Romans 5:12-21

Purpose

: Sin is powerful. Grace is more powerful. All fall under the power of sin. The escape is through Jesus.

Introduction

For the most part, we are a reflection of the family we grew up in. And those who raised us are so ingrained in us that we look at life and interact with life in much the same way that they did. For instance, certain ways of doing things we learn from our parents. How we fold towels for instance. Did you know that there are more than one way to fold towels? The way one folds towels probably has as much to do with how one learned it from a previous generation. Folding towels is such a minor event, but isn’t interesting how one small task can be passed down and just imagine what happens when we multiply that one task by hundreds of others that come from our parents and grandparents.

Unfortunately, we pick up from our parents not only trivial things, but significant other ways to interact with our world. How to deal with confrontation and anger; how to budget money; how to have fun; how to express affection. All learned from parents. Rattle the chain far enough back and we come to the first couple – Adam and Eve. What did they teach us? In our text, Paul writes about the influence of Adam in our world. But he doesn’t stop with Adam. Paul also writes about the impact of Jesus in our world. Spiritual success and failure are presented to us. One brought death; the other brought life. We are here to celebrate life.

The Text

This text is one of the more difficult texts in the letter to Rome. Lots of thought and ink have been expended to explain the text. We will not go through all of that. Paul is contrasting the impact of Adam and Jesus in our world. Both accomplished something in this life. The story of Adam and Eve’s influence is in Genesis 3. Adam stands for them both. When tempted, Adam gave in. He sinned. Choice existed. He chose to please self rather than to focus on God. And with that sin came death or separation from God. Remember that in those early days, Adam and God walked together and spoke together. But when sin came, Adam hid from God. His sin separated him from the desire to be in God’s presence.

And with this disharmony came spiritual death. For in that separation from God also came separation from his wife, Eve. Blame began to be expressed. Adam in his sin blames God for his sin. He says “the woman you gave me” which suggests that the woman hadn’t been around life would be just fine. Quite different from his previous statement of praise for the woman. But this is what sin does. Sin produces death – separation from God and separation from others. According to 5:15 with this sin came judgment and condemnation. This is what we learned from Adam.

All who are born into this world have learned to sin just as their father, Adam did. We all sin and with sin comes separation from God. We have been judged and condemned. The outcome for sin is the same for us all. Just as Adam died, so we all die. One man brought death into the world and each person from that time on has chosen the way of death.

But then Adam’s sin is contrasted with Jesus’ obedience. In fact, there are a number of contrasts in this section. Adam sinned, Jesus obeyed. Adam brought death, Jesus brings life. Adam brought condemnation, Jesus brought justification. This series of contrasts is to help us see the greatness of Jesus. We share with Adam in our humanness and through Jesus we can share with God. We identify with Adam in sin and death. We identify with Jesus in grace and life. What are we to learn

Application

First, notice how strong sin and death are. According to verses 13 & 14, sin is so strong that has dominion over people where no law exists. Paul’s point is that from Adam to Moses there was no written law, but every person died; thus, sin is strong. But when the law did come through Moses, the strength of sin increased. In verse 20, the addition of the law revealed the defiance and rebelliousness of people. It is one thing to sin when the law is not known, but it is even more defiant when we know the law and refuse to follow it. It is one thing for a child to run out into the street when they do not know the dangers. It is another thing for a child to be told not to run out into the street and with great defiance, the child does anyway. Notice the way Paul describes sin in this section:

Sin is active and reigns (5:20-21)

Sin can be obeyed (6:16-17)

Sin pays in death (6:23)

Sin seizes opportunities (7:8, 11)

Sin deceives and kills (7:11, 13)

Sin brings death to all. This is the condition for us all.

Second, God’s gift is stronger than sin and death. In this section, the word “gift” is used five times. Paul uses two different words to express gift. In verse 15, the first word for gift is found in the opening phrase. “But the gift is not like the trespass.” This word has as its root word “grace.” God’s free gift of grace is not like the trespass. Paul means that God’s free gift of grace far exceeds the trespass. The trespass brought separation from God and condemnation. God gives not just a return of relationship but eternal life. God did this freely and graciously.

The other word for gift found the other four occurrences simply means gift. And finds its definition in verse 15 “and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many.” Jesus is the demonstration of God’s gift. Through Jesus in verse 16, justification is ours. That means through Jesus our sin is dealt with and we are pronounced “not guilty.” Through Jesus the gift of righteousness is given to us. This means that we are given a proper relationship with God. This justification and righteousness according to verse 18 bring us life. A clear reference to eternal life with God.

