Romans 5:12-21
Key vs. 5:19 ?For just as through the disobedience of the one man
the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the
one man the many will be made righteous.?

Good morning! Let me ask you a question before delivering the
message. I heard that potato is very good for health. Do you know
who introduced potatoes to America? It is Christopher Columbus. I
learned that he was responsible for bringing horses, cattle,
pigs, and even small pox. He also took something to Europe. He
was responsible for introducing smoking and syphilis to Europe.
Truly one man made a great impact on the world history. Today we
will learn how Adam and Christ impacted the human history through
their obedience or disobedience. I hope we may learn the
importance of one man or woman. Lets pray together.

Last week, we learned that since we have been justified, as
fruits of justification, we have peace with God and we have
gained access into this grace in which we now stand. Therefore we
can rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. We can even rejoice
in our sufferings because of this heavenly hope. We have
assurance of our salvation.

Today?s passage, verses 12 through 21, is very difficult to
memorize, as you know. It is also very difficult to understand.
In the preceding chapters, Paul pointed out the sins of Gentiles
and Jews. Evidence is clear that there is no one righteous, not
even one. We all need God?s grace to get right with God. However,
the question remains why we sin, even though we don?t want to
sin. What?s wrong with us? Now Paul looks at men?s sin problem
from more fundamental way through Adam?s sin, and shows us God?s
abundant grace poured upon sinners through Jesus Christ.

First, Adam?s disobedience brought sin and death
 

First lets look at how sin entered the world and affected all
men. Lets read vs 12. ?Therefore just as sin entered the world
through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death
came to all men because all sinned.?  Before Adam sinned, this
world was a paradise. Adam did not have to work. He could stay
home, sharing happiness with his wife Eve in the presence of God.
But Adam?s disobedience brought sin into this world. When he
disobeyed God, it was like the door flung open during the storm.
Sin flooded through the open door. Cain killed his brother, and
his descendants were full of violence and vengeance. At Noah?s
time God could no longer bear their sins. Sin spread like a wild
fire, affecting all people. As a result of Adam?s sin, all men
sinned and died. Here death does not mean only physical death. It
includes accompanying sorrow, fear, despair and loneliness. Sin
brought misery to human life and finally resulted in death.

Adam?s sin is so-called original sin. We wonder why we have to
suffer due to some else?s sin. Is God fair in causing us to
suffer though Adam sinned? But the Bible is clear in this matter:
Yes it is true sin entered this world through one man Adam, but
all die because all sinned. We have studied already how we are
sinful. However, it is also true that when Adam sinned, all men
were affected. We were influenced by his sin. We became guilty. I
would say our DNA was tainted with sin. When you look a little
baby, people say he is just like his dad or mom. Little baby Luke
resembles his dad, missionary Luke Kim --his face and head. We
don?t know how he was born this way, but it is a fact that
children resemble their parents. They resemble not only good
things, but also bad things. Therefore David said in Psalm 51:5,
?Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother
conceived me.?  We were born with trait of sin. That?s why even a
little baby shows a tight-fist and frustration. As a result we
were born in sin, we sin. Just like when you plant a seed of an
apple, it grows and bears apples. A seed determines the fruits it
will bear. When Adam sinned, guilt was imputed to all men.
Therefore as long as we are in Adam, we sin and all die. Vs 13
and 14 explain that whether we know the law or not, whether we
are born Gentile or Jew, we sin and all die.

I am sorry to tell you this bleak story, but it is true. Let?s
read vs 16a ?Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the
one man?s sin: The judgement followed one sin and brought
condemnation? When Adam sinned, what followed? Judgment followed.
How many sins? One sin. That means even if you sin once, you
can?t escape God?s judgement. You don?t have to break many laws to
receive judgement and condemnation, you have already broken many
laws, right? In Adam we were already judged and condemned to
death. Do you think condemned criminals are happy? Now we know
why people are unhappy, because the elements of death reign all
men--sorrow, despair, loneliness and fear rule all men. Whether
one is rich or poor, smart or foolish, every one is under the
power of death. Lets read vs 17a, ?For if by the trespass of the
one man, death reigned through that one man? Therefore the Bible
says, ?In Adam, all die.? This is our destiny unless there is a
cure comes.

Second, Christ?s Obedience brought grace and life

Truly Adam brought curse to all men through his act of
disobedience. We were all made sinners and condemned. But by the
grace of God we are justified by faith in Christ Jesus. Jesus
brought cure for all curses Adam?s sin brought upon mankind. Now
lets think about the bright side of the good news.

