Two Adams and Imputation – Similarities and Differences – Verses 12-19
Introduction:
Paul introduced here the legal guilt of all men in their first father Adam, condemning them a whole new way. Paul had taken the Jewish legalists back to Abraham to show justification without circumcision or Law. Romans 4
Now He will take
all men, Jews and Gentiles, back to Adam and show them all guilty for his first sin.
Here in
Romans 5:12-19 we have revealed truth regarding the cause and origin of death, which no man can discover or even begin to understand without God revealing this hidden mystery in the Bible to His children.
Many theological battles have been fought over the individual words of this text with harsh accusations and great doctrinal differences arising from the efforts of man to overthrow the full force of this verse.
Here is where we see the doctrine of original sin, not in man’s nature, but in his legal guilt and condemnation. This passage does not directly teach total depravity, but rather guilt and condemnation for Adam’s sin. The distinction between original sin and total depravity in both word and concept is very important here, for there are two different, important doctrines represented by these words, both of which must be taught. Total depravity is the ruin of man’s nature into a state of spiritual death (
Gen 2:17;
Ep 2:1-3;
Rom 8:7-8). Original sin is legal guilt and condemnation of all men for indirect participation in Adam’s sin in Eden. Total depravity is man’s propensity, yea necessity, of sinning from birth to death by a rebellious nature. Original sin is God’s accounting where He has imputed or charged Adam’s guilt and punishment to all. If you choose to deny total depravity (of nature), you are already legally guilty for the original sin of Adam. If you choose to deny original sin (of Adam), you are yet totally depraved and will condemn yourself by sins.
Consider that consistent and extreme Arminians, like Campbellites (Church of Christ), must deny original sin. Jim, you are very closely associated with the CoC~at least in doctrine if not in name. They believe those with active consciences are saved by baptism, thus endangering all that die in infancy. Protestants save their infants from original sin by infant baptism, so Campbellites must deny original sin. They have said, “We are born sinless, pure, and spiritually alive,” denying original sin and total depravity.
Consider that Roman Catholics, accepting an idea of original sin, must invent infant baptism to save babies. By assuming baptism saves from original sin, they must not withhold the sacrament and risk infant lives. However, what happens to the poor infants of Catholic or other mothers that die without infant baptism? They comforted tearful mothers of infants dying without baptism by inventing Limbo Infantum for unbaptized babies (which led to Limbus Patrum, the decent place on the edge of hell for O.T. saints).
One of the gravest scenes is a cemetery with an erected tent, where another life, another body, another person, has ended all earthly ambitions and efforts and is consigned to total physical corruption. The scene proves God’s hatred for sin and the overwhelming ignorance of man, which cannot defer or modify death in any way.
Though we must soberly consider the doctrine of sin revealed here, we can remember our Savior with joy. He justified and made atonement for us, and much more than that will save from coming wrath (5:6-10) Furthermore, God also made atonement for us in Christ, putting us one with God as in Eden before (5:11). Where sin abounded and death reigned by Law, grace has abounded much more and life reigns (5:20-21).
There are things to keep in mind while studying this passage lest any confusion arise or any lessons be lost. Total depravity and original sin are quite different ~ vital versus legal condemnation –~though connected. The sovereignty of God over man is exalted about as much as it can be by imputation of Adam’s sin. You may ask and answer questions that evolutionists cannot honestly do ~ Where did death come from?
You may ask and answer questions that evolutionists cannot honestly do – Why has it not evolved away? You may ask and answer a question that should plague every thinking person – WHY DO BABIES DIE? The age of accountability (to protect infants or children) is moot, unless you want to debate Adam’s age. The origin of death and the unalterable sentence of it, regardless of evolution, reformation, medicine, etc. All alternative medicine or health thinking must eventually accept that sickness and death result from sin. Election predates Adam; men were chosen in Christ before him, though in light and consequence of him. The implications of believing original sin (infant baptism) or denying it (Campbellites and Mennonites?).
Grammatically, a reader may proceed from 5:12 to 5:18, where Paul took up after his parenthesis, for the therefore of 18 and the argument of both verses are drawing summary conclusions from 5:12-17.
