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Romans 5:17, "For if by one
man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of
grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus
Christ.)"
This morning, the doctrine of representation may be perhaps the most
misunderstood and hated of all the Biblical doctrines. While election and
predestination have detractors as well, the idea that someone else has
represented us (whether it be naturally or spiritually) really hits the core of
man's pride and vanity. Too many times, we foolishly believe that we are our own
masters in control of our own outcomes. While we make decisions in life that
have consequences (both good and evil), we should never run after the folly and
notion that we somehow do something to make ourselves a certain thing. Rather,
we do things because of who we already are. When a child is born into this
world, it does not breathe, cry, move, etc to gain life. Rather, it does these
things, proving that it already has life. Likewise, we do not sin to become
sinners or work righteousness to become children of God. We sin because we are
sinners, and we work righteousness
because we are already children of God.
Paul is in the midst of discussing our representative heads here in Romans 5,
and the large parenthetical expression from verses 13-17 is often neglected in
the preaching of this grand subject. Paul discusses the main points in verses 12
and 18, but the parenthetical expression shows a comparison of both Adam and
Christ as our representatives. I believe that the thoughts in that comparison
bring forth that Paul compares them (and in conjunction contrasts them) in three
ways. Our verse brings out the last contrast Paul makes between them. He has
already laboured to show that Adam's work was an offence, while Christ's work
was a free gift. Then, he declares that Adam did one thing to bring judgment
upon himself and his posterity, while Christ took many things (offences) upon
Himself to bring life and justification. After showing these differences by way
of comparison, Paul, in our verse, lays out the last that shows the reach and
power of both
representatives.
When we look at what Adam did, it would be hard for any thinking mind to show
how that work did not have the power to reach everybody. Everywhere we find man,
we find sin and death. The reason that we find this is that what Adam did had
the power to reach and extend to that last natural person that will ever be born
into this world. That is quite a power wrought by his one offence. Paul employs
the language in describing this act as "reigned." Death reigned over Adam's
representatives because of the sin that is inherently passed through the natural
lines. For something or someone to reign over someone or something else, we
understand that concept to teach power, dominion, authority, and rule. What Adam
did brought a power and rule of authority of sin over us and upon us. None can
outstrip the power that this work had.
If someone does not like the fact that Adam represented them naturally, the only
thing one could do in such a case would be to outrun it. If someone does not
like being in servitude (like a slave), they would run away from their master,
flee the country in which they lived, etc. But, how could we do such a thing?
Since sin and death follows us in these old clods that we inhabit, none can
possibly escape the condemnation that is upon them. When Adam fell, we fell with
him, in him, and altogether at once. (Romans 3:10-12) We did not begin our
filthiness upon conception or birth, but rather, we were legally under
filthiness and condemnation the day Adam ate of the forbidden fruit. Why do we
sin by practice? We show forth that we are already sinners by nature. While we
understand that we were not physically there with Adam, his sentence became ours
the hour it was pronounced upon him. We were all together in that one place with
him, and because of
that action, death and sin reign over us by nature.
With that power, rule, and authority in mind, what does Paul say in reference to
our other representative? If Adam's work had such power to extend to all his
family, what would be the comparison with Christ? Paul says that since death
reigns because of what Adam did, how much more shall the free gift of
righteousness and abundance of grace reign by Christ? When talking with people,
most will admit that everyone is a sinner (although to what degree they ascribe
it varies). They may not admit to total depravity, per se, but they attest that
we all fall victim to sins and shortcomings. The fact that we all die attests to
the power of Adam's work (verse 12). So, how could one logically say that what
Adam did had more power than what Christ did? Paul asserts the very opposite.
How much more powerful shall Christ's work be?
Many people ascribe the representation and work of Christ to all mankind. If
pressed about the matter, they will generally give two reasons for this: 1. it
would not be fair for Christ to only die for some and not all, or 2. how could
Adam represent more people than Christ? To answer the first point, we need only
look at God's unapologetic purpose and grace. God never has to apologize for
what He does, for had He chosen to save all, none, or one, He can do what
pleases Him. He chose to save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21), and
none can cry, "What doest thou?" with any legal credibility. (Romans 9) As it
was God's purpose to save all those He chose, predestinated, eventually calls,
and will one day glorify, Christ's work to save a portion of the whole human
race cannot justly be declared unfair.
The second point (while far less common than the first point) is addressed by
Paul and in turn, answers to some degree the first as well. Some believe that it
shows less power for Christ to represent less persons than Adam did. Let us
ponder for a moment exactly what the consequence of that thought would be. If we
say (and correctly so) that Adam had the power to affect all of his family by
what he did, what are we saying about Christ when declaring that His work does
not affect all for whom He represented? To say that Christ died for everybody,
but not everybody see heaven, we are saying that Christ's work had not the level
of power that Adam's did. Adam's work had power over all his family, so how much
more power should Christ's work have over all His family. As death reigned by
the offence of one to condemnation, so much more does the free gift and
abundance of grace reign by one to justification of life. Christ's work cannot
be shortened in
its effect, for in so doing, we are saying the first Adam had more power and
authority of representation than the last Adam.
Since God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself (II Corinthians
5:18-19), none for whom the representation is made can outstrip it any more than
they could outstrip the condemnation of sin. Our justification in Him is forever
secure and complete as He represented us once and for all. (Hebrews 1:3) He sat
down in power, authority, and rule so that every heir of grace would have the
ultimate gift freely given by Him. It does not matter whether we like it or not,
the work is done. I am not particularly fond of what Adam did in representing
me, but dear friends, it is done. There may be those that are not particularly
fond of the representation that Christ made, but it is done. The reign of death
and sin is dreadful as we see it around us and in us everyday. But, thanks be
unto God that the reign of grace and life abounds much more by the work of
Christ.
When saying that Christ's arm could not have been shortened in its power of
authority, we are actually ascribing more representation to Christ than to Adam.
It is indeed true that Adam represented more persons, but Christ represented
them far more. Adam made one work that forever plunged us into the miry pit.
Christ lived a perfect life (much more than one work) to be the perfect
sacrifice, to make the perfect offering, in the perfect way, to blot out every
child of God's offences perfectly, and lay down His life at the perfect time,
and be raised again at the perfect moment. What Adam did on one day at one
moment represented us naturally. The other acts of Adam's life are not ours by
representation. But consider this: for us to have Christ's righteousness, we are
given His life. By imputation, we are given His life, and He is given our filth.
Therefore, the actions of Christ are imputed to us (much more than one act on
one day). The love and
charity that became Him is bestowed upon us in abundance and mercy. The
sweetness of His person is given to us by His grace. Finally, the completeness
of Him is given to us as well. (Colossians 2:10)
Finally, the ultimate in Christ's representation is the distance travelled for
it. Adam took us from zero if you please (neither holy nor sinful). He started
at a good natural plane with neither righteousness or iniquity. He was a good
natural man. But, his work plunged us from zero to eternal damnation. Christ's
work took us from that infinite damnation and brought us up. But dear friends,
He did not bring us back up again to zero, but He brought us all the way up to
eternal life. We are as far above Adam's original state as he took us below it.
Christ's work for less persons was far more representation than in Adam. The
gift of life reigns in His family, without the loss of one. Truly, nothing
should be sweeter to the children of the King than this, regardless of how hard
it hits the pride and weakness of the flesh.
In Hope,
Bro Philip |