ONE MAN'S SIN CONDEMNED US AND ONE MAN'S DEATH JUSTIFIED US

PROCLAMATION

“Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people.”  Romans 5:18 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the believers in Rome.  After stating that we are justified by faith, (Romans 5:1) he said that  should glory in our sufferings because suffering produces perseverance, and perseverance produces character, which produces hope. (Romans 5:3-5)  Then Paul said that sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin. (Romans 5:12)  He also said that God’s abundant provision of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through one man, Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:17)  He summed it up by saying that one man’s sin condemned all people and that one man’s righteous act justified all people. (Romans 5:18)

 

APPLICATION

Through the disobedience of one man all of us were made sinners, and through the obedience of one man all of us were given the opportunity to be made righteous. (Romans 5:19)  Sin leads to death, but through the grace of God, righteousness leads to eternal life through belief in Jesus, The Christ. (Romans 5:21)  Jesus came into this world so that all people might be saved, but only those who believe in Him will be saved.  Adam’s sin led to all of us being born into sin. (Psalm 51:5)  However, belief in Jesus, The Christ, will lead us to salvation and eternal life. (John 3:16 and Romans 10:9)

 

BELIEVERS ARE FORGIVEN OF EVERY SIN

PROCLAMATION

“Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.  Through Him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the Law of Moses.”  Acts 13:38-39 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

These words were written by Luke, the physician, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Luke records that The Holy Spirit directed Barnabas and Saul, who is also called Paul, to leave Antioch and go to Pisidian Antioch by way of Cyprus. (Acts 13:1-13)  There, on the Sabbath, they went to the synagogue and sat.  After the reading of the law, the leaders of the synagogue asked them to speak. (Acts 13:14-15)  Paul stood up and preached the gospel, and he ended with the above two versus. (Acts 13:16-39)  Afterwards, he was asked to speak again on the next Sabbath and Jews got jealous when almost everyone in the city gathered to hear him. (Acts 13:42-47)

 

APPLICATION

Those of us who believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, The Christ, are forgiven of all of our sins, past, present, and future.  We are no longer under the Law of Moses; we are under the grace of God.  This forgiveness of sin applies not only to the Jewish believers, but to the Gentile believers also. (Acts 13:46-48)  The Law of Moses cannot save anyone.  It only serves to reveal our shortcomings.  Only those of us who are covered by the blood of Jesus can be saved and have our sins forgiven. (1 John 1:7)

 

THE PREDICTION OF THE HUMILIATION AND CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST

PROCLAMATION

“But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed.”  Isaiah 53:5 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

These are the words of The Lord God which were spoken to the people of Israel through the prophet Isaiah.  Chapter fifty-two of The Bible Book of Isaiah begins with a call to the people of Jerusalem telling them that they will be freed from their oppressors. (Isaiah 52:1-12)  However, the remainder of the chapter deals with the prediction of the crucifixion of Christ (Isaiah 52:13-15) and fits better with chapter fifty-three.  Here, Isaiah states that the scourging which Christ was to endure would leave Him so physically marred that He could not be recognized. (Isaiah 52:14)  In chapter fifty-three he begins with the earthly childhood of Jesus, The Christ, then His rejection by His people, as well as His pain and suffering for our sins. (Isaiah 53:1-5)  He tells of the silence and the attitude of submission as Christ endured the suffering. (Isaiah 53:6-9)  He ends with the depiction of the will of God that Christ would suffer, and that it is His will that Christ be exalted. (Isaiah 53:10-12)

APPLICATION

All of us have sinned, (Romans 3:23) and the price for our sins is death. (Romans 6:23)  Jesus, The Christ, the only man free from sin, paid the debt which was owed for our sins with His crucifixion. (John 1:29, 1 Corinthians 15:3, and Isaiah 53:11)  It is by the shedding of His blood that we are justified and saved. (Romans 5:9 and Hebrews 9:12)  He was not killed at Calvary; He willingly gave up His life for us. (Matthew 27:50, Mark 15:39, Luke 23:46, and John 19:30)  We should thank God daily for the birth, life, crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.  Without what He did for us, we would be lost.  The Lord God laid on Christ “… the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6) and made His life an offering for our sins. (Isaiah 53:10)  Remember, this prediction of the humiliation and crucifixion of Christ was spoken by the prophet Isaiah approximately 600 to 700 years before the earthly birth of Christ.  Be thankful.

