us all, so this obedience of Christ to all who believe in him makes them, constitutes them righteous. [00:41:42]
Adam's sin is imputed to us. Christ's righteousness is imputed to us. But you've got to maintain the parallel. It's no use here saying, ah, I rather like to hear that second one, that Christ's righteousness is imputed to me. If you take that, you've got to take the other, says Paul, in exactly the same way. [00:42:02]
It is our Union with Adam that accounts for all our troubles. It is our corresponding Union with Christ that accounts for our Salvation. When Adam sinned, all sinned, and death and Punishment Came Upon all. But as Paul puts it again in 1 Corinthians 15, in Christ all can and shall be made alive who are united to him. [00:45:42]
The world is as it is because when Adam sinned, all sinned, and so sin and death have been Universal and have come upon the whole of mankind. It's a mystery. It's an astounding thing, yes, but who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him? Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom of God. [00:50:28]
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