WEBVTT 00:00:00.660 --> 00:00:16.960 Some of you, if you've been in the evangelical world for some time, would have been, are familiar rather, with John Piper, the pastor and theologian who led Bethlehem Baptist in Minneapolis for decades. 00:00:16.960 --> 00:00:36.019 I bring him up just because, as we are going through Romans, we are in chapter 5. We've been in Romans for a few months now. John Piper started his sermon series in Romans in 1996, and he ended it in, I think, 2004. 00:00:36.020 --> 00:00:45.080 It was something like 8 1⁄2 years. I might be getting the exact years wrong, but he spent 8 1⁄2 years in the book of Romans. 00:00:45.840 --> 00:01:03.880 225 sermons to cover 443 verses. Wild. He crawled through each verse, parsing out the grammar and words and spending a ton of time just digging into this book of the Apostle Paul. 00:01:03.880 --> 00:01:14.920 So, going into Romans, I thought about John Piper quite a bit. I thought, how on earth did he do this? And maybe more importantly, why on earth would he do this? 00:01:15.340 --> 00:01:25.200 I mean, to take your time to go through almost verse by verse, you know, less than two verses per sermon on average. 00:01:26.060 --> 00:01:32.480 You know, you lose the flow of a letter, right? This is a letter, first and foremost, written to a group of people to be read in one shot. 00:01:32.480 --> 00:01:39.240 Nobody gets a letter from grandma or gets a letter from a friend. I don't know if anybody still is into pen pals. 00:01:40.200 --> 00:01:47.079 But you don't parse it out and read line by line, word by word, digging deep into the grammar. 00:01:47.700 --> 00:01:53.680 Nevertheless, it's God's word, and every word counts and matters. 00:01:53.680 --> 00:01:58.660 But still, going into Romans, I'm like, why on earth would you do that? 00:01:59.220 --> 00:02:03.580 And then I got to chapter 5, which we were in last week and we continue on in this. 00:02:04.860 --> 00:02:08.860 And you realize that the Apostle Paul has written a letter to a church, of course, 00:02:08.860 --> 00:02:19.780 but he has written something of a theological treatise that is unbelievably dense and so theologically rich. 00:02:20.420 --> 00:02:28.580 And every sentence, every word, the grammar that he has chosen, everything about it is robust and full 00:02:28.580 --> 00:02:36.060 and absolutely pregnant with meaning, allusions to the past, typology. 00:02:36.500 --> 00:02:43.260 He touches on creation, what it means to be human, who God is, how he has interacted with us, 00:02:43.320 --> 00:02:46.020 what salvation is, on and on and on and on. 00:02:46.160 --> 00:02:49.120 So, get to chapter 5, I get it. 00:02:49.120 --> 00:02:55.400 Now, just if anybody's worried, we are not going to spend the next, say, 4 years or 5 years in Romans. 00:02:55.800 --> 00:02:58.980 Our hope is to have it finished up in at least two more chunks. 00:02:59.700 --> 00:03:04.099 But we're going on, I'd say, a pretty good pace. 00:03:05.240 --> 00:03:11.219 Nevertheless, Romans chapter 5, we're in the second part this morning, starting in verse 12. 00:03:11.219 --> 00:03:14.840 And it will help us, this chapter and this section of this chapter, 00:03:14.840 --> 00:03:20.719 will help us to understand how very deep and pervasive sin truly is. 00:03:20.780 --> 00:03:28.120 Now, we've touched on sin, but Paul is going to explain to us the genesis of sin 00:03:28.120 --> 00:03:32.340 and why it isn't just a problem that affects some, 00:03:32.340 --> 00:03:39.439 but it is at the very core of what it means to live the human life in this world. 00:03:39.439 --> 00:03:48.460 He will also tell us, in light of that sin, that pervasiveness of sin, the depth of sin, 00:03:48.719 --> 00:03:50.879 just how glorious the grace of God is. 00:03:51.300 --> 00:03:52.680 It's an incredible chapter. 00:03:53.460 --> 00:03:56.639 We will do our best to read it and wrestle through it, 00:03:56.639 --> 00:04:01.939 but without a doubt, we will leave things unexplained. 00:04:02.199 --> 00:04:07.699 But that's just going to be the nature of how we're going to go through this second half of chapter 5. 00:04:07.699 --> 00:04:12.780 The text breaks up quite nicely and quite easily into three sections, 00:04:12.780 --> 00:04:14.759 which is always good for the preacher. 00:04:15.780 --> 00:04:22.519 All of these sections address either Adam or Jesus or both, 00:04:22.819 --> 00:04:27.360 either comparing them with their similarities or contrasting them how they are different. 00:04:28.500 --> 00:04:29.939 So it'll break up like this. 00:04:30.360 --> 00:04:35.019 First point, verses 12 to 14, we'll look at Adam and sin. 00:04:35.019 --> 00:04:40.879 The second portion, verses 15 to 17, we'll look at Christ and grace. 00:04:41.879 --> 00:04:47.759 And then finally, the remaining three verses, 18 to 21, 00:04:47.919 --> 00:04:50.560 we'll look at how Christ is the greater Adam. 00:04:51.259 --> 00:04:53.079 And I'll explain what that means shortly. 00:04:53.319 --> 00:04:58.259 So if you have a scripture journal, you can turn with me to Romans chapter 5. 00:04:58.419 --> 00:05:00.379 We'll be at the bottom of page 24. 00:05:00.379 --> 00:05:03.019 There are still, I think we have some Bibles. 00:05:03.159 --> 00:05:05.620 Now, normally I'd say just point you back at the welcome table. 00:05:05.680 --> 00:05:08.100 The welcome table is out those doors and around the side, 00:05:08.180 --> 00:05:11.300 but you can go at any time to grab one and follow along. 00:05:11.420 --> 00:05:14.860 It would be a great help if you could follow along with the text as we read it. 00:05:15.759 --> 00:05:19.379 So before we open up into verse 12 and 13, 00:05:19.379 --> 00:05:26.959 a bit of a reminder of what we looked at last week in chapter 5, verses 1 to 11. 00:05:27.719 --> 00:05:34.360 In it, last week, Paul explained how the reconciliation that God offers through Christ, 00:05:35.139 --> 00:05:36.000 how it came about. 00:05:36.480 --> 00:05:39.399 And he contrasts how sin entered the world. 00:05:39.399 --> 00:05:42.500 And he talked about suffering. 00:05:43.019 --> 00:05:47.279 And in the end, how we can expect, because of what Christ has done, 00:05:47.479 --> 00:05:50.939 to live a life that is full of glory. 00:05:51.500 --> 00:05:59.079 In this section, he's going to continue on with this line of argumentation. 00:05:59.959 --> 00:06:06.479 And he connects it by anticipating a potential objection. 00:06:06.480 --> 00:06:11.280 What's interesting here, before I read verses 12 and a portion of 13, 00:06:11.400 --> 00:06:17.819 is that Paul jumps into this explanation where he's anticipating an objection. 00:06:18.040 --> 00:06:24.360 And it's as if he is contrasting how sin came through the world by one man. 00:06:24.420 --> 00:06:25.140 We'll read shortly. 00:06:25.580 --> 00:06:26.780 But then it's like he stops. 00:06:27.340 --> 00:06:30.580 And he stops midway through his compare and contrast here. 00:06:31.720 --> 00:06:33.480 See if you can pick it up with me. 00:06:34.160 --> 00:06:34.960 Look at verse 12. 00:06:36.480 --> 00:06:40.540 Therefore, and that's therefore connects us with 5, 1 to 11. 00:06:41.400 --> 00:06:44.560 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, 00:06:45.080 --> 00:06:49.040 and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned. 00:06:49.960 --> 00:06:50.860 And then verse 13. 00:06:50.980 --> 00:06:54.700 For sin indeed was in the world before the law was given. 00:06:54.860 --> 00:06:55.980 I'll pause quickly there. 00:06:56.020 --> 00:06:56.780 Did you catch that? 00:06:56.779 --> 00:06:58.719 So normally you'd say something like, 00:06:58.959 --> 00:07:04.319 just as sin came into the world through one man, 00:07:04.519 --> 00:07:09.859 so, and then you contrast it with, well, we'll see what Paul will contrast it to. 00:07:10.139 --> 00:07:13.439 But what he doesn't do is he doesn't complete his compare and contrast. 00:07:13.519 --> 00:07:15.339 Right off of that in verse 13. 00:07:15.339 --> 00:07:20.359 Paul breaks from this comparison to address this objection. 00:07:20.360 --> 00:07:26.840 How on earth is it possible for sin and death to spread to all people through one man? 00:07:26.839 --> 00:07:30.239 So he's about to compare and contrast. 00:07:30.619 --> 00:07:33.199 And then it's like he hammers on the brakes, 00:07:33.719 --> 00:07:39.579 realizing how audacious and potentially offensive this statement is. 00:07:39.679 --> 00:07:42.079 And he's going to take some time to explain it for us. 00:07:42.079 --> 00:07:49.779 How on earth is it possible for sin and death to spread to all people through one man? 00:07:49.919 --> 00:07:51.359 It's a real objection in the first century. 00:07:52.459 --> 00:07:55.159 What's interesting is that this objection persists today. 00:07:56.240 --> 00:08:03.139 To understand it, we need to understand what happened with Adam and do a bit of homework. 00:08:03.139 --> 00:08:05.839 Now, we touched on this in a previous sermon, 00:08:05.979 --> 00:08:11.159 and this is where this letter is so theologically dense. 00:08:11.160 --> 00:08:13.360 So I'll try to sum it up in a paragraph or two. 00:08:13.980 --> 00:08:18.660 What Paul is referring to is what Christians have called original sin or the fall. 00:08:18.820 --> 00:08:22.700 It's standard across the Western church, for sure. 00:08:23.160 --> 00:08:31.660 Original sin, that moment where the idyllic life that God created for humanity came crashing down 00:08:31.660 --> 00:08:34.480 because Adam tried to reverse the roles. 00:08:34.480 --> 00:08:40.360 Instead of understanding him as a creature, a creation of God, 00:08:40.860 --> 00:08:42.940 and God as the uncreated one, 00:08:43.779 --> 00:08:45.639 Adam as the vassal, 00:08:46.259 --> 00:08:47.519 God as the Lord, 00:08:48.080 --> 00:08:49.659 Adam tried to reverse this. 00:08:50.100 --> 00:08:53.860 He tried to make himself in the place of God as Lord, 00:08:54.420 --> 00:08:56.300 himself as the infinite one, 00:08:56.460 --> 00:08:58.019 and God as something else. 00:08:58.019 --> 00:09:02.379 Now, it turns out that something else is not who God is 00:09:02.379 --> 00:09:06.100 and not who the scriptures communicate God to be. 00:09:06.699 --> 00:09:11.579 So what we have in the garden is the complete breakdown 00:09:11.579 --> 00:09:17.299 and the unleashing of a chain reaction where sin enters the world. 00:09:18.460 --> 00:09:21.419 Where Adam no longer worships God, 00:09:21.419 --> 00:09:27.019 no longer participates in the stewardship of God's creation, 00:09:27.679 --> 00:09:38.860 no more do we see a deep, personal, vulnerable, loving, intimate relationship between God and man. 00:09:39.939 --> 00:09:41.939 Instead, this chain reaction comes. 