ADAM’S GUILT AND SHAME …Romans 5:12, 18, 19

Understanding important truths from the Bible….

Romans 5: 12, 18, 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— 

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.

Adam, my father in all his goodness and greatness—without either necessity or excuse--sinned.  Every Bible student knows and believes this.  But it is at this point that differences begin.  The question is what effect did that sin have upon his posterity.

The Westminster Confession of Faith in chapter 6, paragraph 3 states: They being the root of all mankind, the guilt of this sin was imputed; and the same death in sin, and corrupted nature, conveyed to all their posterity descending from them by ordinary generation.

This is truth outlining the result of Adam’s sin.  It points us to the guilt which was punished with death and corruption of nature which is the root of human depravity.

As the believer sees this sin of Adam and understands the results he can understand Ephesians 2:1-3.

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, ² in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, ³ among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

The child of Adam comes into the world dead to anything and everything that matters to God.  He does not know God.  He does not love God.  He does not obey God.  As the writer of Psalm 10:4  states, The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts.

This dead man is all the more lively.  As Ephesians 2:2-3 so plainly states the dead man lives a life of committed depravity.  Into this sucking black hole Paul writes in Ephesians 2:4-5 ⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).

Against the black canvas of guilt and depravity the grace of Christ shines all the more brightly.  And speaking as one who has seen the blackness, I without hesitation say, “I care nothing for anything that contest that grace”.  Grace is the Triune mercy of God seeking out the sinner, saving, keeping, and glorifying him.

Rock of Ages has always been my favorite hymn.  Augustus Toplady is one of my heroes.  With him I lift my voice,

Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.