The power of grace is stronger than both sin and death. As believers we are assured that we will reign in life. Sin reigned in death. Jesus overcame death and those who are in him reign in life. Notice verses 18-19. Adam’s one sin brought condemnation for all. Jesus’ act of righteousness brought life to all. Here is the reality of this statement. The human condition is the same for all – sinners who are separated from God. What God has insured through Jesus is that death can be overcome. What did we do to deserve such an act from God? Our vision statement reminds us that we are a place of grace and mercy. The righteousness which comes from Jesus is available. Some don’t know what they have in Christ. They have yet to receive that which God has freely provided.

Longing to leave her poor Brazilian neighborhood, Christina wanted to see the world. Discontent with a home having only a pallet on the floor, a washbasin, and a wood-burning stove, she dreamed of a better life in the city. One morning she slipped away, breaking her mother’s heart. Knowing what life on the streets would be like for her young, attractive daughter, Maria hurriedly packed to go find her. On her way to the bus stop she entered a drugstore to get one last thing. Pictures. She sat in the photograph booth, closed the curtain, and spent all she could on pictures of herself. With her purse full of small black-and-white photos, she boarded the next bus to Rio de Janiero. Maria knew Christina had no way of earning money. She also knew that her daughter was too stubborn to give up. When pride meets hunger, a human will do things that were before unthinkable. Knowing this, Maria began her search. Bars, hotels, nightclubs, any place with the reputation for street walkers or prostitutes. She went to them all. And at each place she left her picture–taped on a bathroom mirror, tacked to a hotel bulletin board, fastened to a corner phone booth. And on the back of each photo she wrote a note. It wasn’t too long before both the money and the pictures ran out, and Maria had to go home. The weary mother wept as the bus began its long journey back to her small village. It was a few weeks later that young Christina descended the hotel stairs. Her young face was tired. Her brown eyes no longer danced with youth but spoke of pain and fear. Her laughter was broken. Her dream had become a nightmare. A thousand times over she had longed to trade these countless beds for her secure pallet. Yet the little village was, in too many ways, too far away. As she reached the bottom of the stairs, her eyes noticed a familiar face. She looked again, and there on the lobby mirror was a small picture of her mother. Christina’s eyes burned and her throat tightened as she walked across the room and removed the small photo. Written on the back was this compelling invitation. “Whatever you have done, whatever you have become, it doesn’t matter. Please come home.” She did.

Romans 1:18-25 & 5:6-11

Purpose: Worship acknowledges three truths – we are created; we are powerless; we are saved. These will be the three themes of our assembly.

Introduction

The concept of worship is both understood and debated. We understand the concept but at times debate how the concept is to be carried out. As we continue to think about our vision, worship becomes important. For it is in our worship that we realign our thoughts with God’s thoughts. We want to more closely align our view of this world with God’s view. Our assembly will be divided into three parts. The first part will acknowledge that we are creatures created by God who is Creator and as Creator he deserves our worship. The second part will recognize that we are powerless. While we try to demonstrate control, the truth is that the most important part of our being – the spiritual – we are powerless to save ourselves. The third part will focus on God acting on our behalf to bring salvation. The Powerful One acts for the sake of the powerless.

Worship the Creator

I don’t think any of us would disagree that our world is confused about a lot of things. Even as believers we get confused. The text tells us that since the creation of the world God has revealed his power and divine nature, but as has happened over and over again, each generation turns from these truths. Every generation presumes themselves to be wise. In that wisdom, worship has turned to anything and everything except the Creator.

The astrologer and followers of horoscopes worship the stars which the Creator made.

The greed of our financial markets reveals the worship of the bottom line rather the Creator who values people.

The politician worships a philosophy rather than the Creator who brings thought into existence.

The abortionist worships choice rather than the Creator who gives life.

The sexually immoral worships pleasure rather than the Creator who creates sex to honor him.

The shape and form of the false god has changed but each generation has exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped those things which were created for us rather than worshiping the Creator.

We are here today because through faith we have turned our attention back to the Creator. We sinned. Even now we struggle to hold on to faith rather than worship the created things. Our sight is limited. One of the great temptations we have is what Paul writes about in 1:18 – we suppress the truth by our own wickedness. We minimize God as Creator.

We discuss philosophies without point to the originator of thought.

We look into the heavens and fail to praise.

We exalt self and our wants rather than exalting the Creator.