00:09:42.099 --> 00:09:43.259 Sin enters the world, 00:09:43.639 --> 00:09:46.879 and then death, both in a physical and a spiritual sense, 00:09:47.319 --> 00:09:50.980 spread to all people because all have sinned. 00:09:51.419 --> 00:09:55.259 The question that is important for us to ask 00:09:55.259 --> 00:09:57.559 is whether we are sinful, 00:09:58.039 --> 00:09:59.699 is whether we are all sinful, 00:09:59.860 --> 00:10:00.899 and by extension, 00:10:01.459 --> 00:10:04.779 are we acquainted with death because we sin like Adam, 00:10:05.279 --> 00:10:09.259 or because we sinned in and with Adam? 00:10:10.899 --> 00:10:11.759 Stick with me, 00:10:11.819 --> 00:10:16.459 because this is where I think it's helpful to have a handle on some Greek, 00:10:16.599 --> 00:10:18.599 which I don't have the greatest handle on, 00:10:18.639 --> 00:10:20.899 but I have some great commentaries that help me with this. 00:10:21.419 --> 00:10:24.299 So, here's the question again. 00:10:24.799 --> 00:10:25.719 Do we sin, 00:10:25.819 --> 00:10:30.919 are we sinful because we are sinning like Adam, 00:10:31.099 --> 00:10:35.159 or because we sinned in and with him? 00:10:36.459 --> 00:10:37.659 If it's the former, 00:10:38.139 --> 00:10:41.099 then this objection seems to be easily answered. 00:10:41.639 --> 00:10:44.000 Because if death is a result of sin, 00:10:44.059 --> 00:10:45.719 and we all sin like Adam, 00:10:45.720 --> 00:10:47.920 then we are all deserving of death. 00:10:48.700 --> 00:10:51.180 But that is not actually what the text says. 00:10:51.180 --> 00:10:57.180 It says that sin and death came to all because we all have sinned. 00:10:57.179 --> 00:11:00.779 So, what is happening? 00:11:00.779 --> 00:11:05.839 Again, it's helpful if we have a handle on the grammar, 00:11:06.100 --> 00:11:07.659 but just to sum it up quickly, 00:11:07.819 --> 00:11:12.059 Paul is telling us that all people sinned in one act in the past. 00:11:12.459 --> 00:11:19.360 He is saying that the sin that makes us sinners 00:11:19.360 --> 00:11:23.019 aren't because we continue on a lifestyle of sin, 00:11:23.019 --> 00:11:23.720 which we do, 00:11:24.439 --> 00:11:25.919 but because in some way, 00:11:26.039 --> 00:11:26.980 in some fashion, 00:11:27.419 --> 00:11:30.059 we sinned in the past. 00:11:30.159 --> 00:11:31.759 And the verbiage that he uses, 00:11:32.139 --> 00:11:34.139 the tense he uses, 00:11:34.639 --> 00:11:36.879 is a tense that conveys 00:11:36.879 --> 00:11:40.399 a completed act in the past. 00:11:41.079 --> 00:11:41.299 Okay? 00:11:41.299 --> 00:11:43.579 It's a past sin. 00:11:44.459 --> 00:11:46.159 And whether or not it pours into the future, 00:11:46.599 --> 00:11:47.859 that's a side issue. 00:11:48.299 --> 00:11:51.159 But what Paul is saying is that we are all under sin, 00:11:51.559 --> 00:11:52.939 all subject to death, 00:11:52.959 --> 00:11:56.219 because we sinned in the past. 00:11:57.779 --> 00:12:00.120 We participate in Adam's one sin. 00:12:00.979 --> 00:12:03.459 And this one sin unleashed death into the world. 00:12:04.059 --> 00:12:05.879 We are active participants with Adam. 00:12:07.459 --> 00:12:09.779 Now, Paul's going to continue on here 00:12:09.779 --> 00:12:11.819 to explain it. 00:12:11.839 --> 00:12:12.279 But first, 00:12:12.439 --> 00:12:14.759 if it seems awkward 00:12:14.759 --> 00:12:17.339 and kind of nitpicky, 00:12:17.980 --> 00:12:19.959 in the original language, 00:12:20.059 --> 00:12:20.959 the original hearers, 00:12:21.019 --> 00:12:22.220 it would have seemed just as awkward. 00:12:22.939 --> 00:12:23.179 Okay? 00:12:23.600 --> 00:12:24.860 You don't talk about somebody 00:12:24.860 --> 00:12:26.459 who lives today 00:12:26.459 --> 00:12:29.779 and talk about how they have sinned 00:12:30.879 --> 00:12:33.159 hundreds, thousands of years prior. 00:12:33.459 --> 00:12:35.600 That's not something you'd say 00:12:35.600 --> 00:12:36.600 in the first century. 00:12:36.679 --> 00:12:37.839 It's not something you'd say today. 00:12:37.840 --> 00:12:39.879 But Paul is deliberately using 00:12:39.879 --> 00:12:42.180 this past tense 00:12:42.180 --> 00:12:43.500 to describe what's happening here. 00:12:44.019 --> 00:12:44.379 So anyways, 00:12:44.480 --> 00:12:45.300 Paul continues on 00:12:45.300 --> 00:12:47.800 to build on this shocking truth 00:12:47.800 --> 00:12:48.580 in the next section. 00:12:49.139 --> 00:12:51.139 Read with me 13 to 14. 00:12:51.420 --> 00:12:53.399 And then we'll try to unpack this a bit more. 00:12:54.399 --> 00:12:56.660 For sin indeed was in the world 00:12:56.660 --> 00:12:57.920 before the law was given, 00:12:58.040 --> 00:12:59.440 but sin is not counted 00:12:59.440 --> 00:13:01.420 where there is no law. 00:13:02.019 --> 00:13:04.019 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses 00:13:04.019 --> 00:13:06.019 even over those whose sinning 00:13:06.019 --> 00:13:08.299 was not like the transgression of Adam, 00:13:08.559 --> 00:13:10.779 who was a type of the one 00:13:10.779 --> 00:13:12.059 who was to come. 00:13:12.980 --> 00:13:14.519 Sin and death do not come 00:13:14.519 --> 00:13:16.600 when the law is given but before. 00:13:17.319 --> 00:13:19.379 Paul is not saying that sin 00:13:19.379 --> 00:13:21.879 does not exist unless there is a law. 00:13:21.960 --> 00:13:23.120 What he is simply saying 00:13:23.120 --> 00:13:23.779 is that the law, 00:13:24.360 --> 00:13:25.240 which comes later, 00:13:25.480 --> 00:13:27.199 simply it shows us 00:13:27.199 --> 00:13:28.579 in a more explicit way 00:13:28.579 --> 00:13:29.860 what sin looks like. 00:13:29.860 --> 00:13:32.159 But what he is saying here 00:13:32.159 --> 00:13:33.620 is that even though 00:13:33.620 --> 00:13:34.560 there wasn't a law, 00:13:35.100 --> 00:13:36.120 wrongdoing existed. 00:13:37.139 --> 00:13:37.779 And we know that 00:13:37.779 --> 00:13:39.180 because death, Paul says, 00:13:39.320 --> 00:13:41.100 reigned from Adam to Moses, 00:13:41.560 --> 00:13:42.340 meaning the time 00:13:42.340 --> 00:13:43.560 before the law was given. 00:13:43.700 --> 00:13:44.899 Now if you are unfamiliar 00:13:44.899 --> 00:13:47.180 with the biblical story, 00:13:47.960 --> 00:13:49.419 I'll try to do a really quick 00:13:49.419 --> 00:13:50.940 30-second summary. 00:13:51.419 --> 00:13:53.080 Adam and Eve fall. 00:13:53.500 --> 00:13:54.379 Abraham is promised. 00:13:54.460 --> 00:13:55.360 Now we looked at Abraham 00:13:55.360 --> 00:13:56.440 a couple weeks ago, right, 00:13:56.519 --> 00:13:57.680 in chapter 4. 00:13:57.679 --> 00:13:59.500 A bunch of other 00:13:59.500 --> 00:14:00.759 really important stuff happens. 00:14:01.479 --> 00:14:03.719 Israel goes into Egyptian slavery. 00:14:03.919 --> 00:14:05.679 God saves them after 400 years, 00:14:06.039 --> 00:14:07.000 brings them out to the desert, 00:14:07.079 --> 00:14:08.479 on the way to the promised land, 00:14:09.099 --> 00:14:10.719 and sometime in between 00:14:10.719 --> 00:14:12.599 his salvation out of slavery 00:14:12.599 --> 00:14:14.299 and into the promised land, 00:14:14.419 --> 00:14:16.339 God gives Israel a law. 00:14:17.819 --> 00:14:18.299 Okay? 00:14:19.039 --> 00:14:20.479 I hope that kind of situates you. 00:14:20.539 --> 00:14:21.479 That's all I'm going to say about it. 00:14:21.559 --> 00:14:22.459 We can talk afterwards. 00:14:23.199 --> 00:14:25.139 But at that time in between 00:14:25.139 --> 00:14:27.079 Adam and the giving of the law, 00:14:27.080 --> 00:14:28.220 it's not as if 00:14:28.220 --> 00:14:30.440 this idyllic life continued, 00:14:30.700 --> 00:14:31.900 or there wasn't wrongdoing, 00:14:32.060 --> 00:14:32.700 or there wasn't sin. 00:14:32.759 --> 00:14:34.040 No, it certainly did exist. 00:14:34.639 --> 00:14:35.920 The law came afterwards. 00:14:36.080 --> 00:14:37.700 The law only accentuated 00:14:37.700 --> 00:14:38.620 or made explicit 00:14:38.620 --> 00:14:40.720 what already was happening 00:14:40.720 --> 00:14:43.300 in the history of God's people 00:14:43.300 --> 00:14:44.040 and in the world. 00:14:45.420 --> 00:14:47.020 So, even without the law, 00:14:47.700 --> 00:14:50.940 that explicitly stipulates God's will, 00:14:51.220 --> 00:14:52.340 explicitly stipulates 00:14:52.340 --> 00:14:53.240 what is right and wrong, 00:14:53.240 --> 00:14:54.680 all people from every place 00:14:54.680 --> 00:14:55.460 and every culture, 00:14:55.779 --> 00:14:57.639 are guilty of sin. 00:14:58.340 --> 00:15:00.019 For the sin we are guilty of 00:15:00.019 --> 00:15:01.799 was in and through Adam, 00:15:01.860 --> 00:15:03.580 and it means that death 00:15:03.580 --> 00:15:05.720 and everything associated with death 00:15:05.720 --> 00:15:09.560 reigns over the just and the unjust. 00:15:09.980 --> 00:15:11.820 The really, really nice people in your life, 00:15:12.220 --> 00:15:14.320 the terribly rude people in your life. 00:15:14.460 --> 00:15:15.919 The young, the old, 00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:16.740 the men, the women, 00:15:16.940 --> 00:15:18.340 everybody that you know, 00:15:18.340 --> 00:15:20.759 everybody that you know is touched 00:15:20.759 --> 00:15:24.500 and operates under sin and death. 00:15:25.879 --> 00:15:28.240 You see, we fall prey to this false promise 00:15:28.240 --> 00:15:30.480 that what is really needed 00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:33.860 is more education. 00:15:34.620 --> 00:15:36.480 You see, education is the problem. 00:15:36.840 --> 00:15:38.500 We need to get people out of ignorance 00:15:38.500 --> 00:15:39.320 and into knowledge, 00:15:39.480 --> 00:15:41.920 and then life will get better. 00:15:42.519 --> 00:15:44.340 Or maybe it's the alleviation of suffering. 00:15:44.519 --> 00:15:46.240 People, when they're suffering, 00:15:46.240 --> 00:15:48.139 when poverty happens, 00:15:48.340 --> 00:15:49.100 they get desperate. 00:15:49.240 --> 00:15:51.860 That's when they commit the sinful acts. 00:15:52.139 --> 00:15:53.120 By the way, that's all true, 00:15:53.639 --> 00:15:54.740 by and large. 00:15:55.539 --> 00:15:56.460 Maybe the problem is 00:15:56.460 --> 00:15:58.360 we haven't achieved enough progress. 00:15:58.639 --> 00:15:59.639 We don't have enough wealth. 00:16:00.440 --> 00:16:02.720 There's not enough relational harmony. 00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:04.360 You know what? 00:16:04.480 --> 00:16:05.620 Our roads are just terrible. 00:16:05.740 --> 00:16:06.919 Have you driven down Merrillville? 00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:08.139 It's horrendous. 00:16:08.240 --> 00:16:09.440 They'll drive anybody bananas. 00:16:10.740 --> 00:16:12.159 So we need good infrastructure. 