Sin was not
originally part of the world. It
entered through Adam and brought death with it. Although the offense was very simp=
le, it
was deadly. Within this act, =
all
men sinned and subsequently, in time, they have sinned. This includes the time period prio=
r to
the giving of the law. Though=
sin
was not charged before Moses, it was still there because all the effects of
death were present, reigning even over those who did not sin like Adam.
Though there are
similarities between Adam and Christ, there are major dissimilarities betwe=
en
the resulting magnitude of their acts. Adam̵=
7;s
disobedience introduced sin to the world of men. It was one act producing condemnat=
ion
upon each man’s life. We
assume that Christ’s act of giving Himself then comes along and erases
condemnation upon each sinner’s life. No, the magnitude of the gracious =
gift
that reaches us is far more powerful than that. The gracious gift does not come to=
us as
Adam’s did—one act bringing condemnation to the many. God’s gift comes forth from =
many
offenses to one justification.
Christ does not merely undo Adam’s fall, but provides a great,
vast grace that elevates us and causes us to reign (v. 17, next week).