Original Sin (Romans 5:12-21)
Why do I care what happens with my favorite sports teams?
Especially with the professional teams (Dodgers, Lakers, Sharks, and 49ers, if you're curious) - the players are mercenaries from around the world who are just putting on a uniform for a paycheck. It defies reason why I would feel proud when they win or grumpy when they lose.
But I do.
(Maybe too much, if I'm honest).
At the core of sports fandom (at least for me) is an identification with the teams we cheer for. We put on the hats, the shirts, and the jerseys, and label ourselves with the heroes on the field. This representation is artificial, contrived, and voluntary. And yet it holds tremendous meaning for many of us.
(And it's not just sports fans - why do you pull for the romantic leads to get together in a movie or the hero to save the day in a favorite show?)
It points to something deeply true about all of us: we are represented by another. Not just in sports or movies, but in spiritually significant ways.
This week at Grace, we're continuing through Romans 5, look at verses 12-21. This compact and profound passage is going to make the case that these representations have eternal significance for all of us, and we all have a decision to make about whose side we are on. By nature we are all represented by Adam. And, if we choose to follow him, we are represented by Christ.
Looking forward to talking about it with you this Sunday at Grace.
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.
15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
- Romans 5:12-21