00:16:12.159 --> 00:16:13.600 We need safety regulations. 00:16:13.879 --> 00:16:15.000 So on and so forth. 00:16:15.000 --> 00:16:16.600 The list continues and continues. 00:16:17.399 --> 00:16:18.740 And these things are excellent, 00:16:18.899 --> 00:16:19.960 and they're worthy of pursuits. 00:16:20.080 --> 00:16:22.039 And they make the world we live in, 00:16:22.080 --> 00:16:23.419 the city that we belong, 00:16:24.059 --> 00:16:26.539 a more functional, good, 00:16:26.820 --> 00:16:29.360 and safe and comfortable place to live. 00:16:29.919 --> 00:16:32.919 I don't want to downplay any of that at all. 00:16:33.679 --> 00:16:34.779 These things are excellent, 00:16:34.899 --> 00:16:36.059 and they're worthy of our pursuit. 00:16:36.720 --> 00:16:38.139 But this text tells us 00:16:38.139 --> 00:16:40.519 that the human problem of sin and death 00:16:40.519 --> 00:16:45.000 is far greater than any solution 00:16:45.000 --> 00:16:46.199 that we might come up with. 00:16:46.659 --> 00:16:49.299 It is so widespread and so pervasive 00:16:49.299 --> 00:16:52.000 because it goes all the way back to the beginning, 00:16:52.240 --> 00:16:53.179 to our origin. 00:16:53.679 --> 00:16:55.000 In fact, sin and death, 00:16:55.179 --> 00:16:57.319 it's a key part of our origin story. 00:16:59.319 --> 00:17:00.579 Connected to Adam himself, 00:17:00.939 --> 00:17:01.659 first father. 00:17:01.659 --> 00:17:04.500 Such sin and death, 00:17:05.059 --> 00:17:07.859 it is what marks us as human beings. 00:17:09.000 --> 00:17:09.700 But even so, 00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:15.819 why and how did we sin in and through Adam? 00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:17.519 I don't think I've answered that question yet. 00:17:18.059 --> 00:17:20.240 We get a clue in the latter half, 00:17:20.920 --> 00:17:23.039 especially later on in verses 18. 00:17:23.779 --> 00:17:24.980 But it's a good question 00:17:24.980 --> 00:17:26.700 that can be a very difficult one 00:17:26.700 --> 00:17:28.119 for us Westerners to grasp 00:17:28.119 --> 00:17:31.420 because we have a very heavy emphasis 00:17:31.420 --> 00:17:34.200 on individualism and autonomy. 00:17:35.339 --> 00:17:36.680 Paul tells us that Adam, 00:17:37.319 --> 00:17:40.220 especially at the tail end of verse 14, 00:17:40.759 --> 00:17:42.920 that Adam was a type of the one 00:17:42.920 --> 00:17:43.799 who was to come. 00:17:44.440 --> 00:17:45.399 So what is a type, 00:17:45.460 --> 00:17:46.420 and what is he talking about? 00:17:47.240 --> 00:17:48.159 In the Bible, 00:17:49.159 --> 00:17:51.379 typology is a very important way 00:17:51.379 --> 00:17:52.220 to read the Scriptures. 00:17:52.220 --> 00:17:53.620 It can get overblown 00:17:53.620 --> 00:17:56.000 and you can find types everywhere. 00:17:56.160 --> 00:17:57.600 But a type simply is 00:17:57.600 --> 00:17:59.380 something that, say, happens, 00:17:59.460 --> 00:18:00.819 especially in the Old Testament, 00:18:01.259 --> 00:18:04.920 that is a shadow of something to come. 00:18:05.120 --> 00:18:06.480 It's almost like a trailer 00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:07.420 of something to come. 00:18:07.900 --> 00:18:09.259 If you're, I don't know, 00:18:09.600 --> 00:18:11.059 do people watch trailers anymore? 00:18:11.180 --> 00:18:12.299 It's like there's a trailer 00:18:12.299 --> 00:18:13.000 that comes out, 00:18:13.079 --> 00:18:14.059 it gives you a taste 00:18:14.059 --> 00:18:15.480 of what the movie will be like, 00:18:15.779 --> 00:18:16.900 but you're not going to get 00:18:16.900 --> 00:18:18.420 the full picture of what that movie is 00:18:18.420 --> 00:18:19.680 unless you go to see the movie. 00:18:19.680 --> 00:18:21.539 The type is like that. 00:18:22.220 --> 00:18:24.140 Adam is a type. 00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:26.579 So what is he a type of? 00:18:27.539 --> 00:18:28.660 We'll get into this 00:18:28.660 --> 00:18:30.700 in a bit more depth, 00:18:30.860 --> 00:18:33.940 but Adam is a representative for us. 00:18:34.559 --> 00:18:36.460 Now, the type of one is to come, 00:18:36.500 --> 00:18:37.420 we'll see, is Christ. 00:18:38.519 --> 00:18:41.220 But what Paul is referring to here 00:18:41.220 --> 00:18:43.440 is that Adam is our representative head. 00:18:43.779 --> 00:18:45.200 He is the one who represents us 00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:46.880 in the same way that an MP 00:18:46.880 --> 00:18:48.400 represents you in the commons, 00:18:48.400 --> 00:18:51.980 or if you are a part of a union. 00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:54.759 A union rep represents you 00:18:54.759 --> 00:18:58.360 in a collective bargaining situation. 00:18:58.620 --> 00:19:00.259 Adam is our representative. 00:19:00.519 --> 00:19:01.560 He is our head. 00:19:02.360 --> 00:19:03.960 We are in solidarity with him, 00:19:03.960 --> 00:19:05.060 so what he does 00:19:05.060 --> 00:19:09.680 is imputed or counted to us. 00:19:09.680 --> 00:19:11.620 So, if you guys remember, 00:19:11.980 --> 00:19:13.320 we've looked at this a little bit 00:19:13.320 --> 00:19:14.380 back in chapter 3, 00:19:15.759 --> 00:19:18.060 but here's the problem, 00:19:18.200 --> 00:19:19.740 and this is where the rub is for us. 00:19:20.240 --> 00:19:21.840 The difference with Adam 00:19:21.840 --> 00:19:23.940 is that unlike being represented 00:19:23.940 --> 00:19:26.600 by an MP or by a union rep, 00:19:27.120 --> 00:19:28.240 is that you don't have agency 00:19:28.240 --> 00:19:28.740 in the matter. 00:19:29.180 --> 00:19:30.440 The scriptures are telling you 00:19:30.440 --> 00:19:31.740 that you can't move 00:19:31.740 --> 00:19:33.140 to a different constituency 00:19:33.140 --> 00:19:34.500 and change your MP, 00:19:34.980 --> 00:19:37.140 or vote him or her out 00:19:37.140 --> 00:19:37.900 at the next election. 00:19:38.900 --> 00:19:40.380 You can't vote Adam out 00:19:40.380 --> 00:19:41.400 of your life. 00:19:42.120 --> 00:19:43.820 You can't join another union 00:19:43.820 --> 00:19:44.920 or just quit your job 00:19:44.920 --> 00:19:46.740 and go into a different industry. 00:19:48.259 --> 00:19:49.460 Adam represents you 00:19:49.460 --> 00:19:50.620 whether you like it or not. 00:19:50.620 --> 00:19:54.820 He is your representative head. 00:19:55.840 --> 00:19:57.800 We do not have agency in the matter. 00:19:58.600 --> 00:20:00.060 But even if we could have 00:20:00.060 --> 00:20:01.040 a better representative, 00:20:01.720 --> 00:20:02.780 maybe we could pick 00:20:02.780 --> 00:20:03.700 our own representative. 00:20:04.980 --> 00:20:06.060 Maybe we would be 00:20:06.060 --> 00:20:07.000 our own representative 00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:08.039 who's going to speak for me? 00:20:08.059 --> 00:20:09.000 I'm going to speak for me. 00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:10.599 Do you think you could do 00:20:10.599 --> 00:20:11.640 better than Adam? 00:20:12.099 --> 00:20:13.240 It's a very important question 00:20:13.240 --> 00:20:14.940 because God is the one 00:20:14.940 --> 00:20:15.839 who gave us Adam 00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:17.119 as a representative head. 00:20:17.980 --> 00:20:18.980 He is the one 00:20:18.980 --> 00:20:21.720 who made the best possible 00:20:21.720 --> 00:20:24.000 environment for human beings 00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:24.839 to flourish. 00:20:25.380 --> 00:20:26.740 Adam was without sin. 00:20:26.880 --> 00:20:28.019 He was without blemish. 00:20:28.079 --> 00:20:29.039 He didn't have a history 00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:30.960 that he was trying to hide. 00:20:31.740 --> 00:20:34.119 He wasn't lacking 00:20:34.119 --> 00:20:35.339 in any kind of way. 00:20:35.339 --> 00:20:37.679 He was the perfect human being. 00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:38.919 He was the best of us. 00:20:39.359 --> 00:20:39.539 Okay? 00:20:39.559 --> 00:20:40.599 He was the best of us. 00:20:41.599 --> 00:20:42.759 And if he fell 00:20:42.759 --> 00:20:44.699 as our representative head, 00:20:44.980 --> 00:20:46.079 could we truly find 00:20:46.079 --> 00:20:46.599 a better one? 00:20:47.220 --> 00:20:48.240 It's an interesting question 00:20:48.240 --> 00:20:49.220 to wrestle through 00:20:49.220 --> 00:20:51.599 because if we are frustrated 00:20:51.599 --> 00:20:53.199 with what Paul is saying here 00:20:53.199 --> 00:20:55.259 that we don't have a say 00:20:55.259 --> 00:20:55.699 in the matter, 00:20:55.799 --> 00:20:57.599 that we are damned 00:20:57.599 --> 00:20:59.579 to a life of sin and death 00:20:59.579 --> 00:21:00.759 because of what happened 00:21:00.759 --> 00:21:01.379 with Adam, 00:21:01.380 --> 00:21:02.960 so much so that 00:21:02.960 --> 00:21:04.100 his sin was really 00:21:04.100 --> 00:21:04.860 our sin, 00:21:06.140 --> 00:21:07.840 then the question is, 00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:08.700 can you do better? 00:21:09.200 --> 00:21:10.180 Is there another way? 00:21:11.240 --> 00:21:11.580 You see, 00:21:11.640 --> 00:21:12.800 headship or representation, 00:21:13.420 --> 00:21:15.240 as frustrating as it may be, 00:21:15.280 --> 00:21:16.520 is actually good news. 00:21:17.380 --> 00:21:17.620 Okay? 00:21:17.640 --> 00:21:18.160 It's good news. 00:21:18.240 --> 00:21:19.100 Why is it good news? 00:21:19.660 --> 00:21:21.540 Because God has called Adam 00:21:21.540 --> 00:21:23.180 a type of the one to come. 00:21:23.440 --> 00:21:23.840 Again, 00:21:24.160 --> 00:21:25.600 look with me at verses 14. 00:21:26.700 --> 00:21:28.180 We'll look at all of verse 14 00:21:28.180 --> 00:21:28.940 and then I'll emphasize 00:21:28.940 --> 00:21:29.680 the last part 00:21:29.680 --> 00:21:30.340 that I want to draw 00:21:30.340 --> 00:21:30.920 your attention to. 00:21:31.039 --> 00:21:31.799 Yet death reigned 00:21:31.799 --> 00:21:32.880 from Adam to Moses 00:21:32.880 --> 00:21:34.000 even over those 00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:34.500 whose sinning 00:21:34.500 --> 00:21:35.700 was not like the transgression 00:21:35.700 --> 00:21:36.720 of Adam, 00:21:37.279 --> 00:21:39.080 who was a type 00:21:39.080 --> 00:21:40.080 of the one 00:21:40.080 --> 00:21:41.200 who was to come. 00:21:42.660 --> 00:21:43.920 So the hope is 00:21:43.920 --> 00:21:45.360 that even though Adam 00:21:45.360 --> 00:21:46.480 was the best of us 00:21:46.480 --> 00:21:48.200 and he fell, 00:21:48.660 --> 00:21:49.620 that the type 00:21:49.620 --> 00:21:50.820 that he is 00:21:50.820 --> 00:21:52.240 hopefully is going to point 00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:53.600 to a perfect version, 00:21:54.299 --> 00:21:55.420 a better version. 