Now, back to Romans chapter 5
and Lord willing, we'll try to conclude our study in this fifth
chapter. Verse 18, 19, 20, and 21. Now, in our lesson today from
these verses, we have the sum, substance, and subject matter
of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ clearly defined and clearly
set forth. before us in plain terms, in
simple terms that we can understand, especially when we are taught
of God and God the Holy Spirit being our Teacher. These verses
here are the summary of what has been taught in the chapter
preceding, and it's always an indicator in verse 18, verse
1, verse 18, excuse me, verse 18 of Romans 5, therefore, you
see that word therefore? It always looks back to what
has been said. Someone said in the past, see
what it is therefore. It refers back to what has already
been taught. If you remember, if you look
back at Romans 5 verse 12, Wherefore as by one man sin entered into
the world, and death by sin, so death passed upon all men,
for that or in whom all have sinned. And then there's that
parenthesis that goes all the way to the end of verse 17, And
then verse 18, Therefore as by the offense of one judgment came
upon all men to condemnation, even so by the righteousness
of one, the free gift, came upon all men unto the justification
of life. Now here again we see two vital
important lessons that the Lord gives unto us here. We see in
Adam what happened. In Adam all have sinned. The many in Adam have sinned. That's how sin entered into this
universe and that is how sin has entered into us. Also we
see Not only what happened in Adam, but what happened in Christ.
In Christ, now notice, in Christ, that is those in him, all have
been justified. All the elect of God have been
justified. You remember Romans chapter five,
verse nine, much more than being now justified by his blood. We're justified by his grace,
were justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath
through Him." Now, verse 18, Romans 5, Adam's one offense,
his one sin, his one transgression brought in death, judgment, guilt,
condemnation upon his entire family. upon the whole human
race. Death, judgment, guilt, and condemnation. You see, what Adam did, being
a representative man, what he did, we did. When he stood, we
stood. When he sinned, we sinned in
him. When he fell, we fell in Him. He is a representative man. Remember
I told you before God deals with all men in those two representative
heads, in Adam and in Christ. Even so, it says here, therefore
as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation,
even so, or likewise, you see that? Even so by the righteousness
of one, the free gift The free gift came upon all men unto justification
of life. Now, is he talking about all
men universally without exception? No, he's talking about the all
men that are in Christ, all the elect of God. Even so, by the
faithful and righteous obedience of Christ, who is the God-man
mediator, who is our intercessor, whoever lived to intercede for
us. Through his mediation, the free
gift of his grace, the free gift of his justifying righteousness
is passed upon the many that are in him, for whom he represents,
unto justification of life, and that means that salvation is
by his grace. Now, here's a companion scripture
that will help us here. Turn to Romans, rather 1 Corinthians
15. 1 Corinthians 15. Well, we see this blessed, basic,
Bible, fundamental truth of representation. In 1 Corinthians 15, verse 21. For since by man came death,
by man came also the resurrection of the dead." Now there's those
two men, Adam and Christ. For as in Adam all died, even
so in Christ shall many be made alive. But every man in his first
order, Christ the firstfruits afterward they that are Christ
at His coming." Now stay right here in 1 Corinthians 15 and
look over at verse 45. So it is written, the first man
Adam was made a living soul, the last Adam, talking about
the Lord Jesus Christ, was made a quickening spirit, how be that
was not first, which is spiritual, but that which is natural, afterward
that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth
earthy, the second man is the Lord from heaven. The word was
made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory. As we
have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image
of the Heavenly and that's the blessings we have in Christ that
are freely given unto us Freely given unto us. Let me read you
another scripture about the freeness that we have in Christ the Apostle
says this in 1st Corinthians 2 verse 12 now we have received
not the spirit of the world but the spirit which is of God that
we might know the things that are in freely given to us of
God, freely given to us of God. God who spared not His own Son,
but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also
freely give us all things? By the righteousness of one,
the free gift came upon all men, and that's all men in Christ.
