THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS
The Gospel In Its Fullness

By Dr. David L. Cooper, Th.M., Ph.D., Litt.D.
Biblical Research Monthly

Installment 8
Romans 5:12-6:23

We have now come to the study which presents Adam as the head of the old race and Christ, the antitype, as the head of the new humanity. This passage (Rom. 5:12-21) constitutes a resume of the truths already presented in the epistle.

"Therefore, as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin; and so death passed unto all men, for that all sinned: 13 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 until Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the likeness of Adam's transgression, who is a figure of him that was to come" (Romans 5:12-14).

According verse 12, the trespass of one man brought sin into the world, and with it death. This passage can only be understood in the light of Gen. 1,2. Man was placed in the Garden of Eden, given access to all the trees, even the tree of life, but forbidden to take of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He was warned that to partake of the forbidden fruit would bring death that very day. But man transgressed and death entered the human realm. Death primarily, is separation. That very day Adam was cut off from the life of God and from the tree of life. He was driven from God's presence and separated from spiritual life. Death in these two aspects would have resulted in eternal separation from God if it had not been that the Lord Jesus stepped in the breach and paid the redemption price with His own blood. Thus He conquered him who had the power of death, that is the devil, delivering all those who "through fear of death were all their life-time subject to bondage" (Heb. 2:14,15).

Had man not disobeyed God, he would have developed into a spiritual being according to the original divine plan and purpose (1 Cor. 15:46). But by that one transgression a power that was foreign to his nature entered the human realm and corrupted him, cutting him off from God, the source of life, and death "passed unto all men."

Because sin entered when man transgressed, it was in the world from the days of Adam until the law was given to Moses at Sinai. But "sin is not imputed when there is no law"--God will not hold anyone responsible for disobeying a law which He has never given. Paul, of course, is speaking of the law of Moses. Commandments which were given by the Lord were in force in the days of Abraham: "Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes and my laws" (Gen. 26:5). But these did not have the death penalty attached to them. Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam until Moses, "even over them that had not sinned after the likeness of Adam's transgression."

Adam was made perfect by his Creator. He was to propagate his species, having the power to beget after his own likeness. After he sinned, he did beget children after his likeness--the likeness of his sinful, fallen nature. Thus he was the head of the old race, the race of fallen men and women.

God used certain men, things, and events as types of future or coming things. There is a correspondence between the type and the antitype just as there is between the printer's set type and that which he prints from it. As we shall see in this investigation, Adam stood as the source of the human family in its fallen nature. Christ, on the other hand, stands as the fountain of a new race of people, those who come to Him, are regenerated and given new, spiritual, divine life which manifests itself in daily conduct and deportment.

"But not as the trespass, so also is the free gift. For if by the trespass of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God, and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound unto the many. 16 And not as through one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment came of one unto condemnation, but the free gift came of many trespasses unto justification. 17 For if, by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; much more shall they that receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, even Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:15-17).

In violent contrast to the statement that in Adam the many die--and it is evident from vs. 12 that he means all die, "so death passed unto all men"--we are told that the grace of God and the "gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ," abounds to an even greater degree! Christ tasted death for every man. He made it possible that all might be saved and live. And this life more powerfully moves in the direction of bliss and happiness than does death, which flows in the direction of banishment from the presence of God. The apostle contrasts sin and the consequent condemnation with the free gift and its blessings which lead to justification. The one trespass of that lone prohibition by Adam is contrasted with the innumerable trespasses of the human race. The one trespass brought judgment unto condemnation; through the intervention of Christ, the many sins brought justification unto life. And while death reigned by the trespass of Adam, in a much greater way those who receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness through Christ shall reign--during this present earthly sojourn and throughout all eternity.

"So then as through one trespass the judgment came unto all men to condemnation; even so through one act of righteousness the free gift came unto all men to justification of life. 19 For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one shall the many be made righteous" (Romans 5:18-19).