00:21:56.180 --> 00:21:57.620 And Adam 2.0, 00:21:57.619 --> 00:21:58.479 where all the bugs 00:21:58.479 --> 00:21:59.139 are worked out. 00:21:59.279 --> 00:21:59.479 Okay? 00:21:59.859 --> 00:22:01.979 Someone who is perfect 00:22:01.979 --> 00:22:03.319 and without blemish, 00:22:03.439 --> 00:22:04.559 who does not have 00:22:04.559 --> 00:22:05.619 the ability to sin. 00:22:07.159 --> 00:22:07.339 Okay? 00:22:07.339 --> 00:22:08.199 He's not riddled 00:22:08.199 --> 00:22:10.379 with selfishness 00:22:10.379 --> 00:22:11.339 and pride. 00:22:13.000 --> 00:22:15.779 Paul gives a clue here. 00:22:16.519 --> 00:22:17.679 And then this brings us 00:22:17.679 --> 00:22:18.659 to our second point. 00:22:19.259 --> 00:22:20.579 Verses 15 to 17. 00:22:21.019 --> 00:22:21.879 And we're going to look 00:22:21.879 --> 00:22:23.139 at Christ and grace. 00:22:23.299 --> 00:22:24.439 So how then 00:22:24.439 --> 00:22:26.479 are Adam now, 00:22:26.480 --> 00:22:27.319 Paul's going to move on 00:22:27.319 --> 00:22:28.720 to compare and contrast 00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:30.299 Adam and Jesus, 00:22:30.420 --> 00:22:32.279 looking at how they're contrasted, 00:22:32.319 --> 00:22:33.259 how they are dissimilar. 00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:35.579 Adam's a type 00:22:35.579 --> 00:22:36.339 of the one to come, 00:22:36.460 --> 00:22:37.440 but in so much 00:22:37.440 --> 00:22:38.400 as he is just 00:22:38.400 --> 00:22:39.559 our representative head. 00:22:40.519 --> 00:22:40.799 Okay? 00:22:40.940 --> 00:22:42.079 So Christ also 00:22:42.079 --> 00:22:42.880 is a representative 00:22:42.880 --> 00:22:43.700 of head. 00:22:43.980 --> 00:22:44.759 And Paul is going to say 00:22:44.759 --> 00:22:45.599 in this next section, 00:22:45.880 --> 00:22:46.640 that's where 00:22:46.640 --> 00:22:47.960 the similarities end. 00:22:48.480 --> 00:22:49.220 Almost certainly 00:22:49.220 --> 00:22:50.380 where the similarities end. 00:22:50.900 --> 00:22:51.599 Look with me 00:22:51.599 --> 00:22:53.000 at verses 15. 00:22:53.059 --> 00:22:53.559 And I'll just say 00:22:53.559 --> 00:22:54.279 this really quickly. 00:22:55.240 --> 00:22:56.639 How are Adam 00:22:56.639 --> 00:22:57.899 and Jesus dissimilar? 00:22:58.379 --> 00:22:59.619 There are many ways. 00:23:00.219 --> 00:23:00.539 I think 00:23:00.539 --> 00:23:02.199 the Apostle Paul 00:23:02.199 --> 00:23:03.419 will spell out 00:23:03.419 --> 00:23:04.059 at least three, 00:23:04.159 --> 00:23:04.619 but we'll look 00:23:04.619 --> 00:23:05.240 at two of them. 00:23:05.379 --> 00:23:05.879 The first 00:23:05.879 --> 00:23:07.139 is that 00:23:07.139 --> 00:23:08.379 they're dissimilar 00:23:08.379 --> 00:23:09.319 in the nature 00:23:09.319 --> 00:23:10.139 of their actions. 00:23:10.519 --> 00:23:11.079 Look with me 00:23:11.079 --> 00:23:11.939 at verses 15. 00:23:12.679 --> 00:23:13.019 Yeah, 00:23:13.119 --> 00:23:14.459 just verse 15. 00:23:15.379 --> 00:23:16.419 But the free gift 00:23:16.419 --> 00:23:16.879 is not like 00:23:16.879 --> 00:23:17.639 the trespass. 00:23:18.259 --> 00:23:19.539 For if many died 00:23:19.539 --> 00:23:21.420 through one man's trespass, 00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:22.740 talking about Adam 00:23:22.740 --> 00:23:23.180 in the garden, 00:23:23.539 --> 00:23:24.319 much more 00:23:24.319 --> 00:23:25.359 have the grace 00:23:25.359 --> 00:23:25.899 of God 00:23:25.899 --> 00:23:26.879 and the free gift 00:23:26.879 --> 00:23:27.899 by the grace 00:23:27.899 --> 00:23:29.000 of that one man, 00:23:29.059 --> 00:23:29.659 Jesus Christ, 00:23:29.740 --> 00:23:31.159 abounded for many. 00:23:31.720 --> 00:23:32.119 So, 00:23:32.319 --> 00:23:33.180 we've talked about it. 00:23:33.299 --> 00:23:34.220 The trespass 00:23:34.220 --> 00:23:35.639 of Adam 00:23:35.639 --> 00:23:36.819 that Paul is referring to 00:23:36.819 --> 00:23:37.599 is the rebellion 00:23:37.599 --> 00:23:38.460 and idolatry 00:23:38.460 --> 00:23:39.119 that happens 00:23:39.119 --> 00:23:40.879 in the garden. 00:23:41.420 --> 00:23:41.759 Adam, 00:23:41.899 --> 00:23:43.139 he elevates himself. 00:23:43.799 --> 00:23:43.920 Alright? 00:23:44.180 --> 00:23:45.220 He does not want 00:23:45.220 --> 00:23:45.839 to worship God. 00:23:45.940 --> 00:23:47.139 He wants to be worshipped. 00:23:47.440 --> 00:23:48.019 His will 00:23:48.019 --> 00:23:48.639 is what matters, 00:23:48.640 --> 00:23:50.180 not God's will. 00:23:50.920 --> 00:23:51.060 So, 00:23:51.140 --> 00:23:51.300 Adam, 00:23:51.400 --> 00:23:52.520 as our representative head, 00:23:52.660 --> 00:23:54.520 did what we would have done. 00:23:55.240 --> 00:23:55.620 Therefore, 00:23:55.860 --> 00:23:56.600 as we have seen 00:23:56.600 --> 00:23:57.640 in that previous section, 00:23:58.440 --> 00:23:59.780 death reigns in us 00:23:59.780 --> 00:24:00.840 as it did Adam. 00:24:01.780 --> 00:24:02.740 Compare that to Christ. 00:24:03.820 --> 00:24:04.420 Christ doesn't 00:24:04.420 --> 00:24:05.520 self-promote himself, 00:24:05.680 --> 00:24:06.100 does he? 00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:08.259 Upon the cross, 00:24:08.640 --> 00:24:09.580 what does Jesus do? 00:24:09.680 --> 00:24:11.140 He sacrifices himself. 00:24:11.280 --> 00:24:13.240 It is the perfect example 00:24:13.240 --> 00:24:14.759 of humility. 00:24:15.480 --> 00:24:15.759 And now, 00:24:15.840 --> 00:24:16.580 this one act 00:24:16.580 --> 00:24:17.180 of righteousness 00:24:17.180 --> 00:24:18.519 that Jesus does 00:24:18.519 --> 00:24:19.180 on the cross, 00:24:19.259 --> 00:24:20.000 it becomes 00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:21.060 our righteousness. 00:24:21.340 --> 00:24:21.880 Interestingly, 00:24:22.120 --> 00:24:22.420 why? 00:24:22.759 --> 00:24:23.500 Because now, 00:24:23.620 --> 00:24:25.000 Christ is our head. 00:24:25.480 --> 00:24:26.279 And that is where 00:24:26.279 --> 00:24:26.840 the connection 00:24:26.840 --> 00:24:27.900 between Adam 00:24:27.900 --> 00:24:28.840 and Christ 00:24:28.840 --> 00:24:29.600 begin 00:24:29.600 --> 00:24:31.240 and almost certainly end. 00:24:31.860 --> 00:24:32.660 Just as Adam 00:24:32.660 --> 00:24:34.580 was our representative head, 00:24:34.680 --> 00:24:35.279 now Christ 00:24:35.279 --> 00:24:36.279 is our representative head. 00:24:36.279 --> 00:24:37.619 And because sin 00:24:37.619 --> 00:24:38.639 came to us 00:24:38.639 --> 00:24:39.819 because of our connection 00:24:39.819 --> 00:24:40.700 with Adam, 00:24:40.779 --> 00:24:41.660 now righteousness 00:24:41.660 --> 00:24:42.500 comes to us 00:24:42.500 --> 00:24:43.920 because of our connection 00:24:43.920 --> 00:24:44.480 with Christ. 00:24:45.599 --> 00:24:46.960 Christ is now 00:24:46.960 --> 00:24:48.839 our representative head. 00:24:48.899 --> 00:24:49.579 He is not like 00:24:49.579 --> 00:24:50.359 the old Adam 00:24:50.359 --> 00:24:51.559 who, 00:24:51.740 --> 00:24:52.299 through the act 00:24:52.299 --> 00:24:53.160 of disobedience, 00:24:53.160 --> 00:24:53.819 brought death. 00:24:53.879 --> 00:24:54.259 Instead, 00:24:54.500 --> 00:24:55.139 through his act 00:24:55.139 --> 00:24:56.660 of self-sacrificial giving, 00:24:57.660 --> 00:24:58.240 it says that 00:24:58.240 --> 00:24:59.180 we are given life. 00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:01.559 The nature of the first Adam 00:25:01.559 --> 00:25:02.440 is to bring death. 00:25:02.440 --> 00:25:04.799 The nature of the second Adam, 00:25:05.000 --> 00:25:06.460 the Adam 2.0, 00:25:06.519 --> 00:25:07.000 if you will, 00:25:07.519 --> 00:25:08.600 is to give life. 00:25:09.019 --> 00:25:09.920 One self-exalts, 00:25:10.080 --> 00:25:11.360 the other lays down his life. 00:25:11.460 --> 00:25:12.200 One is prideful, 00:25:12.279 --> 00:25:12.920 one is humble. 00:25:13.820 --> 00:25:15.259 We have two separate, 00:25:15.360 --> 00:25:16.059 separate, 00:25:16.279 --> 00:25:18.059 very different kinds 00:25:18.059 --> 00:25:19.220 of Adams. 00:25:20.299 --> 00:25:21.420 The second difference 00:25:21.420 --> 00:25:23.320 is the immediate result 00:25:23.320 --> 00:25:24.940 and then the ultimate effects 00:25:24.940 --> 00:25:25.759 of their actions. 00:25:26.220 --> 00:25:27.600 Look with me 00:25:27.600 --> 00:25:29.860 at verses 16 and 17. 00:25:29.960 --> 00:25:30.380 By the way, 00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:31.820 if you're a bit of a, 00:25:31.819 --> 00:25:33.220 a grammar nerd 00:25:33.220 --> 00:25:34.599 or you enjoy getting deep, 00:25:34.859 --> 00:25:35.980 going deep dives 00:25:35.980 --> 00:25:37.539 into scripture, 00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:39.480 you'll notice in verses 15 00:25:39.480 --> 00:25:41.980 and then also in verses 16 and 17, 00:25:42.359 --> 00:25:43.980 Paul uses a not like 00:25:43.980 --> 00:25:45.759 much more language 00:25:45.759 --> 00:25:47.139 to compare and contrast 00:25:47.139 --> 00:25:48.859 Jesus and Adam. 00:25:48.919 --> 00:25:49.619 And he does it here 00:25:49.619 --> 00:25:50.720 for the second difference. 00:25:51.200 --> 00:25:51.939 This is what he says, 00:25:52.059 --> 00:25:52.579 verse 16. 00:25:53.539 --> 00:25:54.819 And the free gift is 00:25:54.819 --> 00:25:56.559 not like the result 00:25:56.559 --> 00:25:57.740 of that one man's sin. 00:25:58.419 --> 00:25:59.599 For the judgment following 00:25:59.599 --> 00:26:00.599 one trespass 00:26:00.599 --> 00:26:01.679 brought condemnation 00:26:01.680 --> 00:26:03.100 but the free gift 00:26:03.100 --> 00:26:05.000 follows many trespasses. 00:26:05.460 --> 00:26:06.759 Following many trespasses 00:26:06.759 --> 00:26:07.620 brought justification. 00:26:08.200 --> 00:26:08.620 Verse 17, 00:26:08.740 --> 00:26:09.860 for if because of 00:26:09.860 --> 00:26:10.900 one man's trespass 00:26:10.900 --> 00:26:12.200 death reigned 00:26:12.200 --> 00:26:13.039 through that one man, 00:26:13.820 --> 00:26:15.259 bit of a separation here, 00:26:15.620 --> 00:26:16.539 much more 00:26:16.539 --> 00:26:18.440 will those who receive 00:26:18.440 --> 00:26:19.620 the abundance of grace 00:26:19.620 --> 00:26:20.340 and the free gift 00:26:20.340 --> 00:26:20.980 of righteousness 00:26:20.980 --> 00:26:23.360 reign in life 00:26:23.360 --> 00:26:24.400 through the one man, 00:26:24.480 --> 00:26:25.100 Jesus Christ. 00:26:25.400 --> 00:26:25.620 Guys, 00:26:25.720 --> 00:26:27.060 that is a thick sentence. 00:26:27.299 --> 00:26:27.980 It's a tough one 00:26:27.980 --> 00:26:29.160 to get our minds around. 00:26:30.019 --> 00:26:31.660 But here's an attempt. 00:26:32.180 --> 00:26:32.920 Adam's sin brought 00:26:32.920 --> 00:26:33.900 death and condemnation. 00:26:34.380 --> 00:26:35.480 That was the immediate 00:26:35.480 --> 00:26:37.720 results of his sin. 00:26:39.340 --> 00:26:40.800 Adam sins in the garden. 00:26:41.560 --> 00:26:42.580 He is rightly judged 00:26:42.580 --> 00:26:43.080 and condemned 00:26:43.080 --> 00:26:43.980 and he is banished 00:26:43.980 --> 00:26:44.900 from the presence of God. 00:26:44.960 --> 00:26:45.720 That's what happens 00:26:45.720 --> 00:26:46.600 in the garden. 00:26:48.180 --> 00:26:49.480 Adam and Eve, 00:26:49.759 --> 00:26:50.940 they were barred 00:26:50.940 --> 00:26:51.920 from entering the garden, 00:26:52.540 --> 00:26:53.720 to re-enter the garden. 00:26:54.300 --> 00:26:54.980 Because they were 00:26:54.980 --> 00:26:55.480 disconnected 00:26:55.480 --> 00:26:56.779 from the source of life, 00:26:56.779 --> 00:26:58.059 they became cut roses. 00:26:58.339 --> 00:26:59.960 They were beautiful. 00:27:00.139 --> 00:27:01.279 Mankind is beautiful, 00:27:01.519 --> 00:27:02.500 capable of much, 00:27:02.639 --> 00:27:03.619 but disconnected 00:27:03.619 --> 00:27:05.079 from the source of life. 00:27:05.339 --> 00:27:06.379 We bloom once, 00:27:06.660 --> 00:27:07.779 we do not bloom again. 00:27:09.359 --> 00:27:10.399 But what of Christ? 00:27:11.119 --> 00:27:11.879 On the cross, 00:27:12.379 --> 00:27:13.180 Christ Jesus, 00:27:13.339 --> 00:27:14.319 he justifies us. 00:27:14.379 --> 00:27:15.139 We have spent 00:27:15.139 --> 00:27:16.319 a fair amount of time 00:27:16.319 --> 00:27:17.359 examining this 00:27:17.359 --> 00:27:18.839 in Romans thus far. 00:27:19.519 --> 00:27:20.839 But in essence, 00:27:20.940 --> 00:27:22.339 it means that before God, 00:27:22.440 --> 00:27:23.660 we are made right. 00:27:23.660 --> 00:27:26.300 And given the very standing 00:27:26.300 --> 00:27:27.759 and stature of Christ himself, 00:27:28.560 --> 00:27:29.500 even more than that, 00:27:29.540 --> 00:27:30.680 the ultimate effects 00:27:30.680 --> 00:27:33.000 of Christ's death 00:27:33.000 --> 00:27:33.420 on the cross 00:27:33.420 --> 00:27:33.960 is that death 00:27:33.960 --> 00:27:35.040 no longer reigns, 00:27:35.100 --> 00:27:36.060 but life does. 00:27:37.279 --> 00:27:38.980 It's like we are reconnected 00:27:38.980 --> 00:27:40.340 to the source of life 00:27:40.340 --> 00:27:42.259 in some miraculous way, 00:27:42.360 --> 00:27:45.100 grafted into a living tree, 00:27:45.340 --> 00:27:45.980 or if we're going to use 00:27:45.980 --> 00:27:46.720 the rose analogy, 00:27:46.960 --> 00:27:48.040 a living bush. 00:27:49.340 --> 00:27:50.460 Even more than that, 00:27:50.460 --> 00:27:52.220 the ultimate effect 00:27:52.220 --> 00:27:52.779 is that, 00:27:53.279 --> 00:27:54.480 is not just that 00:27:54.480 --> 00:27:56.980 life reigns over death, 00:27:57.039 --> 00:27:58.220 but it says actually 00:27:58.220 --> 00:28:00.100 that we will reign 00:28:00.100 --> 00:28:01.700 in life through Christ. 00:28:03.220 --> 00:28:04.279 This is where 00:28:04.279 --> 00:28:05.840 it's unbelievably dense, 00:28:05.980 --> 00:28:07.100 where Paul's getting into 00:28:07.100 --> 00:28:08.740 an absolute 00:28:08.740 --> 00:28:11.799 theological treatise here. 00:28:11.900 --> 00:28:13.640 Really what Paul is saying here 00:28:13.640 --> 00:28:14.440 is that because, 00:28:14.920 --> 00:28:15.140 again, 00:28:15.240 --> 00:28:16.039 thinking of headship, 00:28:16.200 --> 00:28:16.759 thinking about 00:28:16.759 --> 00:28:17.759 Christ being our 00:28:17.759 --> 00:28:18.519 representative head, 00:28:18.519 --> 00:28:20.160 what happens to Christ 00:28:20.160 --> 00:28:21.139 as our head 00:28:21.139 --> 00:28:22.639 is what happens with us, 00:28:22.740 --> 00:28:23.879 and what happens with Christ. 00:28:24.639 --> 00:28:26.339 He rises from the grave, 00:28:26.819 --> 00:28:28.079 he ascends into heaven, 00:28:28.460 --> 00:28:29.259 and is seated 00:28:29.259 --> 00:28:29.960 at the right hand 00:28:29.960 --> 00:28:30.799 of God himself 00:28:30.799 --> 00:28:32.000 to rule and reign 00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:32.839 over this world. 00:28:33.740 --> 00:28:34.460 Paul is saying 00:28:34.460 --> 00:28:35.859 that we get to participate 00:28:35.859 --> 00:28:36.639 in that 00:28:36.639 --> 00:28:37.720 in some kind of way. 00:28:38.379 --> 00:28:39.379 We are not Christ, 00:28:39.539 --> 00:28:40.920 we will never be Christ, 00:28:41.639 --> 00:28:43.180 but we are so connected 00:28:43.180 --> 00:28:43.519 with him. 00:28:43.599 --> 00:28:44.359 He is our head, 00:28:44.599 --> 00:28:45.339 we are the body, 00:28:45.460 --> 00:28:46.400 he represents us, 00:28:46.680 --> 00:28:47.980 he is Adam 2.0, 00:28:48.759 --> 00:28:49.420 and Paul is saying 00:28:49.420 --> 00:28:50.079 in this text 00:28:50.079 --> 00:28:51.420 that we will reign in life. 00:28:52.440 --> 00:28:53.299 What that looks like, 00:28:53.380 --> 00:28:55.920 how that will ultimately unfurl, 00:28:56.319 --> 00:28:57.819 it's hard to understand 00:28:57.819 --> 00:28:58.579 and comprehend 00:28:58.579 --> 00:28:59.339 in its fullness, 00:28:59.539 --> 00:29:01.180 but what it ultimately says 00:29:01.180 --> 00:29:02.019 is that death 00:29:02.019 --> 00:29:03.779 no longer has a final word. 00:29:04.200 --> 00:29:05.240 Life will always triumph, 00:29:05.460 --> 00:29:05.700 death, 00:29:05.960 --> 00:29:06.220 death, 00:29:06.860 --> 00:29:07.779 and that the grave 00:29:07.779 --> 00:29:08.920 is truly robbed 00:29:08.920 --> 00:29:09.599 of its power, 00:29:10.180 --> 00:29:10.720 truly robbed 00:29:10.720 --> 00:29:11.259 of its power. 00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:12.819 Our destiny 00:29:12.819 --> 00:29:14.099 is the same as Christ's, 00:29:15.360 --> 00:29:16.480 to be in the presence 00:29:16.480 --> 00:29:17.240 of God forever. 00:29:17.240 --> 00:29:18.160 You notice how 00:29:18.160 --> 00:29:19.620 we're starting to see 00:29:19.620 --> 00:29:20.680 how Jesus is 00:29:20.680 --> 00:29:22.259 the better Adam? 00:29:22.819 --> 00:29:24.920 Adam being completely removed 00:29:24.920 --> 00:29:26.259 from the presence of God, 00:29:26.319 --> 00:29:27.759 never to be allowed back in, 00:29:27.779 --> 00:29:28.640 and what does Christ do? 00:29:29.660 --> 00:29:31.880 He is in the presence of God, 00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:33.180 he is God himself, 00:29:33.500 --> 00:29:34.859 and he brings us with him. 00:29:35.339 --> 00:29:36.819 He is our representative head, 00:29:37.539 --> 00:29:38.519 so where he goes, 00:29:38.900 --> 00:29:40.319 we go also. 00:29:40.680 --> 00:29:41.599 One additional point 00:29:41.599 --> 00:29:42.400 before we get to 00:29:42.400 --> 00:29:43.400 our third 00:29:43.400 --> 00:29:44.980 and final point, 00:29:44.980 --> 00:29:46.220 and this is key, 00:29:46.539 --> 00:29:47.259 both for being under 00:29:47.259 --> 00:29:48.759 this new representative head 00:29:48.759 --> 00:29:50.360 and for the gospel itself. 00:29:51.120 --> 00:29:53.120 Notice in verses 15 to 17 00:29:53.120 --> 00:29:55.360 how many times 00:29:55.360 --> 00:29:56.620 Paul uses the term 00:29:56.620 --> 00:29:57.579 free gift, 00:29:57.799 --> 00:29:58.039 okay? 00:29:58.539 --> 00:30:00.079 I'll just read a bit, 00:30:00.180 --> 00:30:01.680 but the free gift 00:30:01.680 --> 00:30:02.360 is not like 00:30:02.360 --> 00:30:04.160 the trespass. 00:30:04.539 --> 00:30:05.519 The free gift 00:30:05.519 --> 00:30:06.120 by the grace 00:30:06.120 --> 00:30:06.720 of that one 00:30:06.720 --> 00:30:07.759 Jesus Christ, 00:30:08.019 --> 00:30:08.759 the free gift 00:30:08.759 --> 00:30:09.700 is not like the result 00:30:09.700 --> 00:30:11.500 of that one man's sin. 00:30:11.500 --> 00:30:12.460 The free gift 00:30:12.460 --> 00:30:14.000 following many trespasses 00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:15.099 and so on and so forth. 00:30:15.180 --> 00:30:16.440 Five times in three verses 00:30:16.440 --> 00:30:17.799 he uses the term 00:30:17.799 --> 00:30:18.900 free gift. 00:30:19.240 --> 00:30:20.420 And then three more times 00:30:20.420 --> 00:30:21.660 he speaks of the grace 00:30:21.660 --> 00:30:22.700 of God. 00:30:23.640 --> 00:30:25.140 So why the emphasis 00:30:25.140 --> 00:30:27.220 on gift and grace? 00:30:27.559 --> 00:30:29.500 And then why even mention 00:30:29.500 --> 00:30:31.160 that the gift is free? 00:30:31.240 --> 00:30:32.740 Is that not a kind of redundancy? 00:30:32.920 --> 00:30:33.099 I mean, 00:30:34.759 --> 00:30:35.420 it's a, 00:30:35.720 --> 00:30:36.559 people do this, 00:30:36.619 --> 00:30:37.599 I'm sure I've done this. 00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:39.519 If you give a gift with, 00:30:39.519 --> 00:30:41.339 we can give gifts 00:30:41.339 --> 00:30:42.420 with strings attached. 00:30:42.539 --> 00:30:43.079 They're not really 00:30:43.079 --> 00:30:43.819 great gifts, 00:30:43.960 --> 00:30:44.500 if that's the case. 00:30:44.519 --> 00:30:45.720 It takes the joy out of it. 00:30:46.099 --> 00:30:47.740 But in its essence, 00:30:47.879 --> 00:30:49.019 a gift is free, 00:30:49.259 --> 00:30:49.500 right? 00:30:49.940 --> 00:30:51.059 You're giving somebody 00:30:51.059 --> 00:30:51.839 something that they 00:30:51.839 --> 00:30:52.579 didn't pay for 00:30:52.579 --> 00:30:54.079 because you want to, 00:30:54.180 --> 00:30:55.039 because it's a joy 00:30:55.039 --> 00:30:55.700 to do so. 00:30:56.039 --> 00:30:56.859 So it seems a bit 00:30:56.859 --> 00:30:57.740 redundant for Paul 00:30:57.740 --> 00:30:59.319 to say the free gift. 00:31:00.039 --> 00:31:01.660 Why is he emphasizing 00:31:01.660 --> 00:31:03.559 grace and gift 00:31:03.559 --> 00:31:04.240 in this way? 00:31:04.359 --> 00:31:05.099 I think it goes back 00:31:05.099 --> 00:31:06.079 to the ultimate effect 00:31:06.079 --> 00:31:06.599 of Christ, 00:31:07.039 --> 00:31:07.359 namely, 00:31:07.779 --> 00:31:08.940 that we will reign 00:31:08.940 --> 00:31:09.359 with him. 00:31:09.519 --> 00:31:10.359 You see, 00:31:10.859 --> 00:31:11.579 if we were to have 00:31:11.579 --> 00:31:12.000 access, 00:31:12.460 --> 00:31:12.980 sorry, 00:31:13.099 --> 00:31:13.519 if we were to have 00:31:13.519 --> 00:31:14.480 success and victory 00:31:14.480 --> 00:31:15.099 in anything, 00:31:16.099 --> 00:31:16.879 as again, 00:31:17.000 --> 00:31:17.460 broken, 00:31:17.680 --> 00:31:18.720 sinful human beings, 00:31:18.779 --> 00:31:19.579 we want to take credit 00:31:19.579 --> 00:31:20.000 for it, 00:31:20.539 --> 00:31:21.759 whether in small victories 00:31:21.759 --> 00:31:23.619 or even in eternal life. 00:31:24.379 --> 00:31:25.200 I wonder if this is 00:31:25.200 --> 00:31:26.160 especially the case 00:31:26.160 --> 00:31:27.220 for some of us 00:31:27.220 --> 00:31:27.900 here this morning. 