JUSTIFICATION #8 ONLY TWO MEN A key to understanding

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." (Romans 5:1-2) The human drama focuses upon two men; both of them federal heads of our race. From one comes cursing, from the Other comes blessing. One accounts for the fall of mankind, the Other accounts for spiritual recovery. The first is the head of the old order, the Second is the Head of the new order. Every member of our race is related to the first man. Provision has been made for all to be related to the Second. "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: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 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. But not as the offense, so also is the free gift. For if through the offense 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. 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 offenses unto justification. For if by one man's offense 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.) 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 justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life" (Rom 5:12-22). Try as you may, you cannot find more than two men here! All of humanity can trace their origin to the first. All that have been born again can trace their spiritual origin to the Second. Adam brought us down, Christ raised us up. Adam brought the curse, Jesus brings the blessing. Adam caused death to begin its ruthless reign. Jesus brought life more abundant! In the first man we were made sinners. In the Second we are made righteous. The case is superbly stated by the Spirit. One act of disobedience brought the curse! One act of obedience brought the blessing! These words support sound theology, they are highly disruptive of erroneous and contrived theology. The grace of God has abounded "much more" than sin. Justification brings us higher than Adam was--even in his original state. We are not simply recovered from the trash heap of sin! God's "eternal purpose" started when Adam was created, it did not culminate at that point. Adam was created "in the image" of God. He was a perfect creation, but he did not fulfill the Divine objective for mankind. That is realized in Christ alone. In man's fall, the "image" was marred. Jesus, however, is the "express Image" of God's Person. In Him, and Him alone, "all the fullness of the Godhead" dwells bodily. Recovery from the fall, as well as the maturization of God's purpose, is found in Christ alone. That is God's appointment. A disciplined approach to morality through a code of law will not result in recovery or maturity. Trying hard in human energy will not do it either. The grace of God is essential to our salvation. It not only delivers us from the ravages of sin, it also enables us to maintain a godly status. Further, grace "reigns through righteousness," i.e., justification is not only initiated by grace, it becomes the means through which grace continues to be appropriated. Herein is a marvelous thing; the righteousness that is imputed to us through faith becomes the basis for the reign of grace. It is our faith that appropriates that righteousness. Among other things, this removes all boasting in the flesh. Those that are exonerated make their boast in the Lord Jesus Christ. They know their righteousness is traced back to the "obedience of One." Praise God, that obedience was flawless, and is honored in heaven. Without shame, I confess I am pleased with such an arrangement.

-- TOMORROW: CHRIST ENDS THE LAW FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS --