Life and Death

Christ in the Old Testament - Typology Life and Death - Romans 5:12-21 November 3, 2024 We recently had to take our 15-year-old dog to the vet as she had this strange patch of hair missing on her back leg, and some noticeable redness on her skin. Of course, they found some other stuff too, not surprised as she's up there in age. So, they gave us a few options to treat all her issues. If these treatment options don't work, we will be given additional options to treat her. The fact is, a lot of things in life work that way, don't they? What if I told you, there is one condition that has only one remedy? We'll be in the book of Romans this week in our series titled Jesus in the Old Testament. I know. A New Testament passage for our study of the Old Testament. Let me explain. We're shifting to a new subtopic this week. If you've been with us the past two weeks, we gave two examples of a Christophany - a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ. This week, we're talking about typology, or simply stated a "type." I stumbled across this definition of typology this week: a type in Scripture is a person or thing in the Old Testament that foreshadows a person or thing in the New Testament. Many commentators and bible teachers will do what we call "spiritualize" the text, and weave in Jesus or other principles they desire to into that text. An example of this would be the Song of Solomon. People attempt to say that it is allegorical of Jesus' relationship with the Church. But it's likely just a story about a husband and wife. Anyway - back to our topic at hand. What I wanted to do with the texts for this example of Jesus in the Old Testament is use a passage that specifically makes the connection as a type of Christ. This is why we'll be in the book of Romans for this week. I think most of us are familiar with Paul's letter to the Romans. Chapters 1-3 primarily deals with sin, and the need for salvation. The end of chapter 3 through chapter 5 - where we will be today - primarily speaks about salvation, and the way of salvation. I would argue that most Christians understand the premise that because of the fall, we are all born sinners. Effectively, that is what Paul is addressing here - he also deals with it in 1 Corinthians 15 as well. So, in short, this morning we will learn about the origin of sin, and what that means for all of mankind. So, with that background in mind, let's read Romans 5:12-21: 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- 13 FOR SIN INDEED WAS IN THE WORLD BEFORE THE LAW WAS GIVEN, BUT SIN IS NOT COUNTED WHERE THERE IS NO LAW. 14 YET DEATH REIGNED FROM ADAM TO MOSES, EVEN OVER THOSE WHOSE SINNING WAS NOT LIKE THE TRANSGRESSION OF ADAM, WHO WAS A TYPE OF THE ONE WHO WAS TO COME. 15 BUT THE FREE GIFT IS NOT LIKE THE TRESPASS. FOR IF MANY DIED THROUGH ONE MAN'S TRESPASS, MUCH MORE HAVE THE GRACE OF GOD AND THE FREE GIFT BY THE GRACE OF THAT ONE MAN JESUS CHRIST ABOUNDED FOR MANY. 16 AND THE FREE GIFT IS NOT LIKE THE RESULT OF THAT ONE MAN'S SIN. FOR THE JUDGMENT FOLLOWING ONE TRESPASS BROUGHT CONDEMNATION, BUT THE FREE GIFT FOLLOWING MANY TRESPASSES BROUGHT JUSTIFICATION. 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. 18 THEREFORE, AS ONE TRESPASS LED TO CONDEMNATION FOR ALL MEN, SO ONE ACT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS LEADS TO JUSTIFICATION AND LIFE FOR ALL MEN. 19 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. 20 NOW THE LAW CAME IN TO INCREASE THE TRESPASS, BUT WHERE SIN INCREASED, GRACE ABOUNDED ALL THE MORE, 21 SO THAT, AS SIN REIGNED IN DEATH, GRACE ALSO MIGHT REIGN THROUGH RIGHTEOUSNESS LEADING TO ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD. Here's the main idea this morning in the form of a statement: In Adam, we experience death, in Christ, we experience new life. Notice the bookends of this passage. Verse 12 tells us that death came through sin, which came through Adam, while verse 21 tells us that we have eternal life, through grace, through Jesus Christ our Lord. This passage is said to be one of the most difficult passages to teach. So, I want to keep this as simple as possible. The passage is neatly packaged in three parts, so the structure of the sermon today will consist of a fact, an explanation, and an application from each of these three parts. Let's