00:31:28.519 --> 00:31:29.420 You've studied, 00:31:29.779 --> 00:31:30.519 you've saved, 00:31:30.740 --> 00:31:31.940 you've made right decisions, 00:31:32.700 --> 00:31:34.819 you have taken risks, 00:31:34.879 --> 00:31:36.400 but they're calculated risks. 00:31:37.420 --> 00:31:38.480 You've exercised, 00:31:38.480 --> 00:31:39.259 you've eaten well, 00:31:40.039 --> 00:31:40.879 you've raised children 00:31:40.879 --> 00:31:41.859 with good values, 00:31:41.859 --> 00:31:42.599 or you've been 00:31:42.599 --> 00:31:45.140 a fantastic volunteer, 00:31:45.140 --> 00:31:46.799 you've done all the things 00:31:46.799 --> 00:31:47.660 right, 00:31:47.799 --> 00:31:48.539 and these are all 00:31:48.539 --> 00:31:50.079 wonderful things, 00:31:50.240 --> 00:31:52.359 but if any of these things 00:31:52.359 --> 00:31:54.759 are done in such a way 00:31:54.759 --> 00:31:56.920 as to garner 00:31:56.920 --> 00:31:58.839 eternal life, 00:31:58.940 --> 00:32:01.619 or garner salvation, 00:32:01.839 --> 00:32:03.920 or garner reputational 00:32:03.920 --> 00:32:05.240 bliss, 00:32:05.319 --> 00:32:06.019 so to speak, 00:32:06.019 --> 00:32:07.859 then what we are doing 00:32:07.859 --> 00:32:09.079 ultimately is trying 00:32:09.079 --> 00:32:10.579 to buy something 00:32:10.579 --> 00:32:11.859 that is not for sale 00:32:11.859 --> 00:32:13.559 that God only gives 00:32:13.559 --> 00:32:14.579 as a gift. 00:32:15.059 --> 00:32:16.059 And we take something 00:32:16.059 --> 00:32:16.740 that is good 00:32:16.740 --> 00:32:17.500 and wonderful 00:32:17.500 --> 00:32:18.379 that is salvation, 00:32:18.839 --> 00:32:19.319 and we say, 00:32:19.420 --> 00:32:20.519 I want a part to play 00:32:20.519 --> 00:32:21.180 in earning this. 00:32:21.180 --> 00:32:24.019 I do not like the idea 00:32:24.019 --> 00:32:25.519 of being gifted something 00:32:25.519 --> 00:32:27.360 without taking some kind 00:32:27.360 --> 00:32:28.240 of credit for it, 00:32:28.660 --> 00:32:30.279 but when we do that, 00:32:30.799 --> 00:32:32.539 it becomes utterly useless, 00:32:32.960 --> 00:32:34.279 because the gift 00:32:34.279 --> 00:32:35.539 no longer is a gift. 00:32:36.240 --> 00:32:37.360 We are trying to earn 00:32:37.360 --> 00:32:38.120 our salvation 00:32:38.120 --> 00:32:39.840 by our own works, 00:32:40.560 --> 00:32:41.039 but friends, 00:32:41.120 --> 00:32:42.200 you need the grace of God, 00:32:42.200 --> 00:32:43.840 and that grace of God 00:32:43.840 --> 00:32:44.660 is a free gift, 00:32:44.759 --> 00:32:45.400 and Paul is saying, 00:32:45.480 --> 00:32:45.720 listen, 00:32:46.319 --> 00:32:46.920 if you make it 00:32:46.920 --> 00:32:47.840 into anything else, 00:32:48.140 --> 00:32:50.640 it loses all its power, 00:32:51.180 --> 00:32:51.860 and it can be 00:32:51.860 --> 00:32:52.740 a very difficult thing 00:32:52.740 --> 00:32:53.840 for us to accept, 00:32:54.600 --> 00:32:55.860 especially if we are 00:32:55.860 --> 00:32:57.580 of the variety 00:32:57.580 --> 00:32:58.140 of people 00:32:58.140 --> 00:32:58.920 that like to be 00:32:58.920 --> 00:33:00.180 somewhat self-made, 00:33:01.180 --> 00:33:02.860 like to work hard 00:33:02.860 --> 00:33:03.720 and do good. 00:33:04.420 --> 00:33:05.360 It's a very hard thing 00:33:05.360 --> 00:33:06.600 to just receive something 00:33:06.600 --> 00:33:10.140 that is so unbelievably great, 00:33:10.140 --> 00:33:11.840 but as hard as that 00:33:11.840 --> 00:33:12.560 may be to accept, 00:33:12.680 --> 00:33:13.660 this is really 00:33:13.660 --> 00:33:14.340 the only thing 00:33:14.340 --> 00:33:15.140 that brings full 00:33:15.140 --> 00:33:16.020 and lasting freedom. 00:33:16.900 --> 00:33:17.700 For our eternal life 00:33:17.700 --> 00:33:19.120 is not contingent 00:33:19.120 --> 00:33:20.560 on our best efforts, 00:33:20.640 --> 00:33:21.700 but on Christ's 00:33:21.700 --> 00:33:22.700 everlasting gift. 00:33:23.200 --> 00:33:23.960 Christ is truly 00:33:23.960 --> 00:33:24.720 the greater Adam, 00:33:24.759 --> 00:33:25.400 and this leads us 00:33:25.400 --> 00:33:25.960 into our third 00:33:25.960 --> 00:33:26.680 and final point, 00:33:26.980 --> 00:33:28.140 starting in verse 18, 00:33:28.200 --> 00:33:28.580 and I'll read 00:33:28.580 --> 00:33:30.140 to the end of the chapter. 00:33:30.820 --> 00:33:31.120 Therefore, 00:33:31.280 --> 00:33:32.160 as one trespass 00:33:32.160 --> 00:33:33.240 led to condemnation 00:33:33.240 --> 00:33:33.960 for all men, 00:33:34.680 --> 00:33:35.500 so one act 00:33:35.500 --> 00:33:36.080 of righteousness 00:33:36.080 --> 00:33:37.360 leads to justification 00:33:37.360 --> 00:33:38.460 in life for all men. 00:33:39.120 --> 00:33:39.960 For as by the 00:33:39.960 --> 00:33:40.720 one man, 00:33:40.860 --> 00:33:41.380 that again, 00:33:41.460 --> 00:33:41.759 Adam, 00:33:42.579 --> 00:33:43.720 for as by the 00:33:43.720 --> 00:33:45.000 one man's disobedience 00:33:45.000 --> 00:33:46.100 the many were made sinners, 00:33:46.279 --> 00:33:47.539 so by the one man's 00:33:47.539 --> 00:33:48.600 obedience the many 00:33:48.600 --> 00:33:50.000 will be made righteous. 00:33:50.840 --> 00:33:51.840 Now the law came in 00:33:51.840 --> 00:33:53.180 to increase the trespass, 00:33:53.279 --> 00:33:54.400 but where sin is increased, 00:33:55.039 --> 00:33:55.840 grace abounded 00:33:55.840 --> 00:33:56.539 all the more, 00:33:56.620 --> 00:33:58.100 so that as sin 00:33:58.100 --> 00:33:59.160 reigned in death, 00:33:59.299 --> 00:34:00.900 grace also might reign 00:34:00.900 --> 00:34:01.860 through righteousness 00:34:01.860 --> 00:34:03.920 leading to eternal life 00:34:03.920 --> 00:34:04.980 through Jesus Christ 00:34:04.980 --> 00:34:05.559 our Lord. 00:34:06.120 --> 00:34:06.840 Paul returns 00:34:06.840 --> 00:34:07.779 to his 00:34:07.779 --> 00:34:09.400 half-completed sentence 00:34:09.400 --> 00:34:10.619 in verse 12. 00:34:11.099 --> 00:34:11.559 He completes 00:34:11.559 --> 00:34:12.079 the comparison 00:34:12.079 --> 00:34:12.900 between Adam 00:34:12.900 --> 00:34:13.340 and Christ, 00:34:13.420 --> 00:34:13.960 and we can see 00:34:13.960 --> 00:34:15.500 this in how 00:34:15.500 --> 00:34:16.820 Paul structures 00:34:16.820 --> 00:34:17.900 this paragraph 00:34:17.900 --> 00:34:19.539 with as so. 00:34:19.980 --> 00:34:20.559 That's how he's going 00:34:20.559 --> 00:34:22.139 to compare and contrast it, 00:34:22.180 --> 00:34:23.079 as so. 00:34:23.200 --> 00:34:23.820 Verses 12, 00:34:23.940 --> 00:34:24.320 18, 00:34:24.800 --> 00:34:25.320 19, 00:34:25.400 --> 00:34:25.940 and 21. 00:34:27.680 --> 00:34:28.519 And in doing so, 00:34:28.559 --> 00:34:29.160 he's going to highlight 00:34:29.160 --> 00:34:30.619 the supremacy of Christ 00:34:30.619 --> 00:34:31.740 and what he has done 00:34:31.740 --> 00:34:33.099 over and above Adam. 00:34:33.099 --> 00:34:36.099 How great is the grace 00:34:36.099 --> 00:34:36.539 of God? 00:34:37.019 --> 00:34:37.900 Paul asks, 00:34:38.460 --> 00:34:39.839 so great that the one 00:34:39.839 --> 00:34:40.940 act of righteousness 00:34:40.940 --> 00:34:41.920 by Christ 00:34:41.920 --> 00:34:42.940 renders the power 00:34:42.940 --> 00:34:43.699 and consequences 00:34:43.699 --> 00:34:44.559 of sin and death 00:34:44.559 --> 00:34:45.000 powerless. 00:34:45.799 --> 00:34:46.839 One act 00:34:46.839 --> 00:34:49.179 and sin 00:34:49.179 --> 00:34:49.819 is completely 00:34:49.819 --> 00:34:50.739 emptied of power. 00:34:51.360 --> 00:34:51.719 Christ, 00:34:52.159 --> 00:34:53.119 upon the cross, 00:34:53.319 --> 00:34:53.960 does the most 00:34:53.960 --> 00:34:54.759 righteous thing 00:34:54.759 --> 00:34:55.420 and it says 00:34:55.420 --> 00:34:56.259 that he redeems 00:34:56.259 --> 00:34:56.679 the world. 00:34:57.599 --> 00:34:58.539 But here's an interesting 00:34:58.539 --> 00:34:58.839 thing, 00:34:58.920 --> 00:34:59.779 because if you go back 00:34:59.780 --> 00:35:01.480 to the second half 00:35:01.480 --> 00:35:02.360 of verse 18, 00:35:02.640 --> 00:35:03.640 I'll read the full thing. 00:35:04.140 --> 00:35:04.700 This is what it says, 00:35:04.780 --> 00:35:05.000 therefore, 00:35:05.160 --> 00:35:06.000 as one trespass 00:35:06.000 --> 00:35:06.920 led to condemnation 00:35:06.920 --> 00:35:07.840 for all men, 00:35:08.220 --> 00:35:09.160 so one act 00:35:09.160 --> 00:35:09.620 of righteousness 00:35:09.620 --> 00:35:10.720 leads to justification 00:35:10.720 --> 00:35:12.360 in life for all men. 00:35:13.280 --> 00:35:13.860 The question, 00:35:14.060 --> 00:35:14.700 I think, 00:35:14.860 --> 00:35:15.740 is an important question 00:35:15.740 --> 00:35:16.080 to ask. 00:35:16.180 --> 00:35:16.900 Is Paul saying 00:35:16.900 --> 00:35:17.820 that on the cross, 00:35:17.960 --> 00:35:19.360 Jesus saves all people? 00:35:20.120 --> 00:35:21.600 Is there a universalism 00:35:21.600 --> 00:35:22.480 where regardless 00:35:22.480 --> 00:35:24.980 of how 00:35:24.980 --> 00:35:29.180 we respond 00:35:29.179 --> 00:35:29.919 to Christ, 00:35:30.779 --> 00:35:32.039 because we are 00:35:32.039 --> 00:35:33.779 represented 00:35:33.779 --> 00:35:35.299 by him, 00:35:36.199 --> 00:35:36.480 okay, 00:35:37.119 --> 00:35:37.940 are we then 00:35:37.940 --> 00:35:38.899 saved by him? 00:35:39.579 --> 00:35:41.079 Is Paul saying 00:35:41.079 --> 00:35:41.839 that all 00:35:41.839 --> 00:35:42.940 really means all 00:35:42.940 --> 00:35:43.879 in verse 18? 00:35:44.980 --> 00:35:45.460 Listen, 00:35:45.960 --> 00:35:46.639 if we haven't 00:35:46.639 --> 00:35:47.279 gotten in the weeds 00:35:47.279 --> 00:35:48.259 enough in this 00:35:48.259 --> 00:35:49.219 chapter, 00:35:49.500 --> 00:35:50.279 we're going to go 00:35:50.279 --> 00:35:51.000 a bit deeper in. 00:35:52.319 --> 00:35:52.839 Listen, 00:35:52.960 --> 00:35:53.719 this next section, 00:35:53.919 --> 00:35:54.399 I've got to ask 00:35:54.399 --> 00:35:55.139 for a bit of grace. 00:35:55.839 --> 00:35:56.440 I understand 00:35:56.440 --> 00:35:57.559 enough 00:35:57.559 --> 00:35:59.119 to be a bit dangerous. 00:35:59.179 --> 00:36:00.099 But what I don't 00:36:00.099 --> 00:36:00.679 understand 00:36:00.679 --> 00:36:01.940 can be 00:36:01.940 --> 00:36:03.359 a bit dangerous 00:36:03.359 --> 00:36:03.839 as well. 00:36:05.639 --> 00:36:06.399 When it comes 00:36:06.399 --> 00:36:06.879 to the biblical 00:36:06.879 --> 00:36:07.539 understanding 00:36:07.539 --> 00:36:08.299 of salvation, 00:36:08.879 --> 00:36:09.779 some theologians 00:36:09.779 --> 00:36:10.619 and very excellent 00:36:10.619 --> 00:36:11.699 ones subscribe 00:36:11.699 --> 00:36:13.059 to an idea 00:36:13.059 --> 00:36:13.579 of double 00:36:13.579 --> 00:36:14.440 predestination. 