“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:” Romans 5:12. There’s been a lot of death since Adam, in fact, everyone born after Adam has died (except Enoch and Elijah). One Internet site estimates that at the time of the worldwide flood, the earth’s population could have been 30 billion people, considering the fact people lived long healthy lives and the earth’s maximum sustainable food production, http://www.amunrud.com/noah/population.html. Of course, there’s no way of knowing for sure, but most likely many millions died before and in the flood. Then everyone died up to the time of Christ. When Jesus was on earth the estimated worldwide population was 300 million; they all died, just as everyone since. An ancient Greek philosopher observed that the earth is a giant graveyard, which is true as many die every day. What’s amazing is that many people go about their lives as if they will never die, but they surely will.
Some blame God when a loved one dies or at some catastrophe such as a plane crash that takes many lives, but they delude themselves and blaspheme God in so doing. Everything was very good when God finished the earth and all in it, Genesis 1:31, and therefore death was not in the equation. God made many trees to grow in Eden that were pleasant to the sight and good for food, including a tree of life and one of the knowledge of good and evil, Genesis 2:9. God told Adam he could eat from all the trees but not of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil or he would die, Genesis 2:16 – 17. He disobeyed God, Genesis 3:6, and so condemned himself to die, with his body destined to return to dust, Genesis 3:19. God then had to evict he and Eve from the Garden so they couldn’t eat of the tree of life, Genesis 3:22 – 24. And thus,
Adam’s sin passed down throughout his progeny, “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:” Romans 5:12.
The 5 verses following verse 12, Romans 5:13 – 17, are a parenthesis in which Paul amplifies or explains the theme of his discourse. He states that sin was in the world before God gave the law to Moses, but sin was not charged to anyone’s account when there was no law, Romans 5:13. (It’s estimated Adam was created in 4004 BC; the great flood occurred in about 2348 BC, which is about 1656 years after Adam; the law of Moses given in the year 1491 BC, or about 2513 years after Adam: The Companion Bible, Index 50.1) Romans 5:14 states that everyone died during those 2513 years, even if they hadn’t broken a command like Adam and that Adam was a pattern or type of Jesus Christ, who would come later. But, whereas Adam sinned and brought death to all who followed him, Romans 5:12; the anti-type (Jesus Christ) was a “free gift,” Romans 5:15a. (“Free gift” is translated from the Greek “charisma,” G5386, here and in verse 16 whereas it’s translated “gift” the other 15 times it appears in the New Testament (NT).) Verse 15 continues; “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,” Romans 5:15b. In other words, Adam was a type that pointed to Christ but with the difference that all who followed Adam died because of his sin whereas God in Grace provided a free gift to many by the Grace of Jesus Christ.
Paul continues describing the difference between Adam and Jesus Christ indicating that all are condemned by the judgment of Adam whereas the free gift in Jesus Christ was justification (or righteousness), Romans 5:16. For if it was by one man’s (Adam’s) sin that death came upon all who followed him, much more, all those who receive the over-abundance of Grace and gift of righteousness shall reign on account of one, Jesus Christ, Romans 5:17.
Verse 17 ends the parenthesis and the thought from verse 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:” Romans 5:12, continues: “Therefore as by the offence of one (Adam) judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one (Jesus Christ) 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.” Romans 5:18 – 19. Reference is then made to the Law of Moses: “Moreover the law entered, that the offence 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.” Romans 5:20 – 21. Many Christians don’t understand the purpose of the Law God gave Moses. Some believe they must obey it to be saved. Others believe they are saved but never-the-less must follow it and repent each time they break it.
Jesus Christ taught overwise, an example of which is recorded in the fifth chapter of Matthew; “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.” Matthew 5:21 – 22. No person has ever been able to keep the law, which is the reason God Himself had to become man and do so: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” Matthew 5:17 – 18. “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore, by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” Romans 3:19 – 20.
With some thought, we will realize that none born from Adam can imagine any man or woman totally devoid of sin with never a thought of lust, envy, jealousy, etc., but Jesus Christ was such a man. He saw sin every day because He knew men’s hearts; Matthew 8:8 – 13; Luke 6:7 – 8; John 2:24 – 25; John 4:15 – 18; John 6:5 – 6; John 6:60 – 61; John 13:1; John 13:11. Jesus Christ knew the thoughts of mankind and it is sobering to realize He knew the thoughts of every man who condemned Him to death as well as the sadists who beat Him until His appearance was disfigured more than any man, Isiah 52:14; those who drove the nails in His hands and feet and then set up the cross and dropped it in a hole that had to have torn his muscles, tendons and bones terribly. He not only felt the pain but knew their immoral, sadistic thoughts. But He submitted and hung on the cross in agony for 3 hours bearing our sins in His own body, Hebrews 9:28a.
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Hebrews 2:14 – 15. “For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.” 1 Corinthians 15:21 – 23.
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