One Man

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned— To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law. 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 is a pattern of the one to come.

But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 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!

Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. 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.

The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:12-21

You are not condemned by anything you have done or will do in life. Our condemnation results from Adam’s disobedience. He was changed by disobedience. He died spiritually and his body began to die physically. His body was contaminated by the Old Sin Nature in his cell structure….inherited by all his offspring. Offspring are reproduced “after their kind.”

The Bible term for the Old Sin Nature is “flesh,” or “body of corruption.” We are all born with contaminated bodies which must die. This principle is explained in great detail in Romans chapter 8. The virgin birth was absolutely necessary for the sinless true humanity of the Savior. We females are sinners, too, but we do not pass on the OSN in procreation. That is from the male, because of Adam’s responsibility in original sin. Mary was a normal human female, with an OSN, but because she was impregnated by God the Holy Spirit rather than a human male, the “seed of the woman” was born pure (Genesis 3:15, Galatians 4:4). Because of His spiritual and physical purity, the uniquely born Son of God could live in perfect obedience to the Father’s plan, and when the time came for Him to physically die, He dismissed His own spirit. He had already paid the penalty for our sins and announced “it is finished.” By receiving our sins in His own uncorrupted body, He had died spiritually (blood of Christ). His work was done. Now, His body could die and receive resurrection, to return to His Father in heaven.

You are not saved by anything you have done or can do in life. You can only believe in the finished work of Christ on the cross. This was a judicial decree from the justice of God; cancelling out the penalty of being born human, having an OSN.

Adam/created perfect/ disobeyed
Christ/born perfect/obeyed
We/born condemned/believe

There is no way we can figure ourselves into this great accomplishment. We must just accept it.

There is nothing we can do to change the judicial imputation of perfect righteousness to us. Imputation: an act of God whereby He credits the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ to us (2 Corinthians 5:21). Once it has been imputed to the individual, it is with us forever (2 Corinthians 1:21:22, Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:30). This is not necessarily evidenced by our personal conduct. It is the sovereign decree of God!

Those who think they can do something to change the justification decreed by God are demonstrating arrogance, limiting God’s ability to the human level and denying grace. It is God’s plan, God’s work, God’s guarantee. We cannot add anything. We cannot subtract anything. Adding legalism places a stumblingblock before the unbeliever seeking to be saved. Legalism hinders the believer from spiritual growth and production of divine good, the only basis for rewards.

The first Adam disobeyed and left all of us under the curse of the Old Sin Nature. The last Adam obeyed and removed that curse for all who will believe.