WEDNESDAY, July 29, 2009                                                       READ: Romans 5: 12 - 21                                                                                                        

ADAM A TYPE OF HIM WHO WAS TO COME

MEMORIZE: “Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.”         Romans 5: 14

Whatever became of sin? Seldom do we still hear sermons preached in our churches in which we are told of the heinous nature of sin and how it attracts the judgment of Almighty God. We seem more likely to hear about skin than about sin. But sin is real and rampant. It is reasonable to ask, whatever became of sin why we are so reluctant to talk about it and are so disinterested in hearing about it?

We ought to know that sin came into the world as a result of Adam’s disobedience to God’s command to him. Adam had been created and given the distinct honor of being the representative head of the human family. When he made the decision to disobey God’s command, he set the tone for his entire family, including you and me, to inherit the sin nature. It meant that all of us, each of us inherited the nature, a tendency and bent towards doing other than God has commanded. Every human, after Adam and Eve, enter life through birth and leave through death, with notable exceptions (Enoch and Elijah). After Adam sinned, God determined that, “… ‘til you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” He thereby appointed each of us to death.

Our text, Romans 5: 12 – 21, helps us to understand that even before any of us had the opportunity to perform a single sinful act, having already inherited the sin nature, we were already consigned to die. Even before the Mosaic Law had been given, the people who lived from Adam to Moses’, were still sinners, having inherited the sin nature which Adam developed and had. They did not sin like Adam had done, but were still sinners, and given the opportunity, would have done the same thing. Adam was “… a type of Him who was to come.” Of whom is this reference made? We believe that it is to Jesus Christ, who was promised in Genesis 3: 15, and had been prefigured in types and shadows throughout the ages (cf. 1 Corinthians 15: 21, 22, 45, 47). How was Adam a type of Jesus Christ? They were both representative heads. Adam’s act of disobedience affected many – many died. Jesus’ act of obedience enabled Adam’s descendants to have access into the grace of God, by which we receive His gift (cf. v. 2; 6: 23; John 10: 10). Adam’s act of disobedience brought sin and death to his descendants. Jesus’ act of obedience brought reconciliation of Adam’s descendants to God and eternal life (cf. Philippians 2: 8; Hebrews 12: 2). Is it true that Adam and all of his descendants have been reconciled to God (cf. v. 10; Corinthians 5: 19 – 21; 1 Peter 3: 15)? What does it mean to be reconciled to God? Jesus died and paid the price of our ransom. He removed the obstacle to the restoration of a right relationship with God. He removed the occasion for antagonism between God and mankind. He provided the price demanded for our ransom (cf. 1 Peter 1: 18 – 20). In vv. 15 - 19, we are able to see that there is a differentiation made between the effects of Adam’s disobedience and Jesus’ obedience. So, while there are similarities, there are differences. Adam, by his disobedience, led us into bondage and death. Jesus has led us into reconciliation, justification and salvation by His obedience. Jesus has proven Himself to be more than adequate to overcome all of the damage that Adam’s sin has done to us. The Father presents Him as the One whom we are to accept and follow (cf. John 1: 12; Hebrews 2: 10 – 18). Have you accepted Him? Are you following Him?

PRAY: LORD, God Almighty, You are the Maker of Heaven and earth. You are in charge of everything. You planned our salvation and worked all out. Thank You for not abandoning us while we were still in our sins. You sent Your Son to reconcile us to Yourself. I believe Him and I am saved. Help me to live for You and to show forth Your praises in Jesus strong name. Amen.