ROMANS UNWRAPPED 84

"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 has abounded unto many.   Romans 5v15

Verses 15,16 & 17 are an exposition of Paul's statement in verse 14 that "Adam is a type of Christ."   In doing so he is not so much thinking of the comparison between them rather the contrast.   He uses the construction "not so" then "so also"; what he means is that the act of Jesus Christ is altogether different from the act of Adam in its scope and accomplishment; not only so but the act of Jesus Christ is vastly superior to the act of Adam as made clear in his use of the phrase "much more".  

These verses are very difficult to explain because Paul is continually repeating himself and an examination of the works of scholars and commentators would reveal just how difficult it is.   However Paul is intent on making us understand exactly the difference between being in Adam and being in Christ, and it is vital all of us grasp the true meaning of this.   I am indebted to Dr Thomas Constable, from Dallas Theological College for his thoughts on these verses, which I will summarise here.   His point is that Paul is asserting the differences between the work of Adam and the work of Christ.   Dr. Constable puts it like this:-

• verse 15   -   he contrasts the ESSENCE of the two acts.
• verse 16   -   he contrasts the DIVINE VERDICTS on the two acts.
• verse 17   -   he contrasts the GLOBAL CONSEQUENCES of the two acts.

In the first one verse 15 the essence of Adam's act in Eden is described as an offence.   We are all aware what an offence is today, and it was no different back then, it is an act of transgression, of trespass into a realm belonging to someone else, and an insult to the person against whom the offence is committed (in this case God).   The contrast is in the phrase "the grace of God" which is obviously the opposite to what you might expect.   Adam brought an offence to God, and in Jesus Christ, the second man God brings his grace to man.   In effect Adam curses God, and God blesses man.   This is the first pronouncement of  "the grace of God" as the means of the gift of salvation , although he has mentioned it before in chapter 3.   From here on right through to the end of chapter 8 is nothing less than an explanation of the different facets of this glorious truth, the grace of God.   Adam's offensive act against God brought misery and death to many.   God's free grace to Adam's progeny in Jesus Christ has brought untold blessing to many.   It is hard to believe that one man could cause all this misery leading to death, but if we understand it, we can accept that the work of one man can undo it and reverse it and indeed surpass it.   The offence brings punishment, the free gift brings pardon.  

It is actually amazing just how much people are offended by this gospel message, because God is offering it free.   Many don't like that idea, that by means of a gift you don't deserve nor which we can earn, an offended God is willing to bless us.   The scripture abounds with this glorious GIFT OF GOD, which is offered free!   We readily accept that if we offend we deserve punishment, we merit it but we don't like the idea of something so glorious as this being offered free, because it makes us feel worthless.   That salvation is the gift of God is seen in scriptures like Acts 8v20; Romans 5v15; Romans 5v16; Romans 5v17; Romans 5v18; Romans 6v23; 2nd Corinthians 9v15; Ephesians 2v8.   It is indeed a glorious truth and salvation is the free gift of God......   so why don't you just take it?   A gracious God, far more gracious than you and I could ever be, is offering to the condemned sons of Adam a free pardon and a home in heaven! .......   so why don't you just take it?   

Adam's act of offence meant many died, Christ's act of righteousness means that many will be saved, but there is a difference.   In the markings of the Greek language the many associated with Adam's sin is slightly different from the many associated with Christ's salvation.    In the second "many" the article is objective pointing to a very definite group, as opposed to other groups.   Adam's sin affected the whole of humanity, Christ's salvation affects a very specific group of people, namely those who believe, those who are in Christ.   There is no concept of limitation in the work of Christ, the only limitation is in human self will which refuses to accept God's gift and thus place limits on the operation of the work of Christ.   God does not want robots in heaven, He does not want people there who don't want to be there.   There is an undeniable truth in the bible, that all of us need to come to terms with, and that is that God has made available His salvation to all as a free gift, and so now we are responsible for our own destiny.    I repeat there is no limitation in the work of Christ, the only limitation is what we will place upon it.  

Sadly the reality is that many will refuse it and suffer the eternal consequences.

There is another difference in the essence of the two acts, and that is seen in the use of the word "abundance" and we will continue this theme tomorrow.