Rom 5:12 Therefore just as through one man [Adam] sin entered into the world, and through sin, death; and thus death passed on to all men because all have sinned-- (18) So then as it was through one offense unto condemnation to all men... (19) For just as through the disobedience of one man the many were constituted sinners...
Sin entered through Adam's transgression [referring to Adam's transgression of eating the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the garden] . It seems that sin is mentioned in Romans 5 through 8 in a personified way. It is like a person who can reign (5:21), who can lord it over people (6:14), who can deceive and kill people (7:11), who can dwell in people and do things against their will (7:17, 20). Sin is alive and exceedingly active (7:9). Thus, this sin must be the evil nature of Satan, the evil one, dwelling, acting, and working in fallen mankind. As a result of Adam's disobedience, the many, including us, were constituted sinners. We were not created sinners, but constituted sinners. An element not created by God was injected into our being and constituted us sinners. Sin has been wrought into us and constituted into our being. Therefore, sin is not just an outward deed, but an inward, subjective element in our constitution. Thus, we are typical sinners by nature. Furthermore, all men have been condemned to death (5:18). All men are born of Adam and in Adam. So, through Adam's one offense all men have been condemned to death in him as he was condemned. (Continued tomorrow)
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Witness Lee. Life-study of Romans, pp. 116. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA. Please visit us at www.emanna.com. Send comments to: [email protected].
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