And ultimately, it is because of this principle of Adam as our representative that we can have hope that God would provide another representative, a second Adam that could represent us and live the life that we were created for in relationship with God and one another. And as the Apostle Paul continues in this section of this letter, we will discover a timeless truth that provides hope of the possibility of rescue as a result of this second Adam, this second representative. So let’s discover this timeless truth together, beginning in Romans 5:15:
But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression 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 to the many.In this verse, we see the Apostle Paul reveal for us a timeless truth that provides us hope of a rescue from the selfishness and rebellion that plague humanity as we reflect our original representative, Adam. And that timeless truth is that we are able to be rescued when Jesus Christ is our representative. In verse 15, Paul states that the free gift is not like the transgression. Paul then unpacks this statement by explaining that unlike the selfish rebellion and sin of Adam, which resulted in all of humanity following in his footsteps of selfishness and rebellion, the free and gracious gift of rescue that God extends to all humanity through Jesus Christ abounds to the many.
And it is here where we see the first of three reasons revealed to us by Paul as to why Jesus Christ is a better representative. First, Paul explains that Jesus is a better representative based on His actions. While Adam’s action of selfish rebellion and sin was credited to our account in a way that separated us from the relationship with God that we were created for, the transformational actions of Jesus Christ provided all humanity the opportunity to be rescued. Jesus entered into humanity in order to live the life we refused to live and die the death that we deserved to die for our selfishness and rebellion. And it was in Jesus willingness to be our representative and His actions here on earth that overcame the actions of our original representative, Adam.
But not only is Jesus a better representative based on His actions here on earth. As Paul continues to compare Adam and Jesus, we see a second comparison that provides a second reason why Jesus is a better representative, beginning in verse 16:
The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification. For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.In these verses, we see the Apostle Paul continue to compare and contrast the implications that the lives of Adam and Jesus have as our representatives. And it is in these comparisons that we discover the second reason why Jesus is a better representative than Adam. And that second reason is that Jesus is a better representative based on the results. First, in verse 16, Paul reveals for us a stark contrast in terms of the immediate results that Adam and Jesus life produce. Paul explains that the immediate result of Adam’s selfishness and rebellion was judgment and condemnation. All humanity was judged as a result of our representative Adam’s act of selfishness and rebellion. And the judgment was that all humanity was condemned; all humanity was pronounced guilty of having a huge problem with God. Our original representative, Adam, brought judgment and condemnation to all.
Paul then explains that unlike our original representative, Adam, the immediate result of Jesus life, death, and resurrection was the free gift of justification. In spite of the countless acts of selfishness and rebellion that have been committed throughout history, the transformational intervention of Jesus Christ, who entered into humanity in order to be our representative by allowing Himself to be treated as though He lived our selfish and sinful life so that God the Father could treat us as though we lived Jesus life, resulted in the opportunity for all humanity to be declared not guilty when it comes to having a problem with God. Unlike the first Adam who represented us, Jesus, as the second Adam, is a much better representative based on the immediate results of His life. For while Adam brought judgment, guilt, and condemnation, Jesus brought the free gift of rescue that declares us not guilty of having a problem with God.
Second, in verse 17, Paul reveals for us a stark contrast in terms of the ongoing and continual results that Adam and Jesus life produce. Paul explains that the ongoing result of the selfishness and rebellion of Adam was that death reigned over all of humanity. Death was large and in charge of the lives of all humanity after Adam’s first act of selfishness and rebellion. The evil power of selfishness and rebellion which entered the world upon Adam’s act of selfishness and rebellion, resulted in a separation from God and the relationship with God that we were created to experience for all eternity.
Paul then explains that unlike our original representative, Adam, the ongoing and continual result of Jesus life, death, and resurrection was eternal life in the relationship with God that they were created for in Heaven. Those who respond to what God has done for us through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection by believing, trusting and following Jesus as Lord and Leader will experience the forgiveness of selfishness and sin and entering into the right relationship with God that they were created for. Instead of death exercising authority, we will experience eternal life as followers of Jesus. Unlike the first Adam who represented us, Jesus, as the second Adam, is a much better representative based on the ongoing and continual results of His life. For while Adam brought humanity death, Jesus Christ brought humanity the opportunity to experience life.
Third, in verse 18-19, Paul summarizes the stark contrast in terms of the immediate and ongoing results that Adam and Jesus life produce by reinforcing the timeless reality that one man’s act affected all men. First, in verse 18, we are reminded that through Adam’s one act of selfishness and rebellion, all of humanity was condemned as being guilty of having a huge problem with God; a problem that resulted in physical, spiritual, and eternal separation from God. However, through Jesus one act righteousness, there resulted justification of life to all men. When Paul uses the word righteousness here, he is referring to an action that meets the expectations of what is right or just.
Paul’s point here is that Jesus death on the cross satisfied God’s absolute justice by paying the penalty that all humanity faced as a result of the act of our first representative, Adam. And because of this one act by Jesus, justification is available to all humanity. All of humanity has the opportunity to be declared not guilty and experiencing the eternal life that they were created for with God.
And in case the members of the church at Rome missed his point, the Apostle Paul reminds the readers of his letter of this timeless truth again in verse 19. What is so interesting here is that the word disobedience, in the language this letter was originally written in, literally means to refuse to listen.
Paul then explains that Adam’s refusal to listen and instead selfishly rebel against God cause all humanity to be treated as sinners. This word, sinners, paints us a word picture of someone being treated as outsiders. Paul then explains that through Jesus willingness to allow Himself to be treated as though He lived our selfish and sinful lives so that God the Father could treat us as though we lived Jesus perfect life, that all humanity has the opportunity to be treated as insiders who are involved in a right relationship with God. Because while Adam brought all humanity at odds with God, Jesus Christ brought all humanity the opportunity to be right with God.
Paul then concludes this section of his letter with a third reason why Jesus is a better representative than Adam. We will discover that reason tomorrow.
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