"UNDERSTANDING IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS"

The Bible repeatedly warns man to exercise caution as to whom and what he hears. We see this exemplified in the first two people, Adam and Eve. They listened to Satan’s words then acted upon their belief in what Satan said. In doing so they disobeyed what God had commanded and incurred God’s wrath. Their punishment was two-fold: spiritual and physical death. We see this from the apostle Paul’s words to the church of Christ at Rome. In Romans 5:12, 15-17, 21 he wrote: “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man (Adam), and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all (not Adam) sinned”. This is significant, as we will see.

Adam and Jesus are compared and contrasted here in Romans 5. God’s eternal purpose is explained from this text. Notice how that which came through Jesus is similar to that which came through Adam.

“But the gift (eternal life – Romans 6:23), is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man (Adam), how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!”

Notice also the contrast between Jesus and Adam: “Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment (from God) followed (came after) one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed (came after) many trespasses and brought justification…For if, by the trespass of the one man (Adam), death reigned through that one man(Adam), how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ…so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” What we learn from this is that death passed on to us from Adam; not his sin (as some teach). Death has passed on to us because all have sinned, as Adam did (v. 12). [All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God – Romans 3:23]

WE ARE NOT BORN SINNERS BECAUSE ADAM SINNED; WE BECOME SINNERS WHEN WE COMMIT SIN, JUST AS ADAM BECAME A SINNER WHEN HE DISOBEYED!

[The wages of sin is death – Romans 6:23] Which is why death passed on to us from Adam; it was the ‘wage’ (consequence) of disobedience. The same ‘wage’ passed. In like manner, ‘life’ has passed on to us through Christ, for grace came to us through Christ (v. 21) and John 1:17[eternal life was thus a ‘gift’ of God through Jesus – Romans 6:23]

When we obey, as Christ did (Hebrews 5:8-9), the ‘gift’ is received. We do not receive the ‘gift’ without our own obedience any more than we incur the ‘wage’ from another’s disobedience. In other words we are not punished because of Adam’s disobedience; nor do we receive the ‘gift’ based upon Christ’s obedience. This was what God purposed from eternity. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life THROUGH JESUS CHRIST our Lord.” Christ’s obedience to the will of God made it possible for us to be made righteous (v. 19). But we also have to obey God’s will just as He did. We can understand how Adam’s sin brought death, through understanding how Jesus’ obedience brought life. They stand in contrast to each other, yet occurred in a similar fashion.

Notice: Adam disobeyed; this constituted sin, and the consequence of that disobedience was death. Death passed on to all who sinned after the manner of Adam’s transgression. Again, it is not that Adam’s transgression passed on to us, but because our sins were of the same nature as Adam’s; we incurred the same PENALTY as Adam—death, which is separation from God. This is why Isaiah would write, “…your iniquities have separated between you and your God...” (Isaiah 59:1-2).

Now, let’s notice the ‘nature’ of Adam’s sin. Our sin and Adam’s sin were similar in nature in that we, as Adam, disobeyed commands from the same being who gave to us life—GOD. Likewise, Jesus obeyed. This constituted righteousness and the gift to all who obey Him is eternal life; this LIFE passes on to all who obey after the manner of Jesus’ obedience. It is not that Jesus’ righteousness passes on to us, but because our obedience is to be of the same nature as Jesus’, we have righteousness imputed to us.

Notice from Hebrews 5:8-9 – “ Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him…” The obedience of Jesus provides a pattern. Our obedience is to be of the same nature as His. The apostle Paul described it this way in Philippians 2:8, “He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Jesus died FOR our sin. We are called upon to die TO our sin. God’s righteousness is revealed in the gospel (Romans 1:17). It is attained through faith and was witnessed by the Law and the prophets (Romans 3:21).

The apostle Peter explained it this way, “Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps…He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness” (1 Peter 2:21, 24).

9/10/2020

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