unto the justification of life we have in Christ. The all men
that he's talking about here, turn to Romans 8 29, the all
that he's talking about here are those who were mentioned
here in Romans 8 29, for whom he did predestinate, for whom
he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed
to the image of a son that he might be the firstborn among
many brethren, Moreover, whom He did predestinate, them He
also called, and whom He called, them He also justified, and whom
He justified, them He also glorified." Notice all past tense in the
purpose of God already completed. The Lord Jesus Christ is life. The Lord Jesus Christ He is salvation
and He is eternal life. Notice, unto justification of
eternal life, being cleared of all guilt and given eternal life
through the Lord Jesus Christ. His obedience, His faithfulness
according to the Word of God was absolutely perfect. His obedience was perfect unto
God. Notice, by His righteousness,
by His faithfulness, the free gift came upon us. and to justification
of life. The Scriptures describe the Lord
Jesus Christ, the God-man mediator, who represents us this way. 1
John 3, 5 says, He had no sin. And we know that He was manifested
in the flesh to take away our sin, and in Him is no sin. And then in 1 Peter 1, 22, it
says, He did no sin. Who did no sin, neither was guile,
found in his mouth. And then 2 Corinthians 5, 21
declares that he knew no sin. You see, it's upon his faithfulness,
not mine. Upon his righteousness, not mine. Upon his obedience unto death,
not mine. God made him to be sin for us
who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of
God in him. Again, the description we have
in Hebrews 7, For such a high priest became us, he was holy,
harmless, undefiled, and separate from sin. His obedience unto
God was perfect. Word, deed, thought, and motive. Every thought he had was pure,
sincere, unto the glory of God. And every act he did was unto
the glory of God, totally and completely. He honored the law
of God in every aspect, where it says, love the Lord thy God
with all your heart, mind, and soul. He did that. And He did
that for us as a representative man, working out a perfect righteousness
for us. We put it this way, the Lord
Jesus Christ, who represents His church, who represents His
people, He honored the law of God in every precept. every precept of that law. Now
a lot of people think about the ten. But there are many more
than 10 precepts of the law. Someone said there's seven or
800 precepts of that law. And God said, this is my beloved
son in whom I am well pleased. And then in Isaiah 42, 21, it
says of him that the Lord Jesus Christ magnified the law of God
for us. God is well pleased with his
righteousness. So he honored every precept of
the law. His obedience and His righteousness
is ours before God. Now, whose righteousness would
you rather have? Yours, and you don't have one,
or His? I'd rather stand in Him, and
we do by His grace. And then the other aspect of
that law, not only is the law that it have to be honored, but
also the precepts of the law had to be honored, but also that
penalty of the law. Remember the penalty of the law?
The soul that sinneth must die. Well, the Lord Jesus Christ died
for His people. He died for the ungodly. He died
in their room and in their stead, and being guilty of our sin,
being placed upon Him, The justice of God dealt with him justly,
and he died under the sentence of that law, thereby satisfying
that law of God for us. And he redeemed us from the curse
of the law, being made a curse for us. Now, look at Romans 5
verse 19. For as by one man's disobedience,
Many, or the many, were made sinners. So by the obedience
of one shall many, in the original, in the definite article, the
many, be made righteous. Now he repeats what he has just
said. For by or through the disobedience
of one man, the many, That is, in Adam, were legally constituted
and made sinners. We were born in sin, shapen in
iniquity. We were not put on probation
to see how we would do. It was not a test to see if we
would sin or not sin. Adam's sin was actually imputed,
charged, reckoned to us, and we are actually made sinners
in Adam. All have sinned and come short
of the glory of God. Even so, also through the obedience
of one, the many, those in Christ, were legally constituted and
made righteous through the perfect obedience of the God-man Mediator. Aren't you glad that God in his
wise providence has arraigned salvation so? Because of our
vital union with the Lord Jesus Christ, because of our oneness
with him as our federal head, remember the Lord said, I in
them and thou in me that we might be made perfect in one We are
vitally united to the Lord Jesus Christ, our covenant head. Therefore, what he did, we did. When he honored the law of God,
we honored the law of God in him. When he lived, we lived. When he died, we died. You see, the law of God has already
killed us, already has crucified us in Christ. Now, you can turn
to this if you want to, but Galatians 2 verse 20, Paul said, I'm crucified
with Christ. I'm dead to the law that I might
live under God. I'm crucified with Christ, Galatians
2.20. Nevertheless, I live, yet not
I, but Christ liveth in me. In the life which I now live
in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved
me and gave himself for me, for I do not frustrate the grace
of God, for if righteousness come by the law, that is, by
me doing or trying to do the law, then Christ is dead in vain."
You see, we are made righteous through what He did. What He
did, we did. When He lived, we lived. When
He died, we died. When He arose from the dead,
we arose in Him. When he ascended to the throne
and sat down, we ascended in him and were seated in the heavenly
in the Lord Jesus Christ right now. Now, I'm not there in my
person, but every believer is there in our federal head, in
our representative head. Now, don't turn, let me just
read this to you because I've read this many times and you're
most familiar with this. but in Ephesians chapter 2 verse
4 says, but God who is rich in mercy for his great love were
with he loved us even when we were dead in sin hath quickened
us together with Christ by grace are you saved and hath raised
us up together. Past tense. Raised us up together
and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ. We're already seated, enthroned
in the Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that vital union with
Him, we are seated in the heavenlies in our federal head. What's true of the head is true
of the body. Someone said in the past, where the head is,
that's where the body is. Wherever this head goes, this
body goes. Christ is our head and we are
called the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are called His
body. What's true of the head is true
of the body. Someone put it this way about that thing of representation
and federal headship. The first time I read this, it
kind of startled me. This is many years ago when I
first read this, and I can't remember what book I was reading,
