Romans: Theology for EverybodySample

In the Bible, Paul called Jesus the “last Adam” (1 Corinthians 15:45) because he is the remedy for idolatry and the redeemer of humanity, whereas the first Adam was the source of idolatry and the downfall of humanity. The first Adam turned from the Father in a garden; the last Adam turned to the Father in a garden. The first Adam was naked and unashamed; the last Adam was naked and bore our shame. The first Adam’s sin brought us thorns; the last Adam wore a crown of thorns. The first Adam substituted himself for God; the last Adam was God substituting himself for sinners. The first Adam sinned at a tree; the last Adam bore our sin on a tree. The first Adam died as a sinner; the last Adam died for sinners.

We die in Adam but are born again in Christ: “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22). In Adam there is condemnation, but in Christ there is salvation. In Adam, we receive a sin nature, but in Christ, we receive a new nature. In Adam we’re cursed, but in Christ, we’re blessed. In Adam there is wrath and death, but in Christ, there is love and life.

The summary of Paul’s argument in Romans 5:12-21 and elsewhere is that there are two teams in life; each of us takes the field with one of them, and the decisions made by the team captains affect the whole team, for better or worse. Not only does the captain win or lose; his whole team wins or loses along with him. One team has Adam as its captain. The other has Jesus as its captain. While there are many ways to categorize people in our society, the Bible has these two categories—those whose identity is in Adam and share in his defeat and those whose identity is in Christ and share in his victory.

What team are you on? 

Reflection:

• According to Romans 5:12-13, how is sin not just actions we choose but a deeper nature we have? Why is this important to understand? How does this help us to focus on sharing the gospel with people to become new rather than just pushing them to be a better version of their old nature?
• Reading Romans 5:12-21, make two lists. On one list, make note of everything that explains people who are born in Adam as sinners. On the other list, make note of everything that explains people who are born again in Christ as saints.
• How has your view of God, yourself, and others changed since meeting Jesus?