Lets read vs 15b. Jesus?s work was called gift or grace. Do you
charge when you give a Christmas gift to your friend? If you
charge, it is a selling! The gift is free. How did God?s grace
come to sinners? Through Jesus? obedience. At the Gethsemane,
Jesus did not want to die, but he prayed, ?Father, if it is
possible, take this cup from me, but not what I will, but what
you will.? Obedience was not easy, but he prayed and overcame his
desire. He was flogged till his flesh torn apart. Je was insulted
and mocked, spit on his face. He was crucified for our sins. He
took all the penalties of our sins upon himself and died. He
offered his life as a sacrifice for our sins. Jesus bore all our
sins. Therefore God can impute his righteousness to us. He can
forgive us and justify us. Jesus? obedience brought the gift or
God?s grace. It came from God?s grace and was given to men as a
gift. Jesus paid costly expense to purchase the gift to give us
freely. So God did not look at our merit, whether we were
qualified for it or not. He gave us freely through Jesus. So Paul
exclaims saying, ?How much more did God?s grace and gift overflow
to the many!? If God checked to see if I were qualified for this
gift or not, I must be out of the list for it. Because this is a
free gift, I can also enjoy this grace. Any sinners can receive
this gift freely by faith in Jesus.

Lets read vs 16b. ?but the gift followed many trespasses and
brought justification.? Jesus? gift followed many trespasses and
brought justification. This means, Jesus gathered up all
trespasses of men and died for us once and for all and brought
justification. Justification means declared righteous. In Adam,
even one sin brought judgement. But in Jesus, because Jesus
gathered up all our sins and paid for us, we are declared
righteous and set free. It is truly a gift ---a free gift. In
Jesus, we are set free because of the grace of God in Christ.

Lets read vs 17. ?For if by the trespass of the one man, death
reigned through that one man, how much more will those who
receive God?s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of
righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.?
For the condemned sinner, death reigned and ruled them
ruthlessly. Guilt, shame, sorrow and grief, fear and despair
followed sinners while living on earth, and eternal fiery hell
was reserved for them. On the other hand, those who receive God?s
abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness will
reign in life through Jesus Christ. We will reign in life forever
in Christ Jesus. Paul says, ?God?s abundant provision of grace and
the gift.? He exclaims saying ?how much more will we reign in
life.? When we are in Christ, God will continue to provide his
grace and gift abundantly so we will reign in life. In the past
death reigned us like slaves, but now we will reign in life by
God?s abundant grace.
 
 

Lets read vs 20-21. ?The law was added so that trespass might
increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more,
so that just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign
through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ
our Lord.? The reason the law was given to men was not to reduce
sin or remedy sins. Ironically it increases trespasses. That?s
why when we study the Bible, we begin to know our sins more. But
where sin increased, grace increased all the more. This means
that God?s grace is far greater than our sin, and far sufficient
enough to forgive sins of men. Therefore, God?s grace abounds
where there is sin. No matter how terrible our sins may be, God?s
grace can cover us, and justify us. We live under grace, not
under law. That means God continues to overlook our sins; he
looks at only good things in us because of his abounding grace in
Jesus. Isn?t it amazing! Therefore we should look at things
lovely in others as God does when we live under grace. Some
people look at only bad things in others and gossip, because they
are under law. Those who live under grace, look at things lovely,
beautiful in others as God does to them.

Third, conclusion: importance of one man

Paul looked at the whole human beings whether they are in Adam or
in Christ. Adam?s one act of disobedience brought condemnation
for all men, while Jesus? one act of obedience brought grace and
life for all men. Here we see that one man?s act affected all men
either for their good or for their detriment. Lets read vs 18-19.
?Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was
condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of
righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For
just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were
made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the
many will be made righteous.?  Here we can see the importance of
one man. One man?s act can either bring joy and life to the many
or bring trouble, sorrow and death to the many. That?s why it is
very important how one thinks or acts, because his thinking and
action affect many people who follow them. During the WWII,
Winston Churchill inspired the people of England with his ?blood
and sweat? address to save his country. On the other hand Hitler
brought disaster upon Germany and the whole world. Throughout
God?s history, we can see God used each individual to save the
work of God. In the 16th century when the Christianity was
corrupted, God used one man Luther to reform the church and set
it on course. In 18th century when England was on the brink of
moral corruption, God used Wesley to awaken the life of a nation.
God can use one man or woman of obedience to save lives from
death. God needs one man of obedience for campuses. We can live
as a source of blessing like Jesus or as a source of curse like
Adam, depending on whether we obey or disobey.
 

In order to live as a source of blessing, we must learn
obedience. Obedience is not easy for anyone. Even Jesus learned
obedience from what he suffered(Heb 5:8). I wondered why God had
spent so many years to plant faith in one man Abraham. God seemed
to ignore millions of people, only concentrating on one man,
seemingly hopeless man Abraham. In the light of this passage, I
can understand why God spent 25 years on Abraham. Unless one man
is changed and obedient to God, he cannot live as a source of
blessing. He would only live as a source of trouble and curse.
Once Abraham learned obedience, he influenced Isaac and Jacob and
many others. He could become a father of many nations and lived
as a source of blessing. We should also pray and teach even one
sheep until he or she can live as a source of blessing.

These days people often say, ?mind your own business!? or ?it?s a
private matter!? People don?t consider how my action affects
others. People only think of themselves. But in God?s sight, one
man or woman of obedience is very precious. Shepherd Bruce and
Lynn are very important. Through their obedience, God can save
20,000 GMU students. Each one of us should realize the importance
of one man. God can bless UMCP through one man or one woman?s
obedience.