Read Romans 5:19
Questions from the Scripture text: What had one man done (Romans 5:19)? By this, what were many made into? And what did the other man do? By this, what were many made into?
Into what are we made by our federal heads, Adam or Christ? Romans 5:19 looks forward to the sermon in this week’s midweek meeting. In this verse of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that both in Adam and in Christ, all who were in them come into their own moral condition.
Just as through disobedience of the one man, into sinners were made the many; thus, through the obedience of the one, into righteousness were made the many. This is an overly literal translation of Romans 5:19.
Our federal head has not only brought us into judicial standing; he has also brought us into a moral state. We became sinners in the first Adam. Not just guilty of record but wicked of nature. This is why we continuously sin. We come into this world not only dead in guilt but dead in trespasses and sins. We came into this world not just unable to obey God but unable to love Him.
The Spirit Who gives sinners life to believe in the Lord Jesus also gives them a new, righteous nature from the Lord Jesus. We were brought into a state of being dead to God in the first Adam, but our new federal head also brings all who are in Him into a new moral state.
We are not only counted righteous in Jesus, but we have a new nature, a righteous nature, from which now proceed love and obedience and service unto God! The verse puts this in the future tense—a reminder that our new nature has not yet completed winning the day, but also a reminder that it shall surely do so.
But in Christ, our original and wicked self was crucified at His cross; when we believe in Him, we are able for the first time to walk in newness of life (cf. Romans 6:4) as those who are alive unto God for righteousness (cf. Romans 6:11). For the first time, the Spirit of life makes us to walk in the righteous requirements of the law (cf. Romans 8:4).
This encourages us, when our love for Him is too small. The fact that it exists has come from Him. He Who began the good work will bring it to completion.
And it motivates us to make progress in sanctification. By walking in newness of life, we display the resurrection power of the Redeemer Whom we love.
In what area of life do you need to remember where your love, small as it is, comes from? In what area of life have you lacked motivation to obey. How can you marshal a desire to display Christ’s power?
Sample prayer: Lord, we praise You for Your gospel, which is Your power unto salvation, in which You give us Your righteousness—both counted for us as our standing and worked out in us as our standing—through faith in Christ Jesus. Grant that, by Your Spirit, we would grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ, we ask in His Name, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP32AB “What Blessedness” or TPH433 “Amazing Grace”
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