12)
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world,
and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
13)
(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is
not imputed when there is no law.
14)
Nevertheless
death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the
similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
15)
But not as the offence, so also is the free gift.
For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and
the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
16)
And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the
gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many
offences unto justification.
17)
For if by one man's offence death reigned
by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of
righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
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The
"second man" alluded to is Jesus Christ. It is He who has extended to
us the plan of salvation. It was possible for one man (Jesus Christ) to be able
to offer us deliverance, precisely, because it was through one man (Adam) that
sin was introduced.
Common
to man is an attempt to avoid judgment for sin through natural means, which
cannot be done; because sin is a spiritual offense and as such, must be
eliminated spiritually.
Adam
the "first man" was born a natural man; a man "after the
flesh." Hence, all men born after him are born "after his kind. "Infested" as we are with all the worst the
World has to offer, we have no choice but to act and react fleshly. However,
after salvation, flesh should triumph over and rejoice in temptation—for it is
"invested" with the Holy Ghost.
People,
today, are trying in every way possible not to be responsible for their
actions. This is perhaps most common in insanity pleas and defenses. If one can
prove these extenuating circumstances, one can be excused and suffer little or
no guilt. Despite this recent turn of events, nothing man does (whether he is
saved or unsaved) is by accident, for what comes out of a man, is what is in
him. And, of course the only way that one can manifest a change is to be
changed.
This
brings us back to our message for today. After mankind (Adam and all his
descendants) transgressed he showed that his nature would have to be changed in
order for him to be accepted back to God. As a means to accomplish this were
blessed with a plan of salvation.
We
have already discussed how it is through one man, Adam, that we have all come
under the penalty of sin and therefore, through on Man, Jesus, we can be
redeemed. However, there is a difference. Though the transgression is applied
to us automatically, salvation from it is not.
This
is in direct opposition to current thought and practices. Obviously, if one
believes that salvation can be gained through "The Sinner's Prayer,"
he must believe that one is counted a believer simply by confessing it. While
scripture does states that confession is made with the mouth, that confession
is to be coupled with acceptance which is manifested through the infilling of
the Holy Ghost, evidenced by speaking in other tongues.
Thinking
that salvation is automatically conferred upon the individual simply because
condemnation is automatically accounted to him is just not true. You see,
because salvation is scripturally counted as a "gift," it can only be
gained by personal acceptance. All gifts are either accepted or rejected, even
in the natural sense. You need not accept a gift anyone—it is completely up to
you. In the same way, the Lord, being a perfect gentlemen,
must have your permission to fill you with His Spirit.
All
of these things need to be understood if the people of God are to appreciate
all that He has done and the magnitude of His sacrifice. Just think: all that
He has spoken has come to pass. So what more is left? Simply for us to praise
Him!
Salvation
is about a sacrifice and a commitment. First, Christ's (which
has already been given) and then, ours. We must show unredeemed Man
that the best thing that could ever happen in his life is to live that life
to the honor, glory and praise
of God.