Definition of sin- 7 words: failure, error, lawlessness,
unrighteousness, iniquity, transgression, trespasses.
1.
Failure – falling short
2.
Error – mistake
3.
Lawlessness – breaking God’s laws
4.
Unrighteousness – not God-like
5.
Iniquity – wickedness, evil
6.
Transgression – beyond what is acceptable
7.
Trespasses – illegal encroaching on others’
rights
Note: sin is that which offends God, to sin against our
fellow men is also to sin against God
E.g. Prodigal son- “ Father, I have sinned against heaven
and before you” ( Luke 15:21)
1: Doctrine of
Original Sin( vs 12-14)
This doctrine is controversial
(a) The Old and New Testament
(i) The old
testament (old covenant) emphasizes the law.
The emphasis is on
breaking the law, i.e. because we break the law, we are sinners.
Also what we do
outwardly defines us on the inside( this act makes us sinners)
(ii) The New
Testament ( New covenant)
emphasize the
inner condition of the human heart ( our ‘spiritual’ genetic composition)
i.e. because
we are born sinners, we commit sin, living lives of sin.
Summary of these two
outlooks
we are sinners
because we sin and we sin because we are sinners
Note: both have biblical support and one is a result of the
other and vice versa.
2: The three stages
of sin ( vs 14-17)
(i) From Adam to Moses
(ii) From Moses to Jesus
(iii) AD ( Anno Domini) After Christ
(i) From Adam to
Moses
Sin was already
in the world.
Sin came into the
world through one man
( i.e. Adam) and death came through sin and so death spread
to all because all have sinned- sin was indeed in the world before the law (
i.e. Moses) ( vs 12, 13).
(ii) After Moses (
God gave the law to Moses to show what is sin)
Note: Before Moses there was no law( only the law of
conscience) ( Romans 2:14,15)
“yet sin is not reckoned when there is no law” ( v13)
Note: The debt of our sin was charged to Jesus who paid off
our debt by his death on the cross
Sin and death continued to reign from Adam to Moses , i.e. “
death exercised dominion from Adam to Moses” ( v14)
(iii) After Christ
( Adam a type of Christ but Romans 5
bring out the contrast of Adam to Jesus )
“Adam was a type ( tupos in Greek- mould or pattern) of Him
that was to come “( v14)
Note: Jesus was
infinitely superior to Adam in every way not in terms of degree but on the
basis of legal certainty( i.e. signed, chopped and sealed by God) – on the
basis of God’s eternal covenant, similar to God swearing by himself- Hebrews
6:13
“…much more have the grace of God and the free gift in the
grace of the one man Jesus Christ abounded for the many” ( v15)
Adam brought sin and death.
Jesus brought forgiveness and life.
3: The Full Effect of
the Cross ( vs 18- 21)
(i) Justification
( because of Grace)
“…the free gift(
grace) following many trespasses brings justification (v16)
therefore just
as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man’s act of
righteousness ( the Cross) leads to justification and life for all (v18)
(ii) Victory in Our
Spiritual Life
“ Much more
surely will those who receive the abundance of Grace ( grace upon grace, John
1:16) and the free gift of righteousness exercise dominion in life through the
one man Jesus Christ “( v17)
(iii) The full effect
of Grace in our lives
“ …where sin
increased grace abounded all the more ( v20)
note: ‘This
does not mean we are to sin more to experience more grace’
extreme
conditions require extreme measures to counteract them
Sin which
brings death needs the most extreme measure to restore to life ( only the death
of Jesus can restore to life one who is spiritually dead - one extreme ( death)
to make possible another extreme ( spiritual life).
For everyone the doorway to Justification , Grace,
Forgiveness and Salvation is still Repentance and Faith in Christ, on the
ground of His death on the Cross.
“…so that as
sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness to eternal
life through Jesus Christ Our Lord” ( v21)
“ …and we
rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God.” ( Romans 5:2)
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