Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ
12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—13 To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come.
15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16 Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!
18 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
20 The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Paul made a contrast between Adam and Jesus. Just as Adam brought sin and hence death into the world by disobedience, Jesus brought righteous and hence life into the sinners by his obedience to the will of the Father.
ReplyDeleteI learned something this morning -- righteousness is a gift from God. A special thanks to my friend Joseph Librero for helping me see this.
ReplyDeleteI checked the definition of righteous and here it is: "Morally upright; without guilt or sin." Therefore, no one is righteous for no one is without guilt or sin. Since no one is righteous then no one can pass the divine justice of God. But God love us.
So the Father sent His Son to this world to become a man and do something that no man has ever done or can ever do -- attain righteousness through perfect obedience to the will of the Father. The divine purpose of the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus is for us to pass the divine judgment of God despite our unrighteousness, and find our way to eternal life. (Think of Mission Impossible.) But through the passion of Jesus, anyone who accepts him as his/her Lord and Savior becomes righteous and therefore worthy of eternal life before the eyes of the Father without really attaining righteousness by his/her own deeds. Jesus did all the necessary works! So in a way, righteousness is a gift or a free pass from God for all of us who are willing to accept it.