ONE MAN'S SIN CONDEMNED US AND ONE MAN'S DEATH AND RESURRECTION JUSTIFIED US

Proclamation:

“Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people.”  Romans 5:18 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the believers in Rome.  After stating that we are justified by faith (Romans 5:1) and that we glory in our sufferings because suffering produces perseverance, and perseverance produces character, which produces hope, (Romans 5:3-5) Paul said that sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin. (Romans 5:12)  Then he said that God’s abundant provision of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through one man, Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:17)  Then he summed it up by saying that one man’s sin condemned all people and one man’s righteous act justified all people. (Romans 5:18)

Application:

Through the disobedience of one man all of us were made sinners, and through the obedience of one man all of us were given the opportunity to be made righteous. (Romans 5:19)  Sin leads to death, but through the grace of God, righteousness leads to eternal life through belief in Jesus, The Christ. (Romans 5:21)  Jesus came so that all might be saved, but only those who believe in Him will be saved.  Adam’s sin led to all of us being born into sin. (Psalm 51:5)  However, belief in Jesus, The Christ, will lead to salvation and eternal life. (John 3:16 and Romans 10:9)

FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD

Proclamation:

“This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.  There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”  Romans 3:22-24 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the Apostle Paul.  He begins this chapter by continuing the discussion regarding Jews and Gentiles that he began in the previous chapter.  He states that the Jews were given The Word of God (Roman 3:2) and they were God’s chosen people.  However, after the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, The Christ, all who believe in Him are justified and through faith in Him there is no difference between Jew and Gentile.  Because all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all need redemption through Christ.

Application:

All of us, each and every one of us, have sinned. (Romans 3:10 and 3:23)  The penalty for our sin is death and eternal separation from The Lord God. (Romans 6:23 and Revelation 20:12-15)  However, Jesus, The Christ, who was without sin, paid the penalty for our sins with His death and all who believe in Him and His birth, life, crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection will be deemed righteous and be given eternal life. (John 3:16)  By His sacrificial atonement on Calvary and the shedding of His blood, Christ died in our place so that we might have the opportunity for salvation.  If we confess Him with our mouth and believe in Him in our heart, we will be saved (Romans 10:9-10) and our ethnicity or nationality will not matter. 

THOSE WHO HAVE FAITH ARE BLESSED

Proclamation:

"Consider Abraham: 'He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.'  Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham.  The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: 'All nations will be blessed through you.'  So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith."  Galatians 3:6-9 (NIV)

Explanation:

These Holy Spirit inspired words were written by the Apostle Paul to the believers in Galatia.  He told them that they were not blessed because they obeyed the law.  He said that they were blessed because of their faith in God, just as Abraham, the father of the faithful, was blessed.

Application:

Those of us who believe in God and have faith in God are blessed by God, just as Abraham, who is considered the father of the faithful, was blessed.  We are justified by our faith just as Abraham was justified by his faith.  Abraham believed in God and righteousness was credited to him.  All of the blessings that we receive are because of Jesus Christ.  Salvation is not possible through faith in any other but Jesus, The Christ.  Jesus said, "No man comes to The Father except through Me." (John 14:6)

Disobedience Justified By Obedience

"Consequently, 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."  Romans 5:18 (NIV)

The Apostle Paul, the Damascus road Christian convert, wrote in his letter to the believers in Rome that justification is the pardon of sin and the gift of eternal life through righteousness of Jesus Christ our Lord.  He said that the act of one man condemned all men, and the act of one man redeemed all men, all who chose to accept redemption.

It was through the disobedience of Adam in the garden which condemned all men.  It was through the obedience of Jesus that all men were justified.  In both cases, many were effected by the actions of the one.  The righteousness of Jesus, The Christ, His obedience to the will of God, through and including His death on the cross, paid the price for the sins of man, and thereby provided the justification of man in the eyes of God.  While the pardon of sin is available to all men, the gift of justification is only given to believers, and thereby so is the gift of eternal life.  This gift of ours, Christ paid for with His life, with His crucifixion, and His death on the cross.  For that He deserves all glory, honor, and praise.  He is worthy of our worship.  

Our Words Can Condemn Us

"The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.  But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.  For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."  Matthew 12:35-37 (NIV)

Speaking directly to the Pharisees, and probably indirectly to the surrounding multitude, Jesus The Christ said good things come out of good men and bad things come out of bad men.  On judgement day, all men will have to give an account for every spoken word, and by their words they will be justified or condemned.

We need to be very careful about what we say.  Our words are very powerful, not only for their effect on others but also for their future effect on us on judgement day.  Good people say good things to other people.  If what we are about to say is not going to help someone, educate them, correct them (in a loving manner), or direct them to Christ, then we probably ought to be quiet.

We Are Blessed Chosen Predestined And Special

"Praise be to The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will; to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in The One He loves. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment ..." Ephesians 1:3-10 (NIV)

In this letter from the Apostle Paul to the Christians in Ephesus, who he had never met but he had heard of the demonstrations of their faith, he tells them that the saints of God are special. They are blessed, chosen, and predestined by God, according to His will, to receive His glorious grace through Jesus Christ.