00:36:14.659 --> 00:36:15.079 The idea 00:36:15.079 --> 00:36:16.000 that God 00:36:16.000 --> 00:36:18.000 predestines 00:36:18.000 --> 00:36:18.559 some 00:36:18.559 --> 00:36:19.579 to election 00:36:19.579 --> 00:36:20.279 and salvation, 00:36:20.539 --> 00:36:21.099 but then 00:36:21.099 --> 00:36:23.179 elects some 00:36:23.179 --> 00:36:24.440 for hell 00:36:24.440 --> 00:36:25.940 and damnation. 00:36:25.940 --> 00:36:26.440 salvation. 00:36:27.059 --> 00:36:27.840 And as a result, 00:36:28.220 --> 00:36:29.099 Christ's sacrifice 00:36:29.099 --> 00:36:30.159 on the cross 00:36:30.159 --> 00:36:31.880 is only for the 00:36:31.880 --> 00:36:32.720 elect and not 00:36:32.720 --> 00:36:33.400 for the world. 00:36:34.519 --> 00:36:35.039 However, 00:36:35.179 --> 00:36:35.619 a passage 00:36:35.619 --> 00:36:36.920 like this, 00:36:36.980 --> 00:36:37.500 what we have 00:36:37.500 --> 00:36:39.000 in chapter 15, 00:36:39.159 --> 00:36:39.599 18, 00:36:39.900 --> 00:36:40.900 and on to the 00:36:40.900 --> 00:36:41.539 end of the chapter, 00:36:42.119 --> 00:36:43.039 a passage like 00:36:43.039 --> 00:36:43.619 this makes 00:36:43.619 --> 00:36:44.260 an audacious 00:36:44.260 --> 00:36:44.659 claim 00:36:44.659 --> 00:36:46.740 that God 00:36:46.740 --> 00:36:47.480 in the one 00:36:47.480 --> 00:36:48.440 act of 00:36:48.440 --> 00:36:49.000 Christ's 00:36:49.000 --> 00:36:49.579 sacrificial 00:36:49.579 --> 00:36:50.220 death on the 00:36:50.220 --> 00:36:50.519 cross 00:36:50.519 --> 00:36:52.200 truly died 00:36:52.200 --> 00:36:53.300 to atone 00:36:53.300 --> 00:36:54.000 for all the 00:36:54.000 --> 00:36:54.380 sins 00:36:54.380 --> 00:36:55.360 for all 00:36:55.360 --> 00:36:55.740 time. 00:36:56.900 --> 00:36:57.440 Therefore, 00:36:57.579 --> 00:36:58.079 Christ's death 00:36:58.079 --> 00:36:58.860 is universal 00:36:58.860 --> 00:36:59.440 in its 00:36:59.440 --> 00:36:59.940 sufficiency 00:36:59.940 --> 00:37:00.680 and scope. 00:37:01.099 --> 00:37:01.579 Universal 00:37:01.579 --> 00:37:02.579 in its 00:37:02.579 --> 00:37:03.039 sufficiency 00:37:03.039 --> 00:37:03.660 and scope. 00:37:04.280 --> 00:37:04.420 Okay? 00:37:05.500 --> 00:37:06.059 When we 00:37:06.059 --> 00:37:06.780 consider how 00:37:06.780 --> 00:37:07.240 the one 00:37:07.240 --> 00:37:07.780 act of 00:37:07.780 --> 00:37:08.200 Adam's 00:37:08.200 --> 00:37:08.619 rebellion 00:37:08.619 --> 00:37:09.760 has permeated 00:37:09.760 --> 00:37:10.320 all of 00:37:10.320 --> 00:37:10.940 humanity, 00:37:11.700 --> 00:37:11.860 okay, 00:37:12.200 --> 00:37:12.780 Adam's 00:37:12.780 --> 00:37:13.240 rebellion 00:37:13.240 --> 00:37:14.240 is also, 00:37:14.500 --> 00:37:14.920 in a sense, 00:37:15.079 --> 00:37:15.740 universal in 00:37:15.740 --> 00:37:16.000 scope, 00:37:16.599 --> 00:37:17.240 it stands 00:37:17.240 --> 00:37:17.780 to reason 00:37:17.780 --> 00:37:18.260 that the 00:37:18.260 --> 00:37:18.900 one act 00:37:18.900 --> 00:37:19.539 of Christ, 00:37:19.860 --> 00:37:20.360 the second 00:37:20.360 --> 00:37:20.660 Adam, 00:37:20.760 --> 00:37:21.400 should likewise 00:37:21.400 --> 00:37:22.760 carry this 00:37:22.760 --> 00:37:24.300 universality 00:37:24.300 --> 00:37:26.080 for all 00:37:26.080 --> 00:37:26.340 people. 00:37:27.780 --> 00:37:28.780 The redemption 00:37:28.780 --> 00:37:29.940 must fit 00:37:29.940 --> 00:37:30.380 the sin. 00:37:31.600 --> 00:37:31.960 And I 00:37:31.960 --> 00:37:32.340 think I 00:37:32.340 --> 00:37:32.700 would be a 00:37:32.700 --> 00:37:33.320 heretic if I 00:37:33.320 --> 00:37:33.860 paused there, 00:37:34.200 --> 00:37:34.900 if I ended 00:37:34.900 --> 00:37:35.200 there. 00:37:35.260 --> 00:37:36.200 Because we 00:37:36.200 --> 00:37:36.620 need to be 00:37:36.620 --> 00:37:37.760 careful with 00:37:37.760 --> 00:37:38.580 reading what 00:37:38.580 --> 00:37:39.380 Paul says and 00:37:39.380 --> 00:37:39.680 what he 00:37:39.680 --> 00:37:40.140 doesn't say. 00:37:40.240 --> 00:37:40.539 I think 00:37:40.539 --> 00:37:40.900 Paul, 00:37:41.800 --> 00:37:42.440 in his 00:37:42.440 --> 00:37:44.800 excitement, 00:37:45.640 --> 00:37:45.940 and I 00:37:45.940 --> 00:37:46.320 don't say 00:37:46.320 --> 00:37:46.740 that to 00:37:46.740 --> 00:37:47.320 dismiss him 00:37:47.320 --> 00:37:47.660 at all, 00:37:48.240 --> 00:37:48.640 but his 00:37:48.640 --> 00:37:50.019 excitement in 00:37:50.019 --> 00:37:50.740 understanding 00:37:50.740 --> 00:37:52.160 how grand 00:37:52.159 --> 00:37:53.099 and fantastic 00:37:53.099 --> 00:37:54.099 the salvation 00:37:54.099 --> 00:37:54.579 of Christ 00:37:54.579 --> 00:37:55.159 truly was 00:37:55.159 --> 00:37:55.539 upon the 00:37:55.539 --> 00:37:55.819 cross, 00:37:56.779 --> 00:37:57.440 he gets 00:37:57.440 --> 00:37:58.239 as close 00:37:58.239 --> 00:37:58.639 to the 00:37:58.639 --> 00:38:00.179 line of 00:38:00.179 --> 00:38:01.000 universalism 00:38:01.000 --> 00:38:01.759 as possible. 00:38:02.980 --> 00:38:03.239 Okay, 00:38:03.299 --> 00:38:03.539 but he 00:38:03.539 --> 00:38:04.159 doesn't cross 00:38:04.159 --> 00:38:04.359 it. 00:38:05.399 --> 00:38:05.739 We need 00:38:05.739 --> 00:38:05.980 to be 00:38:05.980 --> 00:38:07.059 careful to 00:38:07.059 --> 00:38:07.519 not put 00:38:07.519 --> 00:38:08.699 words in 00:38:08.699 --> 00:38:09.159 Paul's 00:38:09.159 --> 00:38:10.359 mouth or 00:38:10.359 --> 00:38:12.500 defend a 00:38:12.500 --> 00:38:13.139 belief that 00:38:13.139 --> 00:38:13.599 the church 00:38:13.599 --> 00:38:14.179 has never 00:38:14.179 --> 00:38:15.460 held in 00:38:15.460 --> 00:38:16.179 finding a 00:38:16.179 --> 00:38:16.819 random proof 00:38:16.819 --> 00:38:18.099 text to 00:38:18.099 --> 00:38:18.799 fit it. 00:38:19.019 --> 00:38:19.639 In some 00:38:19.639 --> 00:38:19.960 ways it would 00:38:19.960 --> 00:38:20.440 be wonderful 00:38:20.440 --> 00:38:21.280 if universalism 00:38:21.280 --> 00:38:21.679 was true. 00:38:22.519 --> 00:38:22.760 Okay, 00:38:23.220 --> 00:38:24.559 I have 00:38:24.559 --> 00:38:25.179 family members 00:38:25.179 --> 00:38:25.579 that have 00:38:25.579 --> 00:38:26.360 died without 00:38:26.360 --> 00:38:27.320 knowing Christ. 00:38:28.460 --> 00:38:28.740 Right? 00:38:29.059 --> 00:38:29.500 I would 00:38:29.500 --> 00:38:30.700 love for 00:38:30.700 --> 00:38:31.920 them to 00:38:31.920 --> 00:38:32.240 be in 00:38:32.240 --> 00:38:32.639 heaven with 00:38:32.639 --> 00:38:32.860 me. 00:38:33.500 --> 00:38:33.659 Okay, 00:38:34.679 --> 00:38:34.900 if, 00:38:35.300 --> 00:38:36.400 say it 00:38:36.400 --> 00:38:36.760 this way, 00:38:37.340 --> 00:38:38.480 if universalism, 00:38:38.900 --> 00:38:39.840 if you 00:38:39.840 --> 00:38:40.579 scoff at 00:38:40.579 --> 00:38:40.800 it, 00:38:40.980 --> 00:38:41.679 and there's 00:38:41.679 --> 00:38:42.119 not an 00:38:42.119 --> 00:38:42.619 ounce of 00:38:42.619 --> 00:38:42.900 you that 00:38:42.900 --> 00:38:43.400 wishes it 00:38:43.400 --> 00:38:43.639 could be 00:38:43.639 --> 00:38:43.960 true in 00:38:43.960 --> 00:38:44.440 some way, 00:38:44.539 --> 00:38:44.679 shape, 00:38:44.720 --> 00:38:45.079 or form, 00:38:45.440 --> 00:38:46.720 your heart 00:38:46.720 --> 00:38:47.320 might be a 00:38:47.320 --> 00:38:47.740 bit cold. 00:38:48.200 --> 00:38:48.559 It might 00:38:48.559 --> 00:38:48.700 be. 00:38:48.760 --> 00:38:48.960 I'm not 00:38:48.960 --> 00:38:49.200 saying it 00:38:49.200 --> 00:38:49.380 is, 00:38:49.460 --> 00:38:49.659 but it 00:38:49.659 --> 00:38:50.139 might be. 00:38:51.320 --> 00:38:51.720 Nevertheless, 00:38:52.000 --> 00:38:52.420 it's not 00:38:52.420 --> 00:38:53.639 something that 00:38:53.639 --> 00:38:54.119 the Bible 00:38:54.119 --> 00:38:55.500 will teach. 00:38:56.380 --> 00:38:56.760 Again, 00:38:56.860 --> 00:38:57.200 we need to 00:38:57.200 --> 00:38:57.780 be careful 00:38:57.780 --> 00:38:58.320 here, 00:38:58.460 --> 00:38:59.300 because Paul 00:38:59.300 --> 00:39:00.059 isn't saying 00:39:00.059 --> 00:39:01.039 that this 00:39:01.039 --> 00:39:01.760 universally 00:39:01.760 --> 00:39:03.780 sufficient 00:39:03.780 --> 00:39:04.320 atonement 00:39:04.320 --> 00:39:05.460 is universally 00:39:05.460 --> 00:39:06.079 applied. 00:39:06.940 --> 00:39:07.059 Okay? 00:39:07.599 --> 00:39:08.019 Instead, 00:39:08.240 --> 00:39:08.900 we see that 00:39:08.900 --> 00:39:10.639 although I 00:39:10.639 --> 00:39:11.220 would argue 00:39:11.220 --> 00:39:11.800 that it is 00:39:11.800 --> 00:39:12.360 universally 00:39:12.360 --> 00:39:13.240 sufficient what 00:39:13.240 --> 00:39:13.760 Christ does 00:39:13.760 --> 00:39:14.380 on the cross, 00:39:14.700 --> 00:39:15.780 so that if 00:39:15.780 --> 00:39:16.720 hypothetically 00:39:16.720 --> 00:39:17.960 every single 00:39:17.960 --> 00:39:19.099 person put 00:39:19.099 --> 00:39:19.659 their faith in 00:39:19.659 --> 00:39:19.899 Christ, 00:39:19.980 --> 00:39:20.219 they would 00:39:20.219 --> 00:39:20.719 truly be 00:39:20.719 --> 00:39:21.059 saved, 00:39:21.399 --> 00:39:22.219 it is 00:39:22.219 --> 00:39:23.319 particular in 00:39:23.319 --> 00:39:24.219 its application. 00:39:25.259 --> 00:39:25.659 And how do 00:39:25.659 --> 00:39:26.219 we know this? 00:39:26.539 --> 00:39:26.639 Well, 00:39:26.639 --> 00:39:27.239 let's go back 00:39:27.239 --> 00:39:27.779 one verse 00:39:27.779 --> 00:39:28.480 in verse 17. 00:39:28.699 --> 00:39:29.079 This is what 00:39:29.079 --> 00:39:29.460 it says. 00:39:30.460 --> 00:39:30.879 For if 00:39:30.879 --> 00:39:31.719 because of 00:39:31.719 --> 00:39:32.420 one man's 00:39:32.420 --> 00:39:33.139 trespass, 00:39:33.879 --> 00:39:34.139 death 00:39:34.139 --> 00:39:34.920 reigns 00:39:34.920 --> 00:39:35.259 through that 00:39:35.259 --> 00:39:35.799 one man, 00:39:36.179 --> 00:39:36.899 much more 00:39:36.899 --> 00:39:37.639 will those, 00:39:37.719 --> 00:39:38.159 here's the 00:39:38.159 --> 00:39:38.539 key bit, 00:39:38.940 --> 00:39:40.119 who receive 00:39:40.119 --> 00:39:41.219 the abundance 00:39:41.219 --> 00:39:41.839 of grace 00:39:41.839 --> 00:39:42.399 and the free 00:39:42.399 --> 00:39:42.879 gift of 00:39:42.879 --> 00:39:43.319 righteousness 00:39:43.319 --> 00:39:44.399 reign in 00:39:44.399 --> 00:39:45.539 life through 00:39:45.539 --> 00:39:46.179 the one man, 00:39:46.179 --> 00:39:46.719 Jesus Christ. 00:39:46.799 --> 00:39:47.139 You see, 00:39:47.739 --> 00:39:49.899 Jesus' death 00:39:49.899 --> 00:39:50.539 on the cross 00:39:50.539 --> 00:39:52.039 was so 00:39:52.039 --> 00:39:53.179 very great, 00:39:53.960 --> 00:39:54.119 okay, 00:39:54.239 --> 00:39:54.819 dying for 00:39:54.819 --> 00:39:55.399 the sins 00:39:55.399 --> 00:39:55.839 of the 00:39:55.839 --> 00:39:56.139 world. 