Dead in Adam, But Alive In Christ

Romans 5:12—19; “12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— 13 (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. 15 But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. 16 And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. 17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ). 18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.”

I recently read a story of two inexperienced mountaineers who wanted to climb a high mountain. They took along with them two experienced guides—one in the back and one in the front. They were all tied together by the same rope. As they began to climb up the mountain, the guide in the back lost his footing and slipped and fell. When he fell, he rolled off the edge of the mountain and pulled along with him, the two men in the middle. In the split of a second, the guide in the front took his axe and dug it into the ice, holding on with a solid grip. Consequently, the two men in the middle were able to climb back up to safety, because the guide in the front had not let go. Moreover, the guide in the back was also pulled back to safe ground because of the grip held on by the guide in the front.

In the Garden of Eden, the first Adam slipped and fell. And being hooked to him, we all slipped and fell. Consequently, since Adam died, we all died. We were all hanging over the edge and headed toward the eternal abyss. But God, in His mercy sent Christ, the last Adam in his place. He was born of a virgin, a man like you and me. He lived a perfect life. And did everything according to the will of the Father. He was nailed to a cross, and hung on. And He died, and was buried, and three days later, rose from the dead. Because He dug in, and gripped and held on, all in Adam who slipped, and headed into the abyss, can through Him, climb back up on this last Adam who has paid it all.

Stephen Thomas (Bobby)

Stephen is an ordained Christian Minister and a Bible teacher who is a mentor to several youth leaders in Crossway Church and around the globe. He is a regular visiting Speaker in Crossway Church, New Delhi. He can be reached at stephenthomas6400@hotmail.com