We minimize our wickedness rather than acknowledging the truth – we are sinners and our hearts are easily divided. God is Creator. Let’s align our minds and thoughts once more with recognizing that we are the created one and only God is worthy of worship. (Singing)

Worship the Powerful One

Powerless. That is how Paul describes us. Powerless. We do not see ourselves in this way. But there are times that we are reminded just how powerless we are.

Sitting beside the bed of a loved one as doctor’s have just announced there is nothing else to do.

Getting the pink slip in your paycheck and wondering where the next paycheck will come from.

Having your children miles away and knowing that you cannot get to them or help them.

Such experiences make us aware of how powerless we are and in those moments there are two truths which come to us. First, we don’t like this feeling. Second, we cry out for someone to do something.

And God heard our cry for escape and release and he acted. As Paul writes our powerlessness was because of our ungodliness. Ignoring God as Creator we acted in ungodly ways. In this ungodliness we thought we had things figured out. We acted in ways that reflected our selfishness; doing only those things which validated our cares and concerns. We thought only about ourselves and what we wanted. We did not seek God’s will nor his direction. And in time we became painfully aware of powerlessness. So many acting selfishly left us alone, isolated, disconnected, broken, and in time no one heard our voice above their own.

Except God who heard our cries and acted. But he didn’t wait until we became more godly. It was while we were at the height of our ungodliness; even while we were not yet even aware of our powerlessness that God acted. While we were still sinning, Christ died for us. Powerless to do anything about our sin, God with great power acted on our behalf. And he did this while we were continuing to turn away from him. He did in his power what we needed before we knew we needed it. And he did this while we ignored and disobeyed him. He did this while we acted in pride believing that we knew what we needed. We are powerless. But God gives us his power through Jesus. Let us worship the Powerful One. (Singing)

Worship the God of Salvation

Notice verse 10. Our reconciliation took place with the death of Jesus on the cross. It was there that God’s wrath and man’s sin gave way to God’s mercy and man’s acceptance. The great reconciler did his work and heaven and earth were no longer at odds. But the reconciliation was not complete until life would come again to the lifeless body of Jesus. Reconciliation took place at his death, salvation is possible because of the resurrection. Paul isn’t proposing that this salvation is extended when one does not want it. Rather that God expressed his power while we were still at war with him. The assurance is that those who accept this offer of reconciliation will be saved through the resurrection. This resurrection expresses the intent of God to bring salvation or life to those who are reconciled to him.

Normally the flight from Nassau to Miami took Walter Wyatt, Jr., only sixty-five minutes. But on December 5, 1986, he attempted it after thieves had looted the navigational equipment in his Beechcraft. With only a compass and a hand-held radio, Walter flew into skies blackened by storm clouds. When his compass began to gyrate, Walter concluded he was headed in the wrong direction. He flew his plane below the clouds, hoping to spot something, but soon he knew he was lost. He put out a mayday call, which brought a Coast Guard Falcon search plane to lead him to an emergency landing strip only six miles away. Suddenly Wyatt’s right engine coughed its last and died. The fuel tank had run dry. Around 8 p.m. Wyatt could do little more than glide the plane into the water.

Wyatt survived the crash, but his plane disappeared quickly, leaving him bobbing on the water in a leaky life vest. With blood on his forehead, Wyatt floated on his back. Suddenly he felt a hard bump against his body. A shark had found him. Wyatt kicked the intruder and wondered if he would survive the night. He managed to stay afloat for the next ten hours. In the morning, Wyatt saw no airplanes, but in the water a dorsal fin was headed for him. Twisting, he felt the hide of a shark brush against him. In a moment, two more bull sharks sliced through the water toward him. Again he kicked the sharks, and they veered away, but he was nearing exhaustion. Then he heard the sound of a distant aircraft. When it was within a half mile, he waved his orange vest. The pilot radioed the Cape York, which was twelve minutes away: “Get moving, cutter! There’s a shark targeting this guy!” As the Cape York pulled alongside Wyatt, a Jacob’s ladder was dropped over the side. Wyatt climbed wearily out of the water and onto the ship, where he fell to his knees and kissed the deck. He’d been saved. Nothing less than outside intervention could have rescued him from sure death. How much we are like Walter Wyatt.

It took outside intervention for us to be saved. The Creator, the Powerful One, the One who provides Salvation has acted on our behalf. We, the created one, the powerless one, the enemies of God, did not deserve the Creator’s actions. But his deep love provided. Our response is to accept his work and to worship him. Our vision statement reminds us that we want to be a place where those who are powerless, broken, friendless, can come and healing, mercy, acceptance, and friendship.