There are several habits I endorse that I’m certainly not
proud of. For instance, I can become distracted in the middle of a conversation
and not realize that a topic has changed. After people have moved onto a
different discussion, sometimes I interject something that has nothing to do
with what is being said. Immediately I’m exposed for not listening well.
Another of my less admirable traits is biting my fingernails, especially when
I’m nervous. Old habits, especially bad habits, are difficult to break.
However, while these are relatively harmless, some bad habits are worth putting
in the effort to get rid of.
One bad habit that many in Paul’s day endorsed was the
belief that they could make themselves righteous. How did they go about this?
By doing their best to follow the law. Many, especially religious Jews thought
that by obeying the law to the letter, they were getting closer to God and
earning salvation. However, in the final portrait of salvation of Romans 5,
Paul compares this law-following habit with an entirely new system of
righteousness and grace. His teaching on this superior system of salvation is
provided in Romans 5:18-21 by means of two teachings.
a) Jesus’ Obedience
Yields Righteousness -5:18-19
So far, in an effort to describe the intricacies of salvation,
Paul has employed the image of a substitute sacrifice (like the one in Isaac
and Abraham’s Old Testament situation) and the first man (Adam) to demonstrate
that Jesus took the place of sinners on the cross and accomplished something
that brings life to anyone who believes. In his final portrait of salvation,
Paul is going to show how what Jesus did provided needed righteousness. To do
this, Paul is going to continue the juxtaposition between Adam and Christ that
he began in verse 12. First, Paul reveals what Adam and his treachery has
provided—“So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to
all men” (5:18a).
I’m sure that you have been in a situation in which you
suffered because of the failure of someone else. Whether in the classroom or on
the practice field, there are times in which one individual will make a mistake
or mouth off to the coach and the whole team or class is made to run laps or
write lines. In that moment, the culprit acts as a representative for the class
and, because of his/her failure, the whole class is condemned. The same was
true in Adam’s case. His transgression resulted in the entire human race being
consigned to condemnation.
Adam’s sin not only consigned the world to condemnation by
association, it planted the seed of sin that germinates in the lives of all
people everywhere without fail.
What Adam bestows to the human race (condemnation) is not
like what Christ provides. In fact, what Christ provides is exactly the
opposite. Paul frames his comment on Christ’s work in exactly the same way as
he framed Adam’s work when he says “even so through one act of righteousness
there resulted justification of life to all men” (5:18b). Both men are
highlighted by means of one activity—Adam sinned in the garden; Christ was
obedient to the point of death on the cross. Adam’s sin resulted in
condemnation; Christ’s righteousness resulted in justification. The
condemnation that Adam’s actions produced spells death for the human race. The
justification Christ’s righteousness produced provides potential life for all
who believe.
Paul continues by drawing another comparison between the
work of Adam and the Work of Christ. First, he explains how disobedience leads
to sin—“for as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners,…”
(5:19a). This is where the analogy mentioned earlier breaks apart.
There is a difference between my illustration of a
team/class suffering because of the sin of one pupil/player and Adam’s
relationship with the human race. In the analogy the class/team is condemned
though they were not guilty. As far as humanity is concerned, we are condemned
because of Adam’s sin and because
all, given enough time and opportunity, will also fail themselves. This renders
us personally culpable.
Adam didn’t just represent the human race poorly, his
failure spoiled the family tree. An obvious mutation of sin was introduced in
that moment that has been passed down to all who came after him—no exceptions.
Because all are guilty by association with Adam AND because
of personal acts of sin that betray a personal problem with the condition, all
are rendered incapable of relationship with God, condemned, and deserving of
death.
What Christ offers is not the same—“even so through the
obedience of the One, the many will be made righteous” (5:19c). This is great
news! Christ’s obedience paved the way for many to be made righteous. The
salvation Jesus provides successfully reverses the mutation of sin and allows
righteousness to manifest from the lives of those who were formerly far from
God. This is significant inasmuch as righteousness is required in order to
enter into relationship with God. When believers are made righteous, they are
allowed entrance into God’s presence and welcomed into His family. No longer
are they a plague to be avoided; they are a son/daughter of God!
