◄ What Does Romans 5:18 Mean? ►

Paul draws a contrast between the actions of Adam and Christ. He also outlines the outcome of the actions of these two men. He compares the man that disobeyed God's command with the One that obeyed His Word, contrasting the one that sinned against God with the One that did only those things that He heard from His Father in heaven.

It was the result of one act of disobedience carried out by Adam that condemned the entire human race. Adam was the federal head of God's creation and he was given one simple test, but he failed. It was because of this one offence that Adam brought condemnation upon all men. Adam was told: "Of every tree of the garden you may truly eat but of the tree of knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for the day on which you eat of it you will surly DIE."

The result of this one sin of Adam brought calamity of the entire human race and placed everyone under God's condemnation and death. As the single representative of all humanity, Adam's one transgression resulted in the condemnation of all men. We are sinners, not only because we sin but also because we are imputed with a sin nature because of Adam's transgression. In addition to our imputed sin nature from Adam, we inherit a fallen nature from our parents. We were born dead in trespasses and sins, at enmity with God and without hope in the world; and the soul that sins shall die, for the wages of sin is death.

It was this ONE transgression that resulted in the condemnation of all men, but it was also through ONE amazing act of righteousness, that resulted in justification of life to all men. It was ONE act of disobedience that placed us all under God's eternal condemnation, and ONE act of willing obedience, that brought justification of life to all men. And it is received simply by faith in the finished work of Christ.

Many like to bemoan the fact that we are made sinners because of Adam's sin. Many feel it is unfair that we have to inherit the sin nature from our forefathers, because of their sin, but this is failure to recognise God's incredible grace in His simple plan for man's redemption. For as by ONE sin we were all made sinners, so by ONE act of obedience we can all be declared righteous and receive justification of life. 

All who are born IN ADAM are eternally condemned and all who are born again IN CHRIST are not condemned but declared righteous by God and given eternal life. For there is no condemnation to those that are IN CHRIST.

The wages of being IN ADAM is death, for by one man's transgression we are all made sinners. But the gift of God is eternal life for those that are IN CHRIST, for His one act of righteousness results in justification of life for all who believe. By faith we are placed in eternal union with Christ, the God-Man Who is our Kinsman-Redeemer and the federal Head of God's New Creation.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your amazing plan of redemption. I am not only declared righteous and forgiven of my sins, (justified), but have been given Christ’s resurrection life, (justification of life). I have been made one with Christ, positioned in Him, accepted in the Beloved, and placed in eternal union with Him forever and ever. I thank and praise You, in Jesus' name, AMEN.