Comprehensive Doctrine of Justification (29)
[Romans 5:12-21]
Today's passage, Romans 5:12-21, may seem unrelated to justification, but it actually demonstrates the "Confirmation of Justification" [the ninth sub-theme under the overarching theme of "Comprehensive Doctrine of Justification"]. Romans 5:8 states, "but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Through one man, sin entered the world, and death through sin, and in this way, death came to all people because all have sinned (v. 12). When "one man, Jesus Christ" (v. 17) died on the cross for us, God confirmed His love for us (v. 8). By taking on our sins and bearing the penalty on the cross, Jesus Christ made God's love for us concrete and certain. Romans 5:12-21 vividly illustrates the confirmation of justification.
Starting today, we will meditate on Romans 5:12-21 under the sub-theme of "Confirmation of Justification." Today, let's focus on the first confirmation of justification found in Romans 5:12: "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." As we began contemplating the comprehensive doctrine of justification, we learned about the necessity of justification based on Romans 3:23: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." The reason everyone needs justification is that "all have sinned," preventing them from reaching the glory of God. In today's passage, Romans 5:12-21, the term "one man" appears 12 times in the original Greek. This "one man" refers to two individuals: the first man, Adam, and "one man, Jesus Christ" (vv. 15, 17). Adam, created in the image of God, is the representative of all humanity. Through his disobedience in Eden, sin entered the world (v. 12). Thus, Adam, who was tempted by Satan and ate the forbidden fruit, introduced sin into the human realm. In the same way that Satan desired to become God and was cast out of heaven for disobedience (Jude 1:6), Adam and Eve desired to become like God (Gen. 3:5). If we succumb to similar temptations, it becomes sin. Adam and Eve's sin brought sin into the human world. The realm of angels already had sin because of the presence of evil angels. Due to their disobedience, Satan and his followers were cast out of heaven (Jude 1:6). Adam and Eve, too, were cast out of Eden due to their sin, and not only did their bodies experience death, but their souls also faced eternal damnation.
The Apostle Paul, addressing the saints of the Roman church, stated, "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 have sinned" (Rom. 5:12). How is it that all people sinned and death came to all through the sin of one man, Adam? The writer of Hebrews addresses this question in Hebrews 7, referring to the events in Genesis 14. The background involves a war between the coalition forces of King Amraphel of Shinar and King Bera of Sodom. The forces of King Bera were defeated, leading to the capture of Abram's nephew Lot and the plundering of his possessions (Gen. 14:1-16). In response, Abram, with his trained men, rescued the captives and recovered the plunder. Upon his return, Abram was blessed by Melchizedek, the king of Salem and the priest of God Most High. Abram, in acknowledgment of God's provision, gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything he had recovered (Heb. 7:1-2, 4). The Hebrews writer explains that Levi, who received tithes, can be considered to have paid tithes through Abraham because Levi was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met Abraham (vv. 9-10). Similarly, we were in the loins of Adam before we were born, and like Adam, we have all sinned. Therefore, the need for justification is absolute, and through justification, we can avoid perishing and receive eternal life.
If, when we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8), and we hear the gospel and believe in Jesus Christ, we receive justification from God, declaring us righteous, and obtain eternal life. Those of us who have already received eternal life should live by faith with the assurance of God's love and the confirmation of justification, as "God has shown his love for us" (v. 8). In our lives, death no longer reigns but has been replaced by reigning in life through the one man, Jesus Christ (v. 17). Therefore, we should express gratitude to God and, within the realm of the Lord, experience the blessings of eternal life even in this world.