Romans 5--The reign of Adam II

The Hatfield’s and McCoy’s eventually didn’t know why they had hated each other. The hate had been handed down from generation to generation. If there ever had been a day when the two families were friends, the distance that time created and the hate handed down had made that day a simply fantasy or illusion. Paul introduces similar imagery here when he discusses the first and second Adam’s (also in 1 Corinthians 15).

Paul is explaining to us that Adam is like a representative head of state. At one time, Adam and God were allies. Yet, Adam rebelled against God and brought himself and all his descendents into a state of rebellion against God and his way in this world. As the first Adam’s descendants, we are born as enemies to God and into a rebellion against His purposes in this world. The effects of this are similar to DNA that transfers from one generation to the next. This Cosmic rebellion that we are born into is not only external in that we begin as enemies of God, but it is also internal. We are born as sinners. Sin is the disease that binds us as enemies together under our head of state, Adam I.

Yet, we do not have to continue under the first Adam’s leadership. Jesus comes as Adam II, Son of God just like Adam I (Lu 3:38). Supernaturally, through a miraculous birth, Adam II is not infected by the disease of Adam I. He resists all of the temptations of Satan that Adam I could not (Lu 4:1-13). But he dies an undeserved death as if he had been an enemy of God, crushed by the disease and rebellion of Adam I. Because he was ultimately innocent, the Holy Spirit resurrected Him and now counts His death to be the payment for all of the treasonous acts of his followers

Now, all of us who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ follow a New Adam. He is our head of state and we share in His innocence and righteousness. Not only that, by the Holy Spirit (who provided the miraculous conception to bring Jesus into the world) we receive a new DNA that is inherently bothered by sin. We have a new desire to resist sin and begin conforming ourselves to the New Adam, our new leader who is not just God’s ally, but God’s son. Now, sin and death no longer reign over us because we are not under their government. We are under Jesus’ government where grace, righteousness and eternal life reign. This gives us power over sin that tempts. This gives us hope in the face of death and disease. This gives us confidence the forces of sin and death in our life will be defeated.

But this is not just theology. This is real and this comes from real love. As your head aligns to the ideas of being a part of Jesus’ new government, let your heart warmed to the reality of God’s love demonstrated for us in this: While we were still sinners (powerless and ungodly v.6), Christ died for us.” (5:8).

Posted by Marc