This gift is not like the offense

[Romans 5:12-21]

In the second half of Romans 5:14, it says: “... Adam is a type of the one who was to come.” The first Adam, representing humanity, is a type of the one to come, Jesus Christ. The Greek word for "type" is used 16 times in the New Testament. However, it is not always translated as “type” in the Korean Bible. It is often translated as "example," with nearly half of the 16 occurrences using this translation (e.g., Romans 6:17), and it has also been translated as "mark" two times (John 20:25). Additionally, it is translated as "form," "pattern," "similarly" (Genesis 23:25), "mirror," "example" (1 Corinthians 10:6), and "shadow."

For example, let’s say there are two objects: one called "A" and the other called "B." Object A is a type or figure of object B. This is what is meant by "type." A is the type, and B is its corresponding reality. When it says that Adam is a type of the one to come, it means that Adam is a symbol or representation of Jesus Christ, showing both similarities and differences. The similarity is that both Adam and Jesus Christ are “representatives,” but the difference lies in the concept of imputation. What Adam passed on to us is sin, and its result is death. However, what Jesus Christ has freely given to us is righteousness, and the result of His righteousness is eternal life.

Let’s look at Romans 5:15-17:
“But the gift is not like the offense. For if by the offense of one many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ.”

Here, the "gift" (verse 15), which is the gift of Jesus Christ, is not just different in nature from Adam’s offense (or original sin), but its result is also different. Through Adam’s sin, many people died. When we consider the three stages of death resulting from Adam’s sin, we need to break it down into:

Spiritual death: When Adam ate the forbidden fruit, he died spiritually. His relationship with God was broken, and, as a result, all of humanity died spiritually in Adam. This is because Adam's sin was imputed to all of mankind (see Romans 5:12).
Physical death: Adam also physically died at the age of 930.
Eternal death: When someone who is spiritually dead experiences physical death, they face eternal separation from God and dwell in the fiery pit of hell, known as the “second death” (Revelation 2:11, 20:6, 14, 21:8).

In this way, in Adam, we were dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1). Those who were spiritually dead (verse 1, Contemporary Bible) followed the ways of the world and the ruler of the air (the devil), living in disobedience to God (verse 2). We followed the lusts of our flesh and did the desires of our bodies and minds, and were by nature children of wrath, just like the rest (verse 3).

However, the grace (gift) of Jesus Christ overflowed to many (Romans 5:15). Here, the “gift” refers to eternal life. Let’s look at Romans 6:23:
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
(Contemporary Bible: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift God gives freely is eternal life in our Lord Jesus Christ.”)

Thus, through Jesus Christ’s gift, we have been offered eternal life, a gift far greater than the death passed on through Adam’s sin.

Romans 5:16 says, “And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned…” Compare this with verse 15, which says, “But the gift is not like the transgression…” The nature and result of Adam’s sin, which serves as a type, and the gift of Jesus Christ who was to come, are not the same (they are different) (verse 15).

Looking again at Romans 5:16, the Bible says that judgment came from one man, leading to condemnation. Judgment is God’s condemnation [(Modern Translation) “… the judgment that came from the sin of one man (Adam) caused all people to be sinners…”]. God condemned all of us, the descendants of Adam, as sinners, so we all must face the penalty for sin, which is death. No one can escape this condemnation on their own, nor is there anyone who can save us from it.

However, the Bible says, “The gift is by many offenses resulting in justification” (verse 16). What does "many offenses" refer to here? It can be understood in three ways:

Original sin: This refers to the sin of Adam, the first human and representative of humanity, who disobeyed God’s command by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Inherited sin: This refers to the sin passed down from our ancestors. When we are born, we inherit the sin of our parents. See Psalm 51:5: “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me” [(Modern Translation) “I was a sinner when I was born; when my mother conceived me, I inherited a sinful nature.”].
Personal sin: This refers to the sins that we commit ourselves as we live (past, present, and future sins). It includes all the sins we commit with our words, actions, and thoughts. (New Hymnal 274, verse 1): “All I have done is sin; I pray to Jesus, cleanse my body and my heart.”

So, what is the “gift” mentioned in verse 16? The gift or present refers to the fact that, although we were condemned by all these many sins and deserved the penalty of death, Jesus Christ, the "One Who Was to Come," took upon Himself all our sins (original sin, inherited sin, personal sin) and died on the cross, saving us from this condemnation and making us righteous before God.

Adam, as the representative and ancestor of humanity, brought sin and the resulting death, and the only consequence he gave us was judgment and destruction. However, Jesus Christ, who was to come, gave us a gift of grace, saving us from all sin, granting us eternal life, and leading us to be justified. Therefore, since God has justified us, who can bring any charge against us? No one.

Please look at Romans 8:1, 33-34: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus… Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.”

Now, let's look again at Romans 5:17: "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." Before we received the gift (verse 15), which is eternal life (Romans 6:23), through the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, death reigned through the sin of one man, Adam (Romans 5:17). Death (spiritual death, physical death, eternal death) reigned, and we lived in fear of death.

But now, through the grace of the gift from Jesus Christ, we have been justified (verse 16). We have received the gift of grace and righteousness in abundance, and through Jesus Christ, we now reign in life.

As we already possess eternal life and it reigns in our lives, we no longer need to fear death. We have received the gift of grace from Jesus Christ (verse 15), we have been justified (verse 16), and now, as those who have received the gift of grace and righteousness in abundance, we reign in life through Jesus Christ (verse 17). Therefore, while living on earth, we should already enjoy a portion of the blessings of eternal life, because we are reigning in life through Jesus Christ.

When we enter heaven, we will reign with Jesus forever and ever (Revelation 22:5).

If you have not yet received Jesus, I encourage you to open your heart and welcome Him. By receiving Jesus Christ, you receive the gift of eternal life. If you believe in Jesus Christ, you will be saved. If you are in Christ, there is no condemnation. This is because through faith in Jesus Christ, we are justified.

By believing in Jesus Christ, you no longer need to struggle in fear of death. The reason is that through Jesus Christ, we will reign in eternal life.

Let us all live with the Lord, enjoying the blessings of eternal life here on earth, overcoming the fear of death, and living victoriously.