Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.
15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:12-21
Paul is making an argument – a God-inspired theological argument. God’s arguments have depth. And this is only a bit of it. It’s an argument that begins at Romans 1:15 and finishes somewhere around Romans 8:4. Here in 5:12-21 he contrasts Adam with Christ, sin with righteousness, law with grace, death with life. We have points highlighted, but we also have truth explained and argued in depth.
It doesn’t matter how much sin has been committed, and how many laws condemn those sins; God’s grace,
through the one-and-only-Christ’s one act of righteousness, can set believers free from those sins. The one saves
the many. Romans presents the theological justification for grace. Sin is atoned for and sinners freed of their sins!
But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Romans 3:21-26
Righteousness and eternal life are given by God to anyone who will believe in Jesus as Lord, and obey His commands. Read Romans 5:17; 6:16-18,23; Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 5:8-9; Revelation 14:12
A Tough Journey Needs a Great Saviour to Worship: the Message of Hebrews
Jesus is worthy of the highest praise because He endured the lowest degradation.
Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God (Hebrews 1:2), not simply a messenger of revelation. He is the author of salvation (Hebrews 1:3; Hebrews 12:2-3 refers to Jesus as the author or founder and perfecter of the faith), not simply a ministering spirit who serves those who inherit salvation (Hebrews 1:14). Jesus’ name is superior to angels’ names (Hebrews 1:4). He is God’s Son (Hebrews 1:5), whom angels are called to worship (Hebrews 1:6). He is Lord and God, and they are his servants who tend to the needs of those whom Jesus has saved (Hebrews 1:7-14). The point in all this is that Jesus is supreme, and so God’s people should hold fast to him no matter how extreme their sufferings are. The letter is written (likely prior to the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in A.D. 70) in the hope that Jesus’ followers will redirect their gaze, renew their spiritual vision, grow in resilience, and enter God’s rest. Paul Louis Metzger, Those Who Endure Extreme Suffering Need Supreme Worship to Enter God’s Rest.
As Revelation reminds us:
And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. Revelation 5:11-12
The angels themselves worship Jesus! We must worship Jesus. “Jesus is supreme [as God and sacrifice], and so God’s people should hold fast to him no matter how extreme their sufferings are.” (Metzger)
how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, 4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. 5 For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. 6 It has been testified somewhere,
“What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him?
7 You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honour,
8 putting everything in subjection under his feet.”
Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. 9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honour because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. 10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, 12 saying,
“I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.”
13 And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again, “Behold, I and the children God has given me.”
14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. 16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 2:3-18
“Because He Himself has suffered when tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.”
Jesus knows the highest heaven, yet experienced the lowest hell … for us! Since Jesus never gave up, we never give up. let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2
Jesus said, But the one who endures to the end will be saved. Matthew 24:13; 28:20
Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge
his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
Hebrews 13:16-16
The God who planned all this deserves our sacrificial worship and our sacrificial life of good deeds. He sacrificed and we must sacrifice.
David Hunter
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