This sermon is the fourth in the Beginnings series, preached for Emmanuel Reformed Church, in Springfield, SD, on Sunday, February 3, 2019.
The fall of Adam & Eve (Genesis 3) is the fall of all humanity. We are not now what we ought to be, what God created us to be. Since Adam, we have been dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1). But God pursues us, because of His great, Fatherly love for us. And to pursue us ultimately, God sent His Son Jesus Christ to fulfill His promise and reverse the curse, winning life for all who trust in Him:
- Where we were made to bear God’s image, Christ became human to bear our sin.
- Where God breathed His life-giving Spirit into us, God passed a cup of suffering to Christ.
- Where sin had made us broken, Christ was broken to make us whole.
- And to open again the way to the tree of life, Christ died on a tree of death.
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to [all] because all sinned —
Romans 5:12, 15-19
But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man [Adam]’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for [all], so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for [all]. For as by [Adam]’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by [Christ]’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
EMMANUEL REFORMED CHURCH 