In Adam's fall, all fell. While his trespass brought universal condemnation, the atoning work of Christ brought justification unto life. Not one single person will be cast into outer darkness because the efficacy of Christ's death was not made available to him--Christ tasted death for every man; whoever believes on him will not perish, but have everlasting life, for God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but to open up the doors of Heaven before every individual (Heb. 2:9; John 3:16, 17).

In vs. 19 what is the significance of "the many"? Does it mean all humanity, as it did in vs. 15? If we accept that interpretation we must conclude that, if all were made sinners by Adam's one transgression, then all will be made righteous through the one act of Christ. But this is contrary to the plain teaching of the entire Word of God. While all were made sinners, an innumerable host will accept the free gift of life, cease to be sinners and become saints. Those then who refuse to accept Christ are the many who are "made sinners" permanently, throughout time and eternity. However, the many who accept Christ are "made righteous" during this life and throughout all eternity through the obedience of our Saviour.

"And the law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly: 21 that, as sin reigned in death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 5:20-21).

Paul said in Gal. 3:19 that the law was added because of transgressions. It seems that only by the galling yoke of the law can people realize their helpless, hopeless condition.

The Lord knows our circumstances. He knows the battles we have to fight, and gives added grace in the form of help and strength to lift us above our circumstances and enable us to glorify God in whatever condition we find ourselves. Sin has reigned in death throughout the ages. It is God's plan and purpose that, for those who accept the atonement of Christ, grace shall in the same manner reign through righteousness unto eternal life. Our salvation is all by Christ. All to Him we owe. Let us therefore enter into the fullness of His peace, joy and blessing and avail ourselves of His grace that is sufficient to meet every trial and difficulty.

SANCTIFICATION

New life is imparted upon accepting Christ as the all sufficient atonement and the Holy Spirit enters into the soul, applying the blood of Christ to the believing, trusting heart. All who accept the Lord Jesus Christ are being sanctified in Him. Paul addressed the believers in Rome as "saints" and, as can be seen by scanning the Scriptures, he recognized all believers as saints--those who are being sanctified. The degree of sanctification and the rapidity with which one grows in grace and knowledge of the truth depends upon the surrender--the willingness of the heart to yield to Christ. Having been transported from the world and transplanted into the kingdom of the Son of God's love, the believer is to grow in grace. He is to desire the sincere milk and meat of the Word so that he may grow thereby.

Just as there are three tenses to salvation, past, present and future, there are three stages of sanctification. We are sanctified by the blood of Christ when we accept Him as Saviour. We are constantly being kept by the Holy Spirit throughout our Christian life: "For by one offering he [Christ] hath perfected for ever them that are [being] sanctified" (Heb. 10:14). The believer must yearn for a closer walk with Christ and must be willing to separate himself from everything that hinders his progress and fellowship with the Lord.

"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. We who died to sin, how shall we any longer live therein? 3 Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him through baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:1-4).

In the preceding chapter the apostle has shown that, on account of the great multitude of sins, Christ came and died for mankind. Anticipating that certain ones might misunderstand his teachings and conclude that one is entitled to continue in sin so that he might enjoy a greater amount of grace, Paul asks, "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?" In answering his own question, the apostle uses the strongest negative possible--"God forbid," or "May this never be." We, in accepting Christ, die to sin--are separated from it, the bonds broken from our souls. How shall we continue therein? Paul then questions whether they have fully understood the significance of their baptism. They were dead to sin through the body of Christ and were buried symbolically with Him in baptism. Dead men are buried, not live ones. Those who are buried with the Lord in baptism are raised to walk in a new life: "Wherefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new." (II Cor. 5:17)

"For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection; 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away, that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin; 7 for he that hath died is justified from sin" (Romans 6:5-7).

Just as Christ died and was raised in the new life, so we die to sin and are raised to walk in newness of life; all these spiritual realities are set forth in the symbolism of our baptism.

