The sermon entitled "Representation, In Adam, In Christ" by Tom Harding addresses the theological doctrine of federal headship as exemplified in the figures of Adam and Christ. Harding asserts that Adam, as a representative of humanity, brought sin, guilt, and death upon all people through his disobedience, primarily referencing Romans 5:19, which states that by one man's disobedience, many were made sinners. He supports this with various Scriptures that articulate the concept of original sin and inherited corruption, including Psalm 51:5 and Romans 3:10-19. In contrast, he proclaims that Christ, as the second Adam, achieved righteousness and salvation for the elect through His obedience and sacrificial death, fulfilling the law and bringing life. The practical significance of these two federal heads highlights the absolute necessity of Christ's obedience for salvation, reinforcing key Reformed doctrines such as imputation, original sin, and substitutionary atonement.
Key Quotes
“In Adam all died... but by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”
“To deny original sin... is to call God Almighty a liar.”
“The only hope a sinner has before God is Christ.”
“It's not by works, it's by his grace. That we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
The Bible teaches that through Adam's disobedience, sin entered the world, affecting all humanity.
Original sin is a foundational doctrine in Christian theology, asserting that Adam, as our representative, sinned and thus brought sin and death upon all his descendants. Romans 5:19 states, 'For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners,' which directly points to the charge of sin being imputed to all humanity. This means that everyone inherits not only guilt but also a sinful nature from Adam, as emphasized in Psalm 51:5 where David acknowledges being 'shapen in iniquity.' Thus, original sin is crucial for understanding humanity's need for redemption and the subsequent grace found in Christ.
Romans 5:19, Psalm 51:5
The effectiveness of Christ's atonement is affirmed by His obedience and the fulfillment of the law.
Christ's atonement is fully effective because it is based on His perfect obedience and sacrificial death, as demonstrated in Romans 5:19, where it states that 'by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.' Unlike Adam's disobedience which condemned, Christ's obedience brought righteousness to those He represents. This is further explained in 2 Corinthians 5:21, where it declares that Christ was made sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. His one offering is sufficient to perfect forever those who are sanctified, marking the atonement as not just a potential but a definitive act for the elect.
Romans 5:19, 2 Corinthians 5:21
Understanding representation illuminates the contrast between our fall in Adam and redemption in Christ.
The concept of representation is vital in Reformed theology as it illustrates the profound impact that Adam and Christ have on humanity's spiritual state. Romans 5 provides a clear dichotomy: in Adam, all die due to his sin, while in Christ, all are made alive through His righteousness. This understanding emphasizes the gravity of original sin and the necessity of divine grace for salvation. Without grasping this, one cannot appreciate the depth of redemption available in Christ. The federal headship of both Adam and Christ serves to clarify the nature of our sinful state and the grace that restores us, ultimately shaping our theology about sin and salvation.
Romans 5:12, Romans 5:19
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