Romans chapter five illustrates that one man was good enough to atone for our sins. Paul goes above and beyond the call of duty here to simplify Christ's sacrifice so all can understand it through his words and imagery. We must first remember, as Paul reminds us, that sin is the result of a choice. Sin did not exist until Adam and Eve disobeyed God. That single act brought sin into the world and made sure that all who are born are born into sin. It also paved the way for Christ, as it showed that we needed a savior.
"8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! 10For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!" – Romans 5:8-10
It's important to see here that Christ's life, and not just His death makes a difference. Yes His death on the cross was an act of physical sacrifice, but the fact that He lived as a man and then rose from the dead again, giving us victory over sin and death is important. It's not that he died, but that He is still alive that counts. Had He not risen from the dead and been given the keys to Hades there would be no victory over sin. We must remember that Christ is still alive and He lives in us when we accept the gift of His sacrifice.
Had Christ died and stayed dead even if He had live the perfect life and was sacrificed as the perfect lamb he would have still be just an ordinary lamb. The sacrifices of the Old Testament were temporary because the sacrifice stayed dead. Christ did not. He is the first to claim victory over death and that is why His sacrifice is infinitely more powerful than any other. We are justified because He still lives on in the hearts of every Christian.
"12Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned— 13for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. 14Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come." – Romans 5:12-14
This is where the victory was needed. I cannot claim to know the mind of God. Since He is omniscient He knew that sin would come into the world, but He still gave man the choice through Adam. Even though God knew all along what Adam would do He still made it a choice and in the same vein provided a way out through Christ. God knew all along that Christ would be the answer to sin, even before the creation of man.
"18Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. 19For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous." – Romans 5:18-19
Doesn't this show how overwhelming the power of God is? One single act of sacrifice is enough to cover all the sins ever committed by billions of beings over the course of thousands of years. Is it any coincidence that as the world population grows, so grows the amount of discord and plain evilness through sin? One only needs to look at the front page of CNN today to see how dismal the world is. As I write this some of the front page stories involve pedophilia, murder, robbery, and slander. These are just a handful of beings making front page headlines. All of this was conquered though by the blood of Christ.
TODAY'S QUESTIONS:
- Why did God allow man a choice if He knew man would sin?
- Would Christ have been necessary if man had never sinned?
- How can one act condemn all of mankind?
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