00:39:56.859 --> 00:39:57.739 God so 00:39:57.739 --> 00:39:58.419 loved the 00:39:58.419 --> 00:39:59.279 world that 00:39:59.279 --> 00:39:59.739 he gave 00:39:59.739 --> 00:40:00.359 his only 00:40:00.359 --> 00:40:00.960 begotten 00:40:00.960 --> 00:40:01.259 son. 00:40:01.799 --> 00:40:02.319 But it's 00:40:02.319 --> 00:40:02.799 still a 00:40:02.799 --> 00:40:03.379 gift that 00:40:03.379 --> 00:40:03.799 must be 00:40:03.799 --> 00:40:04.539 received. 00:40:04.639 --> 00:40:04.879 And how 00:40:04.879 --> 00:40:05.099 do we 00:40:05.099 --> 00:40:05.679 receive it? 00:40:05.940 --> 00:40:06.899 By faith. 00:40:07.899 --> 00:40:08.079 Now, 00:40:08.139 --> 00:40:08.399 why do 00:40:08.399 --> 00:40:09.500 some people 00:40:09.500 --> 00:40:10.179 receive it 00:40:10.179 --> 00:40:10.839 gladly and 00:40:10.839 --> 00:40:11.599 some don't? 00:40:12.239 --> 00:40:12.559 I think 00:40:12.559 --> 00:40:13.399 there truly 00:40:13.399 --> 00:40:13.779 is a 00:40:13.779 --> 00:40:14.239 doctrine of 00:40:14.239 --> 00:40:14.559 election. 00:40:14.559 --> 00:40:15.019 we're not 00:40:15.019 --> 00:40:15.239 going to 00:40:15.239 --> 00:40:15.739 talk about 00:40:15.739 --> 00:40:15.880 it. 00:40:15.980 --> 00:40:16.159 And to 00:40:16.159 --> 00:40:16.739 be perfectly 00:40:16.739 --> 00:40:17.219 honest, 00:40:17.619 --> 00:40:18.159 there is 00:40:18.159 --> 00:40:19.320 a high 00:40:19.320 --> 00:40:20.000 degree of 00:40:20.000 --> 00:40:20.639 mystery that 00:40:20.639 --> 00:40:22.119 who knows 00:40:22.119 --> 00:40:22.579 the mind 00:40:22.579 --> 00:40:22.980 of God? 00:40:23.079 --> 00:40:23.299 Why? 00:40:23.539 --> 00:40:24.420 Some go 00:40:24.420 --> 00:40:24.779 to heaven 00:40:24.779 --> 00:40:25.179 and some 00:40:25.179 --> 00:40:25.559 don't. 00:40:27.679 --> 00:40:27.980 Okay? 00:40:28.099 --> 00:40:28.739 But nevertheless, 00:40:29.199 --> 00:40:30.239 there is this 00:40:30.239 --> 00:40:31.460 call to 00:40:31.460 --> 00:40:32.380 receive what 00:40:32.380 --> 00:40:32.980 Christ has 00:40:32.980 --> 00:40:33.259 given. 00:40:35.000 --> 00:40:35.920 To receive 00:40:35.920 --> 00:40:36.199 it. 00:40:37.940 --> 00:40:38.699 To not 00:40:38.699 --> 00:40:39.480 stand on 00:40:39.480 --> 00:40:40.239 our own 00:40:40.239 --> 00:40:40.980 merit. 00:40:41.400 --> 00:40:41.779 To not 00:40:41.779 --> 00:40:42.639 stand on 00:40:42.639 --> 00:40:43.299 our own 00:40:43.299 --> 00:40:44.460 self. 00:40:44.699 --> 00:40:45.219 promotion, 00:40:45.539 --> 00:40:46.079 but to 00:40:46.079 --> 00:40:46.340 humble 00:40:46.340 --> 00:40:46.820 ourselves 00:40:46.820 --> 00:40:47.279 and say, 00:40:47.579 --> 00:40:48.239 I can't 00:40:48.239 --> 00:40:49.920 get salvation. 00:40:50.139 --> 00:40:51.059 I can't 00:40:51.059 --> 00:40:51.820 beat sin. 00:40:52.000 --> 00:40:52.759 I can't 00:40:52.759 --> 00:40:53.219 conquer 00:40:53.219 --> 00:40:53.619 death. 00:40:54.059 --> 00:40:54.559 But you 00:40:54.559 --> 00:40:55.019 have. 00:40:55.460 --> 00:40:55.840 So I'm 00:40:55.840 --> 00:40:56.599 trusting you. 00:40:57.239 --> 00:40:57.779 You are 00:40:57.779 --> 00:40:58.139 my new 00:40:58.139 --> 00:40:58.460 head. 00:40:59.159 --> 00:40:59.619 You are 00:40:59.619 --> 00:41:00.579 Adam 2.0. 00:41:00.639 --> 00:41:00.860 You're 00:41:00.860 --> 00:41:01.159 the one 00:41:01.159 --> 00:41:01.380 that I'm 00:41:01.380 --> 00:41:01.599 going to 00:41:01.599 --> 00:41:01.960 trust. 00:41:02.279 --> 00:41:02.420 I'm 00:41:02.420 --> 00:41:02.559 going to 00:41:02.559 --> 00:41:03.039 receive 00:41:03.039 --> 00:41:03.360 this 00:41:03.360 --> 00:41:03.840 gift. 00:41:04.539 --> 00:41:04.840 God 00:41:04.840 --> 00:41:05.360 truly 00:41:05.360 --> 00:41:05.960 in 00:41:05.960 --> 00:41:06.380 Christ 00:41:06.380 --> 00:41:06.619 has 00:41:06.619 --> 00:41:06.980 proven 00:41:06.980 --> 00:41:07.279 to 00:41:07.279 --> 00:41:07.480 the 00:41:07.480 --> 00:41:07.779 world 00:41:07.779 --> 00:41:08.500 that 00:41:08.500 --> 00:41:08.699 he 00:41:08.699 --> 00:41:09.079 doesn't 00:41:09.079 --> 00:41:09.279 want 00:41:09.279 --> 00:41:09.420 to 00:41:09.420 --> 00:41:09.599 see 00:41:09.599 --> 00:41:09.940 people 00:41:09.940 --> 00:41:10.380 die. 00:41:10.880 --> 00:41:11.420 And he 00:41:11.420 --> 00:41:11.639 doesn't 00:41:11.639 --> 00:41:11.880 want to 00:41:11.880 --> 00:41:12.059 see 00:41:12.059 --> 00:41:12.380 death 00:41:12.380 --> 00:41:12.900 persist. 00:41:12.900 --> 00:41:13.880 Christ 00:41:13.880 --> 00:41:18.660 truly is 00:41:18.660 --> 00:41:18.800 the 00:41:18.800 --> 00:41:19.039 greater 00:41:19.039 --> 00:41:19.420 Adam. 00:41:19.420 --> 00:41:20.400 Just as 00:41:20.400 --> 00:41:21.039 through 00:41:21.039 --> 00:41:21.519 Adam, 00:41:21.740 --> 00:41:22.420 the first 00:41:22.420 --> 00:41:23.119 representative 00:41:23.119 --> 00:41:23.820 head of 00:41:23.820 --> 00:41:24.280 mankind, 00:41:24.460 --> 00:41:24.980 sin became 00:41:24.980 --> 00:41:25.500 universal, 00:41:26.320 --> 00:41:26.960 so too 00:41:26.960 --> 00:41:27.240 did 00:41:27.240 --> 00:41:27.840 righteousness 00:41:27.840 --> 00:41:29.660 come into 00:41:29.660 --> 00:41:30.079 the world 00:41:30.079 --> 00:41:30.460 by the 00:41:30.460 --> 00:41:31.000 second and 00:41:31.000 --> 00:41:31.300 greater 00:41:31.300 --> 00:41:31.760 Adam. 00:41:31.760 --> 00:41:33.540 friends, 00:41:33.820 --> 00:41:34.740 let us 00:41:34.740 --> 00:41:35.620 think about 00:41:35.620 --> 00:41:36.180 this and 00:41:36.180 --> 00:41:36.760 dwell upon 00:41:36.760 --> 00:41:37.060 it and 00:41:37.060 --> 00:41:37.820 receive it. 00:41:39.460 --> 00:41:40.220 This free 00:41:40.220 --> 00:41:40.800 gift given 00:41:40.800 --> 00:41:41.260 to us. 00:41:41.380 --> 00:41:42.000 Nothing is 00:41:42.000 --> 00:41:42.520 needed to 00:41:42.520 --> 00:41:42.920 be added 00:41:42.920 --> 00:41:43.380 to it. 00:41:43.860 --> 00:41:44.340 It doesn't 00:41:44.340 --> 00:41:46.700 need a 00:41:46.700 --> 00:41:47.660 fix of 00:41:47.660 --> 00:41:48.080 some kind 00:41:48.080 --> 00:41:48.360 of way. 00:41:48.440 --> 00:41:48.600 There are 00:41:48.600 --> 00:41:49.220 no bugs 00:41:49.220 --> 00:41:49.560 that need 00:41:49.560 --> 00:41:49.800 to be 00:41:49.800 --> 00:41:50.160 worked out. 00:41:50.240 --> 00:41:50.440 It is 00:41:50.440 --> 00:41:51.460 perfect and 00:41:51.460 --> 00:41:51.760 it is 00:41:51.760 --> 00:41:52.080 yours. 00:41:52.180 --> 00:41:52.420 Will you 00:41:52.420 --> 00:41:52.720 receive 00:41:52.720 --> 00:41:52.940 it? 00:41:54.440 --> 00:41:54.740 You 00:41:54.740 --> 00:41:54.980 see the 00:41:54.980 --> 00:41:55.360 grace of 00:41:55.360 --> 00:41:55.740 God 00:41:55.740 --> 00:41:57.000 given to 00:41:57.000 --> 00:41:57.460 us in 00:41:57.460 --> 00:41:57.580 the 00:41:57.580 --> 00:41:58.120 obedient, 00:41:58.560 --> 00:41:59.360 justifying, 00:41:59.620 --> 00:42:00.620 righteous death 00:42:00.619 --> 00:42:01.339 of Christ 00:42:01.339 --> 00:42:02.539 is far 00:42:02.539 --> 00:42:03.139 greater than 00:42:03.139 --> 00:42:03.619 the effects 00:42:03.619 --> 00:42:04.139 of sin. 00:42:04.719 --> 00:42:05.239 In fact, 00:42:05.319 --> 00:42:05.739 Paul says 00:42:05.739 --> 00:42:06.539 that grace 00:42:06.539 --> 00:42:07.699 abounded all 00:42:07.699 --> 00:42:07.940 the more. 00:42:08.059 --> 00:42:08.599 Where sin 00:42:08.599 --> 00:42:09.559 is, grace 00:42:09.559 --> 00:42:10.739 abounds all 00:42:10.739 --> 00:42:11.059 the more. 00:42:11.179 --> 00:42:11.500 Literally, 00:42:11.980 --> 00:42:13.159 grace super 00:42:13.159 --> 00:42:13.980 or hyper 00:42:13.980 --> 00:42:15.319 abounded, 00:42:15.799 --> 00:42:16.299 which is to 00:42:16.299 --> 00:42:16.900 say that the 00:42:16.900 --> 00:42:17.339 gift of 00:42:17.339 --> 00:42:17.980 eternal life, 00:42:18.299 --> 00:42:19.079 it towers 00:42:19.079 --> 00:42:19.980 over death. 00:42:20.819 --> 00:42:21.299 Death is 00:42:21.299 --> 00:42:21.960 strong and 00:42:21.960 --> 00:42:22.279 if you've 00:42:22.279 --> 00:42:23.019 tasted death 00:42:23.019 --> 00:42:23.739 in any kind 00:42:23.739 --> 00:42:24.159 of way, 00:42:24.460 --> 00:42:25.279 you will know 00:42:25.279 --> 00:42:25.779 that that is 00:42:25.779 --> 00:42:26.539 quite the feat. 00:42:26.679 --> 00:42:27.480 It is like 00:42:27.480 --> 00:42:28.119 an ant 00:42:28.119 --> 00:42:29.659 standing 00:42:29.659 --> 00:42:31.079 walking, 00:42:31.199 --> 00:42:31.779 whatever ants 00:42:31.779 --> 00:42:31.960 do, 00:42:32.039 --> 00:42:32.279 do they 00:42:32.279 --> 00:42:33.879 stand existing 00:42:33.879 --> 00:42:34.480 next to the 00:42:34.480 --> 00:42:34.779 sea and 00:42:34.779 --> 00:42:35.039 tower, 00:42:35.159 --> 00:42:35.980 only infinitely 00:42:35.980 --> 00:42:36.639 greater. 00:42:37.859 --> 00:42:38.379 Life 00:42:38.379 --> 00:42:39.579 towers over 00:42:39.579 --> 00:42:40.079 death. 00:42:40.759 --> 00:42:41.319 Wherever there 00:42:41.319 --> 00:42:41.879 is sin, 00:42:42.519 --> 00:42:43.500 there is 00:42:43.500 --> 00:42:44.139 abundantly 00:42:44.139 --> 00:42:45.500 more grace. 00:42:45.659 --> 00:42:46.000 There is 00:42:46.000 --> 00:42:46.619 abundantly 00:42:46.619 --> 00:42:47.319 more life. 00:42:48.899 --> 00:42:49.339 So grace 00:42:49.339 --> 00:42:49.859 is superior 00:42:49.859 --> 00:42:50.759 to sin, 00:42:50.940 --> 00:42:51.779 life to 00:42:51.779 --> 00:42:52.159 death, 00:42:52.639 --> 00:42:53.119 the free 00:42:53.119 --> 00:42:53.639 gift to 00:42:53.639 --> 00:42:54.480 sin earned, 00:42:55.039 --> 00:42:55.460 Christ's 00:42:55.460 --> 00:42:56.079 solution to 00:42:56.079 --> 00:42:56.500 Adam's 00:42:56.500 --> 00:42:56.980 problem, 00:42:57.759 --> 00:42:58.119 Christ 00:42:58.119 --> 00:42:59.339 himself over 00:42:59.340 --> 00:42:59.800 Adam. 00:43:00.539 --> 00:43:01.320 He is, 00:43:02.140 --> 00:43:02.600 if you 00:43:02.600 --> 00:43:03.820 receive his 00:43:03.820 --> 00:43:05.180 gift this 00:43:05.180 --> 00:43:05.500 morning, 00:43:05.920 --> 00:43:06.740 if you 00:43:06.740 --> 00:43:07.280 receive his 00:43:07.280 --> 00:43:07.760 gift this 00:43:07.760 --> 00:43:07.960 morning, 00:43:08.059 --> 00:43:08.800 he is your 00:43:08.800 --> 00:43:09.500 new representative 00:43:09.500 --> 00:43:09.840 head. 00:43:10.940 --> 00:43:11.480 And where he 00:43:11.480 --> 00:43:11.960 goes, you 00:43:11.960 --> 00:43:12.800 will go also. 00:43:12.980 --> 00:43:13.400 And friends, 00:43:14.280 --> 00:43:15.140 he is at the 00:43:15.140 --> 00:43:15.840 highest height. 00:43:16.620 --> 00:43:17.200 Will you go 00:43:17.200 --> 00:43:17.760 there with him?