Passed On

After reading through the first four chapters of Romans, where our condemnation of sin is addressed, Paul now enters chapter 5 by explaining the nature of sin, how it all started and such. Of course, we have to head back to the beginning of time, back to the days of creation when Adam and Eve were created by God.

After Adam and Eve ate the apple from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, sin entered them as they willing chose to disobey the Lord's orders (Genesis 3:6). Adam, as the first man would represent the head of the descendants in sin. It is through him that sin entered the world, and was passed down from generation to generation, until now, the present day (v.12).

Yet amazingly, it was the same with our Christ Jesus. He came as the ultimate sacrifice, died on the cross and shed blood for the salvation of those who believed. Similar to Adam, Jesus is the head of the descendants in grace and in new life. His love and grace overflowed and passed down to everyone else (v.18-19).

As sin is passed on, we are born into sin, as sinners but God is a fair God, and he will not condemn those born with inherited sin, but only when one is able to know right from wrong and willingly decides to do wrong, sin is upon them and salvation is needed (v.13)

Moving back to the beginning of the chapter, there's a pretty well known verse that I believe provides a good overview of what this is all about.

¹ Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,² through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴ perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. - Romans 5:3-5

As SINNERS, we are JUSTIFIED, and because of that, we have PEACE, which brings JOY and HOPE in our SUFFERINGS because they produce PERSEVERANCE, and then CHARACTER, and then HOPE.

Be reminded that God loves us no matter how sinful we are, that he died for you and me, and if we believe, we can be given reconciliation in relationship with Him.

verse of the day: Romans 5:8

⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.