Headship of Adam

^{Romans 5:12}

So then, just as sin entered the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all people because all sinned—

• Sin entered the world through Adam’s sin.
• “Death” spread to all men, because all sin under him.
  • This death is the curse of physical death that spread from Adam’s sin to all people
    • “All men” and “All sin” refers to every single person every born

^{Romans 5:13}

for before the law was given, sin was in the world, but there is no accounting for sin when there is no law. 

• Sin existed before the written Law was given to Moses
• The implication here is that there was a law being violated, just not the written law of Israel

^{Romans 5:14}

Yet death reigned from Adam until Moses even over those who did not sin in the same way that Adam (who is a type of the coming one) transgressed.

• Physical death had power from Adam until Moses, even to those who did not sin (hamartano; miss the mark) in the same way that Adam sinned (parabis, known sin that brings the desire of redemption)
• Death reigned because all were equally stained by the sin of Adam, regardless of how they lived their life.
  • “did not sin in the same way” most likely refers back to the comment in v13 about there not being a law. Adam had a single law that he violated. The rest of the world had no specific law, so their sins were not the same as Adam’s, and yet they still sinned against the nature of God through rebellion.

^{Romans 5:15}

But the spiritual unmertited gift is not like the transgression. For if the many died through the transgression of the one man, how much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one man Jesus Christ overflow to the many!

• The blessing received by Christ's one act is not like the curse received from Adams one act.
• Many followed the sinful desires of their flesh (that came from Adam), and thus ‘spiritually died’ (they died in sin without trusting in the Lord). In life they were considered ‘dead’ and at the judgment they spiritually die.

^{John 8:24}

Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

• “Many” receive the grace of God and the gift of grace that comes from Christ by receiving the Lord through obedience to the gospel. Those who trusted in the Lord had overflowing grace from the Father and Son.

^{John 1:12}

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name

• Introduces “the gift” – here we know the gift is by grace.

^{Romans 5:16}

And the gift is not like the one who sinned. For judgment, resulting from the one transgression, led to condemnation, but the gracious gift from the many failures led to justification.

• Judgment came from the sin of one man to all people.
• Through the sins of many people, Christ was crucified. These sins made it possible for righteousness to be applied to all men. When righteousness is applied or credited, “justification” is synonymous.

^{Romans 11:11-12}

I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous. Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be!

• “the gift” leads to justification and righteousness.
  • Rom 1:17 – the power of the gospel that righteousness is from faith.  

^{Romans 5:17}

For if by the transgression of the one man, death reigned through the one, how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ!

• Because of Adam, death has had power over all mankind
• Because of Christ, we can receive grace and the gift of righteousness and reign in life
  • There is a narrowing of the audience here. Adam’s death is applied to all, but “the gift” is only applicable to “those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness”.
  • “receive” is lambano. It means to take hold of, receive, make one’s own, claim.
  • “the gift” is conditional upon the person taking hold of it. See: THE REST OF THE BIBLE

^{Romans 5:18}

So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.

• Paul maintains consistently the application of the consequences of Adam’s sin to all men. Death continues to reign, but only to a point...
  

^{Hebrews 9:27}

And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,

• Through the actions of Christ, “the gift” from the previous verses is available for all men. Those who laid hold of God’s promise through faith can be justified in His eyes.
  • Contrast this with “the gift” coming from the sins of many in v16

^{Romans 5:19}

For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. 

• We finally see a shift here from the physical consequences of Adam’s sin to the spiritual. Many are made sinners and will spiritually die at the judgment because many do not receive or lay hold of “the gift”
• Look at the contrast here between many “made sinners” vs many “made righteous”
  • Through Adam’s disobedience which led to the curse of sin being in our flesh, many are made sinners be disobeying the gospel and receiving condemnation at the judgment
    • Why does it say “many” and not “all”?
      • Infants, children, and the mentally unable are not ‘made sinners’ because they cannot yet discern between good and evil or refuse evil and choose good (Duet.1:30; Is.7:10-16. This is not saying they don’t sin, but they are not “sinners”. God calls “sinners” to repentance (Luke 5:32; Luke 15:10). They are not consciously sinners and are not called to repent (because they are yet unable to do so).
  • Through Christ’s obedience, many sinners are made righteous by accepting the gift and become justified by faith and made righteous.
  • Many are made righteous only if they lay hold of “the gift” re: v17

^{Romans 5:20-21}

The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

• The Law is Holy (Rom.7:12), and through it we can understand how fallen we are. It teaches us our sin and need of redemption and a Redeemer (Gal.3:24).
• The more sinful we know we are, the more gracious “the gift”
  • Luke 7:47 – those who are forgiven much love much, and those forgiven little love little.
• Death reigns now, physically, but grace reigns through the righteousness we are credited with.