Paul said to these Roman Christians that they were crucified with Christ; yet Jesus' death had occurred far away, in Palestine. So the word crucified in this instance is not to be taken literally. What was it that was done at the Cross for each one of us? Only at the crucifixion was sin's power broken. The liberty, freedom and release that you and I received when we accepted Christ are the result of what was actually done when He was nailed to the Cross. When Paul says, "that the body of sin might be done away," he is saying that the power of the sinful nature is broken and that we are no longer in bondage to sin. Satan is a big bluffer. He will try to make the believer think that he still has to continue in the way in which he lived prior to his conversion, but this is Satan's lie. The believer has been liberated from Satan and from the power of sin.

"But if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him; 9 knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death no more hath dominion over him. 10 For the death that he died, he died unto sin once: but the life that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11 Even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus" (Romans 6:8-11).

Just as Christ, after being raised from the dead, never died again, so the one who dies with Christ is spiritually alive in Him forevermore and sin is not to have dominion over him. The word reckon in this passage is a banking term. One who is born again is to make his calculation upon the basis that he has died to sin; that he has the new life of Christ; and that he is raised with Him to walk in this new life from that time on.

"Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey the lusts thereof: 13 neither present your members unto sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves unto God, as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under law, but under grace" (Romans 6:12-14).

We have been released from sin. Christ won the victory over it and sin is not to reign in our mortal bodies or cause us to serve the lusts of the flesh. We are not to present our bodies unto sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but to present our faculties, talents and all that we have to God, as people who are spiritually alive. It cannot be emphasized too much that we who have accepted Christ are not under law in any sense of the term. If we were, there would be no salvation for us. Where there is no law there is no transgression--God has put salvation upon this basis in order that the promise may be sure to all those who walk in the steps of faith, as Abraham did.

Having been liberated from the law, shall we interpret our liberty as license? "God forbid!" (vs. 15). "Know ye not, that to whom ye present yourselves as servants unto obedience, his servants ye are whom ye obey" (vs. 16a). A general rule for mankind is that if one presents himself to Satan, allowing him to be his master, he does so unto death. If he presents himself to Christ and his members as instruments of righteousness to be used of the Lord for His glory, his life will be characterized by obedience unto righteousness.

"But thanks be to God, that, whereas ye were servants of sin, ye became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto ye were delivered; 18 and being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness. 19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye presented your members as servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity, even so now present your members as servants to righteousness unto sanctification" (Romans 6:17-19).

This thought is further carried out in vss. 17 and 18. Paul is thankful that whereas the Roman Christians had at one time been servants of sin, when they heard the message of the Gospel they received Christ. Having been made free from sin, Paul urged that they continue in this state of surrender so that Christ might work out His perfect plan in their lives (vs. 19). Before our conversion we are servants of sin. We can say with David, "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me" (Ps. 51:5).

"20 For when ye were servants of sin, ye were free in regard of righteousness. 21 What fruit then had ye at that time in the things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 22 But now being made free from sin and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto sanctification, and the end eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:20-23).

The possibility of every conceivable sin lies dormant in the heart of the unregenerate soul. Naturally then, those who have never accepted Christ are servants of sin and "free in regard of righteousness" (vs. 20).

Paul in vs. 21 asks, To what could these Roman Christians point, with pride and joy, in their pre-Christian experience? Nothing. They were ashamed of their former lives and conduct, and in the end those things they had done as heathen, unregenerated persons would have brought death. But having accepted Christ and died to sin, they had become servants of God and were secure in Him.

While those who serve under Satan's lordship will receive the wages of condemnation and eternal death, the Lord Jesus Christ offers eternal life as a free gift from God. Salvation cannot be purchased or earned; it must be accepted as a free gift of God's sovereign grace.

Dear reader, have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Saviour? I did not ask if you have joined any church--simply if you have accepted Christ. Have you died to sin? Have you been made a new creature in Christ Jesus? If not, receive Him now, in your heart of hearts, then confess Him before men. Follow Him daily, doing His will and always praying, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?"