Gospel Pattern, Gospel Reign-Romans 5:12-21

Powerpoint: GospelPatternRomans5.12-21. Last week (6/10/18): Gospel Benefits (Rom 5:1-11). What do we need in all of life other than peace and joy?

Happy Father’s Day! How do I connect Father’s Day with today’s sermon about Adam being a pattern of Christ (Rom 5:14)?  A few days ago I watched a documentary on David Cassidy of The Patridge Family. He went on to become more popular than the Beatles and Elvis in his prime as a teen idol. One line of the documentary caught my attention: David was seeking his father’s approval all his life. It was because his father, Jack Cassidy, divorced his mother when he was a child and went on to have 3 children with his 2nd wife. This statement “shocked” me because I realize that I have never ever sought my own father’s approval or even thought about it. It’s because he gave it to me unconditionally and I have never ever doubted my father’s love — not even remotely. Indeed, my father was a good father to me. His good influence has been silently pervasive throughout my six decades of life. He was a “pattern” for my life. He gave me an inner resilience, fortitude and confidence that nothing in life–no adversity, disappointment, mistake/failure–could ever really crush me or demoralize me or dishearten me. I always thank God that my dad was a good father. I remember him often with tears of gratitude and love.

• What is your pattern of life? Who reigns in your heart? Adam or Christ? Who would you like to be your representative? Adam or Christ.
• Where does what you do daily lead you to? Superficiality or depth? Childishness or maturity? Foolishness or wisdom? Aimlessness or ambition? Laziness or industry? Being trivial or substantial? Harshness or gentleness? Reactive or kind? Critical or gracious? Death or life?
• Are you reigning in life or being ruled by life?

The second part of Romans 5 is a contrast between Adam and Christ who are each a “father” to many. Adam’s influnce was great (it was universal and detrimental) while Christ’s influnce was even greater (it was also universal but beneficial). Adam brought curse and death to the world, while Christ brought blessing and life to all who believe.

“…Adam, who is a pattern [{proto}type, symbol, a representation, example, form] of the one to come” (Romans 5:14b). “…how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision (the overflow/abundance) of (wonderful) grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ (the Messiah/the Anointed)!” (Romans 5:17).

Sin affects everyone with no discrimination (Rom 3:23) and with everyone without exception under its power (Rom 3:9). Yet through Christ is revealed the glorious adequacy of God’s justifying grace (Rom 3:24). In Romans Paul leads us down to the depths of human depravity and up into the heights of divine mercy. in Romans 5 Paul talks about a reconciliation to end all reconciliations.

The second half of Romans 5 introduces a comparison between 2 “Adams:” the 1st Adam of Eden and the fall, and the 2nd Adam of heaven and the cross. Paul covers a great deal in this short section. John Stott states how very carefully it is: “All students of verses 12-21 have found it extremely condensed. Some have mistaken compression for confusion. But most have … admired its craftmanship. It may be likened to a well-chiselled carving or a carefully constructed musical composition.”

1. Adam and Christ introduced (12-14). Three downward steps of deteriorating stages:
   1. Sin entered the world.
   2. Death then entered the world through sin.
   3. In this way death came to all men.
2. Adam and Christ contrasted (15-17): how Adam and Jesus are different — “not like” and “how much more.”
   1. The nature of their actions was different (15): trespass and gift–Adam’s own way/self-assertion vs. Christ’s self-sacrifice.
   2. The immediate effect of their actions was different (16). Judgement and condemnation (followed one sin) vs. justification (followed many trespasses).
   3. The ultimate effect of their actions was different (17). Death [The world is a place of cemeteries. MLJ.] vs. life (superiority of the work of Christ).
3. Adam and Christ compared (18-21): how Adam and Jesus are the same — “just as” and “so also.” The one act of the one man determined the destiny of many.
4. condemnation and justification (18: emphasizing the parallel, cf. 16).
5. nature of their actions (19: disobedience and obedience, cf. 15: trespass and gift).
6. sin and death vs. grace and life (20-21): law increases sin, God increases grace.

Questions:

1. The logic of “how much more” (9-11) continues in Paul’s discussion of Adam and Jesus (12-17). How is the work of the one man, Jesus, far beyond the effect of the sin of the one man, Adam?
2. “Reign” occurs 3 times in 12-17 and 2 times in Rom 5:21. What are the two types of “reign”? What does each look like and lead to?
3. Think about an area of your life, your community or the world that demonstrates the brokenness of sin. What would that area look like if there was a “reign of grace” instead of a “reign of death”?
4. Pray that you will reign in life in this area of the community or the world.