^{Rom 8:10-11}
If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

^{1 Corinthians 15:20-24}

But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive [John 5:28-30, resurrection to life, resurrection to judgment]. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power.

Through Adam’s disobedience, we will all physically die. Through Christ’s obedience, we will all be made alive at the resurrection. We will be resurrected to eternal life, or to judgment.

^{1 Corinthians 15:44-46}

it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.  However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual.

Adam is the “father” of the human life. He is the one that gave all men physical life (because all come from His seed).

Christ is the “father” of spiritual life or eternal life. He is the one that gives eternal life to all. He will raise you, and either you will go on to blessing in eternal life, or a curse at judgment.

^{Jeremiah 17:5}

Thus says the Lord, “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength, And whose heart turns away from the Lord.

You are cursed when you turn from the Lord and instead trust in yourself and your own flesh and strength.

Summary of Adam’s headship

• Adam’s one disobedient act resulted in
  • Sin and death entering the human line
    • Every person will experience physical death
    • People can spiritual die
      • By disobedience of the gospel, you will be judged and condemned at the final judgment (spiritual death).

Christ’s Headship

We’ve already seen some of what Christ’s work did in reviewing the above, but here is some more:

• Was given to the whole world on the cross by the Father (John 3:16)
• Is the Savior of all men (1 Tim.4:10)
• Died for all (2 Cor.5:14-15)
• Is the Passover Lamb of the whole world (John 1:29)
• Cancelled out the certificate of debt (Col.2:14)
• Purchased ALL at the cross, even those who deny Him (2 Pet.2:1)
• Is the propitiation for the whole world (1 John 2:2)

Because of His one act of obedience:

• Christ owns us and our inheritance, and will judge us (Acts 10:42; Acts 17:31; John 5:22; Heb.10:30)

• We are presently passed over in our sins

^{Romans 3:25}

whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;

^{2 Corinthians 5:18-19}

Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

His wrath is patiently delayed

^{Isaiah 48:9}

“For the sake of My name I delay My wrath, and for My praise I restrain it for you, in order not to cut you off.

^{Romans 2:4}

Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

^{Matthew 3:7}

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

^{Romans 2:5}

But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God

We are all being offered salvation and eternal life through the gospel. He enlightens us, teaches us, and gives us His word; planting in within us, that can save us.

^{John 1:9}

There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man

^{John 6:45}

It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught of God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me.

^{Matthew 13:19}

When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road.

^{James 1:21-22}

Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your lives. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

Those who turn from His word, and reject and blaspheme the Spirit become corrupt, under wrath, and enemies of God (Ps.106:33; Is.63:10; Zech.7:12; Matt.12:31; Mark 3:29; Acts 7:51; Gal.8:8; 1 Thes.4:7-8; Heb.10:29; Rev.2:7; Rev.22:17).

We are not born that way, but become that way out of our rebellion (Deut.9:7-8; 2 Kings 22:17; 2 Chr.19:2; 2 Chr.24:18; Ps. 106:23-26; Is.48:9; Her.4:4; Ezek.20:8, 13, 21; Zech.7:12; Eph.2:3).

Summary conclusions

Adam and Eve were not created with a body that has at its base, a natural tendency to set its desire against the Spirit:

^{Galatians 5:17-21}

For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

This is what each of us has before us.

• A flesh that persuades to self and sin.
• A Spirit that persuades to God and righteousness.

They are in opposition to each other.

• Following the flesh brings the curse of spiritual death.
• Following the Spirit brings the blessing of eternal life.

^{Romans 7:14-21}

For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.  But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good.

Within our flesh is bondage to self-gratification and sin, and following the flesh leads to condemnation. Because of Adam, our flesh has nothing ‘good’ in it.

^Deut.30:19
 "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live,

We can either choose to follow the Lord, and choose to follow the Spirit. One leads to forgiveness and eternal life and the other leads to condemnation and wrath.

^{Jeremiah 17:5}

Thus says the Lord, “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away from the Lord.

^{Jeremiah 17:7}

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord.

^{Galatians 6:8}

For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

We all have the choice to make. We all can either trust in the Lord for our salvation, or reject Him and follow our flesh. It is our choice, and that choice to follow Him is exercised by faith. Those who believe are justified by faith and set apart in Christ.