Faith in Romans - Chapter 5 - Part 4: Death by Adam - Eternal Life by Jesus Christ our Lord:

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” Romans 5:1212 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

. There’s been a lot of death since Adam, in fact, everyone born after Adam has died (except Enoch and Elijah). One Internet site estimates that at the time of the worldwide flood, the earth’s population could have been 30 billion people, considering the fact people lived long healthy lives and taking into consideration the earth’s maximum sustainable food production, http://www.amunrud.com/noah/population.html. Of course, there’s no way of knowing for sure, but most likely many millions died before and in the flood. Then everyone died up to the time of Christ. When Jesus was on earth the estimated worldwide population was 300 million, but they all died, just as everyone since. An ancient Greek philosopher observed that the earth is a giant graveyard, which is true as more die and turn to dust every day. What’s amazing is that most young people go about their lives as if they will never die, but they surely will.

Some blame God when a loved one dies or at some catastrophe such as a plane crash that takes many lives, but they delude themselves and blaspheme God in so doing. Everything was very good when God finished the earth and all in it, Genesis 1:3131 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

, and therefore death was not in the equation. God made many trees to grow in Eden that were pleasant to the sight and good for food, including a tree of life and one of the knowledge of good and evil, Genesis 2:99 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

. God told Adam he could eat from all the trees but not of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil or he would die, Genesis 2:16 - 1716 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

. He disobeyed God, Genesis 3:66 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

, and so condemned himself to die, with his body destined to return to dust, Genesis 3:1919 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

. God then had to evict he and Eve from the Garden so they couldn’t eat of the tree of life, Genesis 3:22 - 2422 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.

24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

. And thus, Adam’s sin passed down throughout his progeny, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” Romans 5:12.

The 5 verses after verse 12, Romans 5:1313 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

- 1713 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.

17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

, are a parenthesis in which Paul amplifies or explains the theme of his discourse. He states that sin was in the world before God gave the law to Moses, but sin was not charged to anyone’s account when there was no law, Romans 5:13. (It’s estimated Adam was created in 4004 BC; the law of Moses given in the year 1491 BC, or about 2513 years after Adam was created.) * Romans 5:1414 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

states that everyone died during those 2513 years, even if they hadn’t broken a command like Adam and that Adam was a pattern or type of Jesus Christ, who would come later. But, whereas Adam sinned and brought death to all who followed him, Romans 5:12; the anti-type (Jesus Christ) was a “free gift,” Romans 5:1515 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

a. (“Free gift” is translated from the Greek “charisma,” G5386, here and in verse 16. “Charisma” is translated “gift” the other 15 times it appears in the New Testament (NT).) Verse 15 continues; “For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many,” Romans 5:15b. In other words, Adam was a type that pointed to Christ but with the difference that all who followed Adam died because of his sin whereas God in Grace provided a free gift to many by the Grace of Jesus Christ.

Paul continues describing the difference between Adam and Jesus Christ indicating that all are condemned by the judgment of Adam whereas the free gift in Jesus Christ was justification (or righteousness), Romans 5:1616 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.

. For if it was by one man’s (Adam’s) sin that death came upon all who followed him, much more, all those who receive the over-abundance of Grace and gift of righteousness shall reign on account of one, Jesus Christ, Romans 5:1717 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

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Verse 17 ends the parenthesis and the thought from verse 12: “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” Romans 5:12, continues: “Therefore as by the offence of one (Adam) judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one (Jesus Christ) the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” Romans 5:18 - 1918 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

. Reference is then made to the Law of Moses: “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 5:20 - 2120 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

. Many Christians do not understand the purpose of the Law that God gave Moses. Some believe they must obey it to be saved. Others believe they are saved but never-the-less must follow it and repent each time they happen to break it.

Jesus Christ taught overwise, an example of which is recorded in the fifth chapter of Matthew; “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.” Matthew 5:21 - 2221 Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

. No person has ever been able to keep the law, which is the reason God Himself had to become man and do so: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” Matthew 5:17 - 1817 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

. “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore, by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is he knowledge of sin.” Romans 3:19 - 2019 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

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With some thought, we will realize that none born from Adam can imagine any man or woman totally devoid of sin with never a thought of lust, envy, jealousy, etc., but Jesus Christ was such a man. He saw sin every day because He knew men’s hearts; Matthew 8:8 - 138 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.

9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.

12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.

; Luke 6:7 - 87 And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.

8 But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.

; John 2:24 - 2524 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,

25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

; John 4:15 - 1815 The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.

16 Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.

17 The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:

18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.

; John 6:5 - 65 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?

6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.

; John 6:60 - 6160 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?

; John 13:11 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

; John 13:1111 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.

. As a former police officer, I observed the result of actions taken by sadistic people. Jesus Christ knew the thoughts of mankind and it is sobering to realize He knew the thoughts of every man who condemned Him to death as well as the sadists who beat Him until His appearance was disfigured more than any man, Isiah 52:14; those who drove the nails in His hands and feet and then set up the cross and dropped it in a hole that had to have torn his muscles, tendons and bones terribly. He not only felt the pain but knew their immoral, sadistic thoughts. But He submitted and hung on the cross in agony for 3 hours bearing our sins in His own body, Hebrews 9:2828 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

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Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Hebrews 2:14 - 1514 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

. “For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.” 1 Corinthians 15:21 - 2321 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

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* The Companion Bible, Index 50.1 estimates Adam was created in 4004 BC; the great flood occurred in about 2348 BC, which is about 1656 years after Adam; the Law of Moses given in the year 1491 BC, which is 2513 years after Adam.