A Walk Through Romans 5

A walk through Romans 5...

Jonathan Edwards was a great Reformed Scholar, he is loved in both the Reformed camp and, strangely enough, the non Reformed camp for his power and scriptural basis on which he preached.
One of his greatest works was his work on the man's nature, or free will. Like all Calvinists, Jon Edwards was a Christian Compatibilist and believed in Total Depravity and Inability. Here's what he defines them as...

". . . the Calvinistic doctrine of the totaldepravity and corruption of man’s nature, whereby his heart is wholly under the power of sin, and he is utterly unable, without the interposition of sovereign grace, savingly to love God, believe in Christ, or do anything that is truly good and acceptable in God’s sight." Jonathan Edwards [1754], Freedom of the Will (WJE Online Vol. 1) , Ed. Paul Ramsey page 432.

And this great scholar is completely right on this point. We don't give much thought to the nature of Sin. All we really do is halfway admit our sin and don't deeply think of the consequences that our sin natures have. If you even accept that there is a sin nature. So what I wanted to do is walk through a passage in Romans 5.

Romans 5:12-21English Standard Version (ESV)

Death in Adam, Life in Christ
12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men[a] because all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.

- Verse 12 may seem like it assumes that Adam's sin made it "possible" for a man to sin. But in all reality, it made man subject to sin. Sin came into the world by one man (Adam) and brought death (both spiritual and physical) and death spread to all men because all sinned... All men sin, why, because it was in their nature to do so. Verse 13 says sin is not counted where there is no law, and that is true. It doesn't mean sin goes unpunished, or unimputed. Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord where no one else did. So just because sin wasn't counted, doesn't mean it wasn't seen. God wiped the earth out for something... Verse 14 says that death still reigned from Adam to Moses, from the beginning of time to the giving of the Law, even though people's sin was unlike Adams. It's my opinion that Adam's sin was different because he had no sin nature, but still sinned. Our sin is different because we were born with the ability and desire to sin.

15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

- Verse 15 is the defining verse of this whole chapter. The Free Gift is not like the Trespass. Many died (Spiritually) by one man's trespass and many will be made alive (Spiritually) by one man Jesus Christ. Why would the author draw a parallel between a physical death and a spiritual life? He wouldn't! Hebrews contains a truth, it is appointed into all men once to die (Hebrews 9) the author knew this. He wouldn't make a category error. He was pointing out how spiritual death came upon all men and that spiritual life is now made available through one man, Jesus Christ. 16 says the judgement following one trespass brought condemnation... How are we to take this if we are not judged by Adam's sin? We are totally under the condemnation of God for that one trespass. Then verse 17 says that death reigned through that one man, Adam... That is definitively defined as sin nature. But that through another man, Jesus Christ, Grace abounds.

18 Therefore, as one trespass[b] led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness[c] leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

- One trespass led to the condemnation of all men. Therefore one act of righteousness brings justification. By one man's disobedience many were made sinners. Not just a few..  there were no people who chose not to... All were made sinners by that one act of rebellion. By one man's obedience, many were made righteous... Where sin reigned in death, grace reigns in righteousness through Jesus Christ.

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Now, I just walked through that text very thoroughly. I was able to point out parallels, make comparisons, and not have to twist the scriptures for any of this to make sense. We have a sin nature... And even if we live the most perfect and moral lives possible, we would still be condemned because of the one trespass of Adam. It's plain and clear to the text.

Soli Deo Gloria!

And then he asked me, "Son of Man, can these bones live?" Ezekiel 37:3