Two Representatives, Two Different Results (Romans 5:15-19, Isaiah 52:13-53, Isaiah 53:12)
Rev. David Huffman, February 9, 2025Part of the Series On Romans series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
Rugged individualism characterizes our culture and time. Many focus on the church meeting our personal needs with an emphasis on personal experience. Modernity downplays the role of the church as united to Christ. People favor the individual over the Body. All are united to either Adam or Christ; life is about to whom we belong. Since all fell in Adam, we are all born dead on arrival. Adam’s sin is imputed to us, and in him we all die. Spiritually, we are already dead; later comes physical death. Without Christ, this is an eternal death. Those in Christ enjoy peace with God and reconciliation. Our hope is in the glory of God, testified to us by the Holy Spirit that we do belong to Him. Adam is a type of the One to come. There is a vastness of God’s grace vs. the sin of Adam. The emphasis between the two falls on grace. It sets straight what is crooked. God’s favor is astonishing in the face of sin. Why? Because He loves us. Paul was an enemy of God; the chief of sinners. Yet, he was forgiven by grace through faith in Christ. Cleaning up a mess is harder than making one, but it is not impossible for Christ to fix us. How do we know that the gift of life is Christ? We walk in the righteousness of Christ. We reign and walk in newness of life. We now want to obey God, and we will rule over sin and death. The sentence of judgment has been passed in the crucifixion, the sum total of the life of Christ. Those who receive faith by grace and believe will be saved. Grace is astonishing in the lives of lost sinners. We should meditate on the vastness of God’s grace in the face of sin. This meditation will affect our lives in thankfulness and joy.
| Earlier: | Same day: | Later: |
|---|---|---|
| « Why We Need a Savior | None | The Law and Abounding Grace » |
Romans 5:15–19 (Listen)
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.
18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness 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.
(ESV)
Isaiah 52:13–15 (Listen)
13 Behold, my servant shall act wisely;
he shall be high and lifted up,
and shall be exalted.
14 As many were astonished at you—
his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance,
and his form beyond that of the children of mankind—
15 so shall he sprinkle many nations.
Kings shall shut their mouths because of him,
for that which has not been told them they see,
and that which they have not heard they understand.
(ESV)
Isaiah 53:12 (Listen)
12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many,
and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,
because he poured out his soul to death
and was numbered with the transgressors;
yet he bore the sin of many,
and makes intercession for the transgressors.
(ESV)