May 26, 2019
Originally Presented: March 25, 2007
Scripture Reading: Romans 5:12-14
From a strictly theological standpoint, Romans 5:12 is one of the most important verses in the Bible. The rather jarring declaration in this verse gives rise to doctrine of original sin. The doctrine of original sin contains at least two foundational issues.
The first is that Adam's corruption is imputed (passed along) to us. This is human depravity. All people are born with a sinful nature which has a propensity, a bent, toward sin. "For as through the one man's sin [Adam] the many were made sinners . . ." (Rom 5:19).
The second element in the notion of original sin, and it is one of the main points of Romans 5:12-21 (and especially verse 12) is that Adam's guilt is imputed (passed along) to us. Romans 5:12 says, "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned."
That last statement is the jarring one. This is not the same statement we find in Romans 3:23, that all have sinned. Romans 5:12 is not saying simply that all people sin. It is saying that all sinned in Adam. In some mysterious way his sin is our sin and his condemnation is our condemnation . . . and justly so.
The main point of this passage is to compare the effects of Adam's work on those who are in him (all humanity) and the effect of Christ's work on those who are in Him. The work of Jesus in salvation is greater than the effect of Adam in corruption. If we are uncomfortable with the imputation of the judgment of a sin we did not personally commit, let us rejoice in the imputation of a righteousness, namely Christ's righteousness, that we did not perform.