The Book of Romans ~ Lesson Eleven

"Abundantly Free"

Romans 5:12-21 (NLT) When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law to break. Still, everyone died—from the time of Adam to the time of Moses—even those who did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. Now Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come. But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.
   Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.
   God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

When did sin start? It all started with one man ~ Adam. He and Eve ate that darn apple. Yet, it isn't as simple as eating forbidden fruit. Sin started when one man decided, by his free will, to disobey God. When that happened, death, disease, tragedy, and such entered this world. It was an ugly birth of separateness from God. It ruined the perfect place and the perfect relationship between God and man.

Genesis 3:1-7 (NLT) he serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”
   “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”
   “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”
   The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.

Why did God even put that tree in the garden if He didn't want them to eat from it? It's one of those questions that I'm going to ask when I get to heaven. But, I wonder, could it be that because He gave man free choice there had to be a choice to obey or disobey. Everything else was permitted. This one tree represented the freedom man had to choose. At the point of disobedience, death came. God didn't lie. Death became part of life at that point. God had already decided life, and a way out of the sin Adam brought, would have to come through another man. That man was Jesus, who also was God Himself.

Did you know that the name "Adam" means "man"? This first man and his wife "Eve" which means, "from man or woman,"  were the first of mankind and since they sinned against God all their offspring were and are tainted by sin. The world is also broken and with this brokenness comes sadness and loss of hope. The good news is God didn't abandon man. God made a way out of this tragedy by coming down to earth as man in His Son Jesus. It is through Him we find hope.

1 Corinthians 15:21-22 (NLT) So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.

There was no Law until Moses received the Ten Commandments in the desert about 3500 years after Adam. Paul asks if that meant there was no sin if there was no Law to break. His answer was that sin entered the world through Adam . The Law, given to Moses, put it all in writing.

John 3:16-17(NLT) “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

God made a way back to Him through Jesus and His sacrifice for us. I think I take this for granted. I don't comprehend the greatness of this act. Through Adam sin and death came. Through Jesus, the perfect "Adam," life came. Now there is a way for you and me to have a right relationship with God. There is no other way no matter how much we search. No other Messiah exists.

Philippians 2:6-8 (NLT) Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

I am so grateful that Jesus humbled Himself and went to the cross for my freedom from sin. The garden, the perfect place where God resides, is now open to all who call Jesus Lord. He wants everyone to come to Jesus and bow to His Name. What is sad, is that many will refuse this perfect gift of redemption. The way to the garden is closed.

God's grace is greater than all the sin ever committed. Do you know the old hymn "Grace Greater Than Our Sin"? Here are the words to this beautiful song:

"Grace Greater Than Our Sin"( J.H. Johnston and D.B. Towner 1910)

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt,
Yonder on Calvary's mount outpoured,
There's where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.


Grace, grace, God's grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God's grace, Grace that is greater than all our sin.

God's grace, found in Jesus Christ alone, is powerfully great. Even though our sin is great and leads to death and separation from our Creator God, God's grace far exceeds it and makes a way for mankind to be redeemed. Jesus made the way where there was no way.

Ephesians 1:3-10 (Message) How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.
   Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.

We are free from sin through Jesus, abundantly free. The once angel-guarded garden we were all banned from is now open to those who accept Jesus' sacrifice. He bids all to come. If you haven't answered His call, then please answer. He loves you so much and has made a way to God for you. There is no other way. There is no other Savior. Come to Him.