“Consequently, then, as it was through one offense for all mankind
for condemnation, thus also it is through one just award for all mankind for justifying of
life. For even as, through the disobedience of the one man, the many were
constituted siners, thus also, through the obedience of the One, the many shall be
constituted righteous” (Romans 5:18,19 Concordant Literal New Testament).
Two persons, two acts, and two results affecting the entire human race
are brought before us in this passage of Scripture. Adam’s disobedience and its
race-wide, life-destroying result, presents a dark and distressing situation. The
obedience of Jesus Christ and the race-wide, life-giving result is bright and glorious.
It is not strange that the distressing part of this passage is usually
believed without hesitation, but the bright and glorious part is disbelieved?
Conditions and limitations are forced into the part dealing with the life and
righteousness that comes to all through Jesus Christ, until its plain statements are
flatly contradicted. Lack of faith in what the Scriptures clearly state, rather than
lack of intelligence to grasp the meaning, has always been one of the greatest hindrances
to the correct understanding of God’s word.
In order to understand the effectiveness and success of the saving work
of Jesus Christ set forth in this passage it is only necessary to believe implicitely what
is clearly stated.
In the flolowing arrangement the contrasting sections are placed in
parallel columns as an aid in comparing them. Notice the close correspondence of the
clauses.
CONSEQUENTLY, THEN,
AS |
THUS ALSO |
|
Through one offense
Into all mankind
Into condemnation |
Through one righteous award
Into all mankind
Into justifying of life |
FOR
| EVEN AS |
THUS ALSO |
|
Through the disobedience
Of the one man,
The many were
Constituted sinners |
Through the obedience
Of the One,
The many shall be
Constituted righteous. |
Adam’s one offense brought the condemnation of
death upon all mankind (Rom.5:12). None escape this
condemnation–’“all are dying” (1 Cor.15:22). THUS ALSO, the
obedience of Jesus Christ will bring justifying of life into all mankind–“All
shall be made alive” (1 Cor.15:22).
The matter of faith or acceptance is not introduced on either side in
this passage. The subject is not eonian life; neither is it the salvation of the
elect. When these are being discussed, faith, and acceptance have their place.
Neither is the time of the justifying indicated. All are not
brought into this part of salvation at the same time. The point being emphasized is the
fact that all mankind shall be constituted righteous through the obedience of Jesus
Christ, just as surely as they were constituted sinners through the disobedience of Adam.
This fact is stated in verse 18, and the inspired explanation follows in verse 19.
notice how the “for” links the two verses together.
But someone will ask, Why does it say “the many” in verse 19
instead of “all”? It is because the one disobedient man plus “the
many” equals all mankind constituted sinners. The One obedient Man plus
“the many” equals all mankind constituted righteous.
That “the one” plus “the many” constituted sinners,
equals all mankind, few, if any, will deny. EVEN SO “the One” plus “the
many” constituted righteous is equally all-inclusive and assures justification of
life for all mankind.
A literal translation of Romans 5:12 explains how all mankind were
constituted sinners. Notice exactly what is stated: “Therefore, even as through
one man sin entered into the world, and through sin death, and thus DEATH passed through
into all mankind ON WHICH all sinned.”.
The Scriptures make one man responsible for the entrance of sin into
the world. Adam's sin brought death, first the dying process, then the death state
itself. Adam's offspring inherited death or mortality from him, and because of this,
or on account of this, all sinned.
Four different states or conditions possible to man are indicated in
the Scriptures. First, that of Adam before he sinned, a neutral condition, not
mortal, not immortal. He is said to be a “living soul” (Gen.2:7). Second,
the mortal or dying condition which began the very day Adam and Eve disobeyed God.
Third, the state or condition of the dead (Psa.146:4; Isa.38:18,19; Ecc.9:4-6;
1 Thes.4:13-18). Fourth, the state of incorruptibility and immortality when
death is impossible (1 Cor.15:50-57).
The experience of Adam and Eve was unique, it was unlike that of the
rest of mankind. As long as they did not sin, they did not experience death in any
form. The very day they disobeyed God they became mortal and the dying process began
to work in them.
The rest of mankind are born mortal or dying. Note the clear
statement of Scripture again: “Therefore, even as through one man the sin entered
into the world, and through the sin the death, and thus the death passed through into all
mankind, ON WHICH all sinned” (Rom.5:12 literal translation). Adam passed death or
mortality on to his offspring, “on which all sinned” or “on account of
which all sinned.” The Greek is definitely eph ho, “on which”
all sinned, not “for that” all sinned.
It is the devitalizing power of the dying process working in all
mankind from the moment of birth which constitutes them sinners. Notice what is said
concerning death in Romans 5:12-21. Verse 14 declares: “Death reigns from Adam
unto Moses on those also who do not sin in the likeness of the transgression of
Adam.” Verse 17 says: “Death reigns through the one.” Then
comes the striking statement in verse 21; “Sin reigns IN DEATH.” The Greek
is definitely en to thanato, Sin reigns “in the death,” not eis
“unto death.”
All of Adam’s descendants are born dying, doomed to die the first
death whether they sin or not. A baby born one minute can die the next minute
without having committed a single act, good or evil. It is the devitalizing power of
death working in all mankind which demoralizes them and causes them to sin whenever they
begin to think, speak and do things.
A literal and accurate translation of God’s warning to Adam bings
out the difference between the dying process and the death state. “From every tree of
the garden, you are to eat, yea, eat. Yet from the tree of the knowledge of good and
evil, you are not to be eating from it, for in the day you eat from it, TO DIE SHALL YOU
BE DYING” (Gen.2:16,17). Young’s Literal Translation of the Bible puts it:
“dying thou dost die.” The Companion Bible calls attention to the fact
that the Hebrew is: “dying thou shalt die.”
Man is as helpless to cure himself of his sinfulness as he is to cure
himself of the dying process which is working in him. God’s provision for
man’s need is Jesus Christ. He is “the Resurrection and the Life”
(John 11:25). He is the One Who died for our sins, was entombed and has been raised and
now lives as man’s Saviour. He is the One Who “abolishes death, and
illuminates life and incorruption through the evangel” (2 Tim.1:10).
Man’s ralationship to Adam and the death transmitted to him from
Adam constitutes him a sinner. Man’s future relationship to Jesus Christ and the gift
of life He will impart eventuates in all mankind being constituted righteous.
Jesus Christ came into the world to SAVE the world. He will not fail in
the slightest degree. His death, and resurrection life will prove effective for all
in due time. Man’s present failure to comprehend and believe in the success of the
Sacrificial and Saving work of Jesus Christ will not take away in the least from His
triumph and success. god wills that “all mankind be saved and come into a
realization of the truth” (1 Tim.2:3-6; 4:9-11). Our risen, living Lord
and Saviour is equal to the task. He will not fail.
Does this deny what the Scriptures actually teach concerning the future
judgment and condemnation of the wicked? Absolutely not! There will be
judgment and a day of indignation when God will be paying each of the wicked in accord
with his deeds (Rom.2:1-16; Rev.20:11-15). But thanks be to God, beyond that there
will be justification of life and righteousness for all mankind through Jesus Christ our
Lord (See 1 Cor.15:20-28).
