Romans 5:14, 17-19

14 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.

 17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

18 Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

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1. Adam directly disobeyed God’s spoken word to him. Since then, people have had natural knowledge of His Law, which does not save them from eternal death (Romans 2:12-16). Through Moses, the Law was put into writing. When did death begin its reign (Romans 5:14)?

2. To be in God’s glorious presence, we need to be righteousness in His sight. God in His great mercy freely gives this righteousness. If death reigns through Adam, from whom does the free gift of righteousness come (v. 17, last phrase)?

In Adam We Have All Been One (CW 396)

In Adam we have all been one,

    One huge rebellious man;

We all have fled that evening voice

    That sought us as we ran.

We fled Thee, and in losing Thee

    We lost our brother too;

Each singly sought and claimed his own;

    Each man his brother slew.

But Thy strong love, it sought us still

    And sent Thine only Son

That we might hear His Shepherd’s voice

    And, hearing Him, be one.

O Thou who, when we loved Thee not,

    Didst love and save us all,

Thou great Good Shepherd of mankind,

    O hear us when we call.

Send us Thy Spirit, teach us truth;

    Thou Son, O set us free

From fancied wisdom, self-sought ways,

    To make us one in Thee.

Then shall our song united rise

    To Thine eternal throne,

Where with the Father evermore

    And Spirit Thou art one.