As believers in Christ we are also special. We are blessed in more ways than we can count, we
have been redeemed, our sins have been forgiven, we have been given wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, and our heavenly Father has even more good things are in store for us when the fullness of time has come.

Righteousness By Faith To All Who Believe

"This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Romans 3:22-24 (NIV)

The Apostle Paul told the Christians in Rome that the righteousness that was imputed to them comes from God through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe in Him, because we have all sinned and we must be justified by His grace.

We are not "innocent" of sin, we have been declared "not guilty" because Jesus paid the price for all of us who believe in Him and it is by His grace that we are justified and declared righteous. We ought to thank Him every day for what He did for us.

Those Who Have Faith Are Blessed

"Consider Abraham: 'He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.' Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: 'All nations will be blessed through you.' So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith." Galatians 3:6-9 (NIV)

The Apostle Paul told the Galatians that they were not blessed because they obeyed the law. They were blessed because of their faith in God, just as Abraham, the father of the faithful, was blessed.

Those of us who believe in God and have faith in God are blessed by God, just as Abraham, who is considered the father of the faithful, was blessed. We are justified by our faith just as Abraham was justified by his faith. All of the blessings that we receive are because of Jesus Christ. Salvation is not possible through faith in any other but Jesus, The Christ. Jesus said, "no man comes to The Father except through Me." (John 14:6)

Blessed And Forgiven

"Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin The Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit." Psalms 32:1-2 (NIV)

King David knew that a man was blessed if God has forgiven him or his sins. He also knew that when God forgives a man of his sins, the sins that he has committed will never count against him.

Believers know that the Bible states that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9) Jesus died for our sins and it is by His blood that our sins are covered. When God looks at believers, He sees the blood of Jesus and not our sin sick souls. We are blessed because our sins are forgiven and not held against us thanks to Jesus, The Christ.

Condemnation By One Man Justification By One Man

"Therefore, 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 ... For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, 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. Consequently, 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. For 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 5:12 & 17-19 (NIV)

To the Christians in Rome the Apostle Paul taught that because of Adam's trespass and disobedience all men were made sinners and condemned. And because of the righteousness
and obedience of Jesus, all men who believe were justified and made righteous.

Adam's sin condemned all men. Jesus Christ afforded justification and salvation to all men by His crucifiction, death, burial, and resurrection. He who was without sin, took on all of the sins of the world to justify all men. He paid the price for us. Justification is available for each of us, if we only believe.

From Suffering To Perseverance To Character To Hope

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by The Holy Spirit, whom He has given us." Romans 5:1-5 (NIV)

The Apostle Paul argues that God justifies sinners on the basis of their faith. Once We are justified, we have peace with God and we enjoy the grace of God.

Our salvation is based upon our belief in Jesus Christ. Our faith in Him and His love for us allows us to enjoy hope for the future. We can rejoice now, whatever the circumstance or situation, because our current sufferings will lead perseverance, which will produce strong character within us, which will strengthen our faith, and give us hope for a better tomorrow. We are blessed to enjoy the love of God.

Righteousness Is Credited To Us Not Earned By Us

"Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,  being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.  This is why 'it was credited to him as righteousness.'  The words 'it was credited to him' were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness, for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.  He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification."  Romans 4:20-25 (NIV)

In his letter to the Romans, the Apostle Paul used Abraham as an example to prove his point that we are justified by faith alone and not by works.  Abraham, the father of the faithful, was not a sin free man, but righteousness was credited to him because of his belief and his faith in God.

It is not our previous sins that get in the way of our being used by God, but it is our disbelief and our lack of faith, or our insufficient faith, that gets in the way.  Our righteousness is not something we earned or worked for, it is credited to us by God because of our belief and faith in Him.  Our faith is weak because we do not exercise it enough or very often.  We need to trust in God and step out on faith more often and let God use us as an example to others of what He can do for those who believe.

Confess Believe And Be Saved

"That if you confess with you mouth, 'Jesus is Lord', and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." Romans 10:9-10 (NIV)

Confession is more than an acknowledgement, for even the devil and his demons know this to be true. (James 2:19) Confession is a personal conviction, repenting from sin, trusting in Jesus, and submitting to Him as Lord. Justification means that the sinner is declared innocent in the sight of God by the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

If we confess and believe, we will be saved from the penalty of sin.

We Are No Longer Condemned

"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after The Spirit." Romans 8:1

Because justification is by faith alone on the basis of God's grace, no sin that a believer commit can be held against him. The penalty for the believer's sins was paid by Christ and righteousness was imputed to the believer.

This does not mean that believers loose their sinful nature and will not sin. It means that believers are no longer slaves to sin. Those who are in The Spirit are led by The Spirit and choose to yield to The Spirit.