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Priscilla: Romans 5:12-21
Death in Adam, Life in Christ

12 Because of this, even as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death passed to all men, inasmuch as all sinned.

13 For sin was in the world until Law, but sin is not charged where there is no law;

14 but death reigned from Adam until Moses, even on those who had not sinned in the likeness of Adam’s transgression, who is a type of the coming One.

15 But the free gift is not also like the deviation. For if by the deviation of the one the many died, much more the grace of God, and the gift in grace, which is of the one Man, Jesus Christ, did abound to the many.

16 And the gift is not as by one having sinned; for indeed the judgment was of one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many deviations to justification.

17 For if by the deviation of the one death reigned through the one, much more those who are receiving the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness shall rule in life by the One, Jesus Christ.

18 So then, as through one deviation it was toward all men to condemnation, so also through one righteous act toward all men to justification of life.

19 For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were constituted sinners, so also through the obedience of the One the many shall be constituted righteous.

20 But Law came in besides, that the deviation might abound. But where sin abounded, grace much more abounded,

21 that as sin ruled in death, so also grace might rule through righteousness to everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

[Literal Translation of the Holy Bible]

Dear God, my beloved Father, today I offer to You what I have understood through reflecting on Your Word in Romans 5:12-21 about death in Adam and life in Christ.

Dear God, I understand that the verse “Because of this, even as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death passed to all men, inasmuch as all sinned” means that Adam, the first man created by God, sinned and received the consequence of sin, which is death. Although Adam’s descendants did not personally sin when they were born, they inherited the sinful nature from him. As King David said, “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.” Therefore, since sin entered the world, everyone has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Because of Adam’s sin, everyone has a sinful nature, commits sin, becomes unrighteous, and receives the penalty of death, which lasts forever.

Dear God, I also understand that even though the law was not given in writing from Adam to Moses, the consequence of sin, which is death, still ruled from Adam to Moses. Sin originated from Adam’s disobedience to God by eating the fruit of the forbidden tree, and he had to die. Everyone who sins, even if it is a different sin than Adam’s, will also die because the wages of sin is death. Because of Adam’s disobedience, death ruled over the world, and all people were confined in death because they must sin to satisfy their sinful nature. And once someone sins, they become a slave to sin for their entire life. Because sin rules, people cannot overcome sin by their own strength. The consequence of sin is death, which ends the relationship between the sinner and God. Therefore, people continue to sin because they do not have the power from God to live a sinless life.

Dear God, I understand that because of Adam’s sin alone, many people became sinners. But also, because of the obedience of Jesus Christ, humans received God’s grace for the forgiveness of sin and to make them clean. Abundant grace is given to all who truly repent of their sins and believe in the redemption of sin through Jesus Christ. They are called righteous by God. However, when sin increases, God’s mercy also increases even more for the salvation of anyone who believes in the Gospel. That does not mean that someone who has been forgiven by God for previously violating His law can continue to live in sin and still receive abundant grace of forgiveness from Him. Those who think like this deserve to be punished as they have despised the redemption of Christ. If a person believes in the Gospel but their actions do not reflect that and they continue to live in sin, then they will still die spiritually and receive the punishment of eternal death.

I thank You, God, for You have given me Your abundant grace. I joyfully live with gratitude for the eternal life in the Kingdom of God that You have given me through my faith in Jesus Christ. Amen!

In the grace of Jesus Christ, my Lord.

Priscilla Christian Huynh
03/18/2023