The Comprehensive Doctrine of Justification (35)

[Romans 5:12-21]

Today, under the overarching theme of "The Comprehensive Doctrine of Justification," we will reflect on Romans 5:18-21, focusing on the ninth sub-theme, "The Confirmation of Justification."  Last week, we explored the differences between the first Adam, the prototype of "the one to come" (Rom. 5:14), and the actual "one to come," Jesus Christ, the last Adam.  This week, we will contemplate three points of similarity between the first Adam and Jesus Christ, the last Adam, based on Romans 5:18-21.

Romans 5:18 says: "Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men." 

Here, the "one trespass" refers to the sin committed by the first Adam, the progenitor of humanity, who disobeyed God's command not to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2:17; 3:6).  As a result of Adam's "one trespass," all people, belonging to the first Adam, faced condemnation.  Similarly, through the obedience and righteous act of the last Adam, Jesus Christ, culminating in His death on the cross, all people belonging to Him, the "many," receive justification and life (Rom. 5:18).  The term "many" encompasses all who belong to Jesus Christ, and through His sacrificial death, they receive righteousness (justification) and attain eternal life.

Romans 5:19 continues: "For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous." 

Here, "one man's disobedience" refers to the first Adam, who is the representative of humanity, disobeying God's command not to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2:17).  This disobedience is specifically mentioned as eating the forbidden fruit (3:6).  As a result, "many people," that is, all people belonging to Adam and all those who will be born until the coming of Jesus Christ (see Ps. 51:5), became "sinners" (Rom. 5:19).  The consequence of this sin is "death" (v. 12; 6:23).  Similarly, "one man" who is the last Adam, Jesus Christ, became obedient to God the Father even to the point of dying on the cross (Phil. 2:8).  Through His obedience, "many people" who belonged to the first Adam and all those who belong to Jesus Christ became "righteous" (Rom. 5:19).  The term "many people" encompasses all who belonged to the first Adam but now belong to Jesus Christ. All these people, through Jesus Christ's righteous act, which is His sacrificial death on the cross, received justification and righteousness by being obedient to God (v. 19).

Romans 5:21 says, "so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Through the "one man" (v. 19), the first Adam's "one trespass" (v. 18), sin reigned in death (v. 21).  The reason is that the consequence of sin is death (6:23; cf. 5:12).  As a result, all who belonged to Adam came under the dominion of death.  Similarly, "grace might reign through righteousness" (v. 21).  In other words, everyone who receives Jesus Christ through the Lord's grace becomes righteous and, as a result, reigns in life.  All God's children who are justified before God "will reach eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (v. 21).  That is, we will reign forever in the kingdom, as mentioned in Revelation 22:5.