The question becomes, “how is righteousness applied to
believers?” Put another way, “how does one become righteous?” So far Paul has
defined how righteousness is sourced—in the person and work of Jesus. How is
this made available to those who need it?
b) Grace Activates
Righteousness where sin abounds-5:20-21
To answer this important question, Paul draws up yet another
comparison—this time between the law and grace. First, Paul says, “the Law came
in so that the transgression would increase” (5:20a). This certainly does not
sound like the kind of program that would bring about righteousness!
You are probably familiar with the worldly adage: “Rules
were meant to be broken.” Such a statement betrays exactly what Paul is
referring to here. As soon as lines are drawn, there will be someone who wants
to cross it. People, especially in
today’s world, are looking for the edge so that they can push the proverbial
envelope beyond it. Even little children challenge rules and seek to extend
well-defined boundaries as far as they can and then some. Laws/rules/ordinances
do not seem to help much by way of changing people for the better. Instead, all
rules do is attempt to manage chaos and point out when people have done wrong.
In other words, the law does not bring about righteousness,
it identifies sin, and, when given to fallen human beings, makes it easier for
people to fail. This was an important reminder for much of Paul’s audience.
Many in Paul’s day mistakenly looked at the law as their saving grace. They
believed that as long as they followed it to the letter, they were close to
God. This could not be further from the truth. Why? Because none can keep the
law, no matter how hard they try! Remember, “there is none righteous, not even
one” (Romans 3:10). Something else, something better than the law must be used
to make people righteous.
Enter grace—“but where sin increased, grace abounded all the
more” (5:20b). Grace—the unmerited favor of God—bestows righteousness upon
those who place their faith in Jesus. Once applied, to the degree that sin was
present in the life of a believer, grace abounds all the more! It actively
overwhelms sin in the lives of the redeemed, rendering them righteous and in
good standing before God.
I’m sure that everyone has noticed an uptick in their
electric bill recently due to the hot weather and the subsequent running of air
conditioning units. The usage of electricity varies and this leads to a
fluctuation of the debt owed to the electric company. Those who want to remain
in good standing with the current providers must satisfy that debt on a
consistent basis. This is similar to how grace works in the lives of believers.
Every believer was a sinner with a corresponding debt owed. However, God’s
grace renders payment for past, present, and future sins in a way that leaves
the believer in good standing before God. Whatever payment is required is
satisfied by the grace of Jesus Christ!
Paul ends chapter five with a summary note—“so that, as sin
reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal
life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (5:21). In his comment on this passage
Mounce states “Grace ‘superabounded’ in that as the reign of sin brought death,
the reign of grace brings a righteousness that issues in life eternal. Death is
the fate of all who follow sin as master. Eternal life is the destiny of those
whose allegiance is to Christ. A right standing before God is a gift offered
freely by God to all who will respond in faith” (145-46).
So What?
The program under Adam was as follows: Adam
sinned—condemnation resulted—death spread to all. Thankfully, Jesus Christ
provides a better program: Jesus was obedient, even to the point of
death—justification is made available as a result—righteousness and eternal
life is applied to lost sinners. How can we be sure that what Jesus has made
available is applied to us? The salvation that Jesus provides is given to
repentant sinners by God’s incredible grace!
As wonderful as God’s grace is, many people in Paul’s day
and in today’s world either can’t accept it (thinking that it is too good to be
true) or believe that they have to earn it. Many first century Jews believed
that following orders was the only way to salvation. Though many in today’s
world may not be as concerned about following a formal law, some fall into the
same trap that the Jews did in Paul’s day of believing that it is up to them to
do and say enough good to earn God’s favor. However, as Paul makes very clear,
rules only identify sin and make it easier for our fallen nature to succumb to
its allure. Only grace covers a multitude of sins and this is given by God, not
earned by man. Repent from your striving and accept what Jesus has made
available. Seeking to earn one’s salvation is an old habit worth breaking!
No comments:
Post a Comment