Pastor’s Pen Pulpit

October 21, 2001

Series: Romans Chapter 5

“SIN’S CHANNEL INTO THE WORLD”

Part II

Romans 5:13, 14

In this section Paul is still dealing with sin and its entrance into the world through Adam. Some think that sin came through the breaking of the Law – the Ten Commandments. Paul says no. Sin was in the world before the commandments were given. Verse 13 says:

For until the Law sin was in the world; but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

Sin was in the lives of humanity in the interim between Adam and the Law. When the Law came, it gave sin the specific character of transgression. That which men had been doing all along now has a specifically named characteristic. For instance, since Adam man had been taking things that did not belong to him but when the commandment “Thou shall not steal” was given, stealing is now characterized as a specific transgression against a holy God.

Another way that sin is shown to be in the world before the Law came is through death (verse 14):

Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.

Back in verse 12 Paul told us that death came with sin. Men died during the interval between Adam and Moses even though the Law had not yet been given. However, we do need to see that sin did come into the world through the breaking of a commandment. God commanded Adam and Eve not to eat of the Tree of The Knowledge of Good and Evil. That was Adam’s offense. When he violated that commandment, in came sin.

Paul said that Adam was a type of Him Who was to come. How so? The first Adam brought sin and death. The last Adam, Jesus Christ, took away sin and death through His sacrificial death on the cross. This is called a type by contrast.

So, beloved, we are sinners by our link with Adam. The Law just magnifies and identifies our sin.

Thank God for the last Adam – our Lord Jesus Christ. What a great Savior we have! God bless.

Love to you all,