begin with verses 12-14: * Through Adam's sin, we have all sinned (vv.12-14) o What does this mean? o In one respect, we are introduced to a doctrine called "original sin" o Original sin is described as sin that is inherent inside each of us. o Effectively, it states that we are sinners, not because we sin, but because we are sinners. o So, this raises another question. How? o This is a concept called "imputed sin." Imputed sin teaches that we are all sinners because we are of Adam. o Imputation, like many biblical words that pertain to salvation principles, is an accounting term. Something that is charged or set to our account. So, because we were born through the linage of Adam, we were all given his sin nature. We all became sinners because of Adam's sin. o In other words, we're all guilty of sin because of Adam's sin. o And, according to verse 12, the consequence of sin is death. We, of course, clearly see this in chapter 3 of Romans. o When God told Adam that he would die if he ate of that tree in the Garden, at that moment we see God's revelation that Adam was representative of mankind. o This is why Paul says that it was through "one man" that sin and death entered the world o Well - that doesn't seem fair, does it? o In the end, doesn't that mean it isn't my fault? o If it's not my fault, then why do I get this punishment? o In short, free will. o Adam had a choice not to eat that fruit. He had a choice of obedience. o So, what is the lesson for us here? * Because we are sinners, we must choose the alternative to death. * I love the closing chapters of Joshua. Joshua stands before the people and challenges them to choose. Joshua 24:15 - likely a verse that's in many of our homes - is one of my favorites. Joshua challenges them with these words: 15 AND IF IT IS EVIL IN YOUR EYES TO SERVE THE LORD, CHOOSE THIS DAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE, WHETHER THE GODS YOUR FATHERS SERVED IN THE REGION BEYOND THE RIVER, OR THE GODS OF THE AMORITES IN WHOSE LAND YOU DWELL. BUT AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD." o This is where Paul opens this concept up more for us, because what we see next in verses 15-17 is that ... * While there is death in Adam, there is life in Christ (vv.15-17) o Immediately, in verse 15, Paul tells us of this free gift that He has given to us. o In fact, the translators use the phrase "free gift" twice here in verse 15, and twice in verse 16. The terms are a little different, two are directly related to what we refer to as grace, unmerited favor, while the other two terms refer directly to another accounting type word, one that means a payment of a bounty. o Both terms - of course - emphasize the idea of salvation without merit. o Now, just a quick pause to return to our understanding of typology. In this case - verse 14 told us that Adam was a type - the typology is a type by contrast. It's in this section that we see that begin to develop. * One sin versus an abundance of grace * One sin versus one act of righteousness * Death and life * The reign of sin and death versus the reign of life in Jesus o In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul talks about this same concept - the contrast of Adam and Jesus - the First Adam and the Last Adam. o What's interesting about that passage, is that in between the two short passages that address this, is a whole section on the resurrection of Jesus, and our future resurrection. o Paul is clearly connecting the First Coming of Jesus, what He did during His Coming, and what He will do at His Second Coming. o In Jesus' First Coming, He gave us the alternative solution to death by conquering death on the Cross, resurrecting, and ascending to the Right Hand of the Father. o In His Second Coming, He will return and gather those who choose to follow Him as Lord and establish His eternal Kingdom. o This is why Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3 that we must be born again. o In fact, when we read John 3:16-21 again with Romans 5 in the background, it makes a lot more since. Here is what John recorded: 16 "FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY SON, THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE. 17 FOR GOD DID NOT SEND HIS SON INTO THE WORLD TO CONDEMN THE WORLD, BUT IN ORDER THAT THE WORLD MIGHT BE SAVED THROUGH HIM. 18 WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM IS NOT CONDEMNED, BUT WHOEVER DOES NOT BELIEVE IS CONDEMNED ALREADY, BECAUSE HE HAS NOT BELIEVED IN THE NAME OF THE ONLY SON OF GOD. 19 AND THIS IS THE JUDGMENT: THE LIGHT HAS COME INTO THE WORLD, AND PEOPLE LOVED THE DARKNESS RATHER THAN THE LIGHT BECAUSE THEIR WORKS WERE EVIL. 20 FOR EVERYONE WHO DOES WICKED THINGS HATES THE LIGHT AND DOES NOT COME TO THE LIGHT, LEST HIS WORKS SHOULD BE EXPOSED. 