but the man said this, we are raised the same way we are fallen,
only in a different man. were raised the same way we fell
in representation, we're raised by representation. We're raised
the same way we're fallen, only in a different man, in the God-man
mediator. And the book of God definitely
teaches that truth of representation, salvation in Christ. And we call
that the free grace of God, don't we? The Lord has wisely arranged
all things that he might receive all the honor and glory. God
saves us by his purpose and his grace that's given us in Christ. When? Before the foundation of
the world. You see the grace of God that
we talk about in the salvation that we talk about is an eternal
salvation. God has purposed the salvation
of his people and has accomplished it from eternity. We're justified
eternally in Christ. Now, look at verse 20. Moreover,
or furthermore, the law entered that the offense might abound. But, I love that word, but where
sin did abound, grace did much more abound." Now, again Paul
returns to the reason for the giving of the law. We have already
established the fact that sin was in the world before the law
was given, right? Before the law was given. Sin
was in the world and we know that because there was death
and guilt by sin. Paul again returned to the reason
for the giving of the law. Now, know this. The law only
reveals sin, exposes sin, does not put it away, does it? Does
not put it away. I've given this illustration
before. When you go into a dark room, and you switch on the light,
and the light comes on, does the light remove the dirt? What
does a light do? It exposes the dirt. Now, if
you could invent a light bulb, when you switched on the light,
that would remove the dirt? Now, you'd have something. But
the law of God only reveals sin, it does not remove it. It clearly exposes the problem
we have, sin. Sin abounds through the law of
God. Now, if you want to turn with
me, you can. If not, just listen, but mark
this reference down in Galatians chapter 3. And I'm not sure why
the marginal reference is not there on verse 20, but in Galatians
chapter 3, let's begin at verse 16. Now to Abraham and his seed
were the promises made, Galatians 3, 16. He saith not unto seeds
as of many, but as of one, and to thy seed which is Christ,
And this I say, that the covenant which was confirmed before God
in Christ, the law, which is 430 years after, Cannot disannull
that it should make the promise of non effect in other words
God saved Abraham 430 years before the law of God was given so we
know that salvation is not by the law For if the inheritance
be of the law, it's no more of promise, but God gave it to Abraham
by promise now verse 19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgression,
till the seed should come to whom the promise was made, and
it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. Stay right in Galatians chapter
3, verse 23, But before faith came, we were kept under the
law, shut up to the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Wherefore, the law was our schoolmaster to bring us, notice those words
are italicized, to bring us unto Christ that we might be justified
by faith. The law of God condemned and
convicts us and shuts us up to the mercy of God alone that's
revealed in the Lord Jesus Christ. So the law was given to expose
sin, to reveal sin, look at the second part of verse 20, but
where sin does abound because of the giving of the law. The
giving of the law and the law of God says, stop your mouth,
remember Romans 3, 19, stop your mouth, you're guilty. Guilty. The law says guilty, guilty,
guilty. The law doesn't say comfort.
The law doesn't say grace. The law says guilty, guilty,
judgment. But where sin abounded, grace does much more. Grace does much more abound. Grace does much more abound,
that is super abound, exceedingly abound, sovereignly abound toward
his people. The overflowing and super abundant
grace to his people is to his glory, supplying our every need. Everything that the law of God
demands, the grace of God has supplied through Christ Jesus. The law of God demands perfection.
We have that in Christ Jesus. The law of God demands that sin
be put away and punished. We have that in the Lord Jesus
Christ. It's an overflowing and a super
abundant grace. The grace we have in the Lord
Jesus Christ supplies our every need. In Him dwells all the fullness
of the Godhead bodily, and in Christ we stand complete. I am what I am, we can say with
the Apostle Paul, by the grace of God. My God shall supply all
your need, singular, according to His riches in glory through
the Lord Jesus Christ. So then we can say we are chosen
by His grace. That's what the Word of God teaches,
right? That's eternal electing grace. We are called by His grace,
we are kept by His grace, and His grace is exceeding abundant. Listen to the testimony of the
Apostle Paul when he talks about how he was a blasphemer and an
injurious man, But he says this, 1 Timothy 1.14, And the grace
of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love, which is
in the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, one more verse, Romans 5.21,
That as sin hath reigned unto death, That's the only reason
a person dies is because of sin. Sin hath reigned unto death,
even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life
by Jesus Christ our Lord. Now, since it is true that sin
hath reigned unto death, Even so, and much more, does grace
reign." Now, don't forget this part of this verse. Even so might
grace reign through. righteousness through the Lord
Jesus Christ honoring the very law of God that we have broken.
Grace reigns through righteousness being established by Christ. Grace reigns through the Lord
Jesus Christ and it reigns unto eternal life. The righteousness we know that
is mentioned here is that everlasting righteousness that's been established
by Christ and freely imputed, charred, reckoned, counted unto
God's people. The only grace that is taught
in the Word of God is sovereign grace. Sovereign grace. Someone asked me recently, where
in the Bible does it say sovereign grace? Right there it is. Grace
reigns through righteousness unto eternal life through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Now, let me read. Don't turn. Let me just read this to you.
You're familiar with this. But this verse, that verse reminded
me of this verse. The Word was made flesh and dwelt
among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten
of the Father, full of grace and truth." And then it says
here, the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by the
Lord Jesus Christ. And of His fullness have all
we received grace for grace. Now, as I've often said, there
we have the reason for grace. The reason for grace is grace. Grace because of grace. Grace for grace. Now, where sin abounded, grace
does much more about. That's the good news of the gospel. God saves every sinner whom He
wisely saved by His eternal purpose and by His grace alone. That's
revealed in the Lord Jesus Christ.