21 BUT WHOEVER DOES WHAT IS TRUE COMES TO THE LIGHT, SO THAT IT MAY BE CLEARLY SEEN THAT HIS WORKS HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT IN GOD." o You see how clear this is now? o We are all condemned in the first Adam, we need the Last Adam, the Lord Himself, to breathe life into us in the same way He breathed life into Adam in Genesis 2:7. o The lesson? * Only by accepting the free gift of grace, through Jesus, I will have eternal life. * Paul has clearly mapped out, as we saw earlier the case that 1) we're all sinners, and 2) we are all in need of a savior, and 3) that Jesus is the One who brings life. Born again. o Finally, the last section of Romans 5 tells us: * God's grace is bigger than my sin (vv.18-21) o Notice all the contrasts in this section: * Condemnation versus righteousness and justification * Justification means to be declared righteous - this declaration can only be made by the One who was righteous on our behalf, to the Holy God who demands righteousness. * Another contrast we see is disobedience (from Adam) versus obedience (from Christ) * Law versus grace * Then again, death versus life o As I alluded to earlier, not only does Paul in the passage tell us the origins of man's sin, but he also defines sin for us. o Paul uses three terms for sin in our entire passage: sin, trespass, and transgressions. * "Sin" literally means to "miss the mark" * "Trespass" means to "cross over the boundary" and * "Transgression" means to "overstep," or "the act of stepping over the boundary." o Paul says we're guilty of all as Adam's descendants. o But - he says - while we are all guilty, we can all be made right before God in Christ Jesus - also known as justification. o But, what does Paul mean in verse 20 - that the law came in and increased sin? * The Law was the boundary that was set before the people of Israel - God's chosen people. * Paul talked about this in Galatians 3, where he called the law a "schoolteacher," or guardian. * It was to provide a standard to reach, in which the sacrificial system proved that it was impossible for them to meet that standard, as illustrated perfectly by the writer of Hebrews when he spoke about the role of the High Priest. Here is what he said in Hebrews 7:27: 27 HE HAS NO NEED, LIKE THOSE HIGH PRIESTS, TO OFFER SACRIFICES DAILY, FIRST FOR HIS OWN SINS AND THEN FOR THOSE OF THE PEOPLE, SINCE HE DID THIS ONCE FOR ALL WHEN HE OFFERED UP HIMSELF. * So, the standard - the Law - defined and exposed sin. o So, what is the lesson for us here? * Because Jesus gives me life, I must choose to live for Him. * Paul, of course, is speaking of Jesus' obedience, and Adam's disobedience in verse 19, but the implications are clear. * We have to make the decision to follow Jesus. * If you have not done that, let today be that day. * Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and you will be saved from that penalty of sin and have eternal life in Jesus. Regardless of what we see and experience in our world around us. We can be sure of one thing, returning to our main idea: In Adam, we experience death, in Christ, we experience new life. The new life that we live currently promises us forgiveness, assurance, the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, a renewed mind and a new heart. The eternal life will be without war - the same wars that we see in Israel and Ukraine. The eternal life will be without illness or death - I need not to expand on that. The eternal life will be without sin. No longer will we have to battle the flesh. No longer will we have to choose right from wrong. No longer will we stumble or miss the mark. Because of the work that Jesus did for us, we no longer have to be slaves to sin. Everyone must choose between staying dead in the first Adam or being alive in Christ, the Last Adam. What will you choose? Let's pray. 2