He Reversed the Curse

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This is a sermon based on Romans 5:12-21 and it discusses comparisons and contrasts between Christ and Adam.

Written Excerpts:

Introduction

When I chose the title for today’s message I thought it might be interesting to start off with a story about a “curse” that could be used as an illustration.

Any of you who are fans of professional baseball may have heard about a superstition referred to as: “The Curse of the Bambino.”

The Curse of the Bambino was a superstition evolving from the failure of the Boston Red Sox baseball team to win the World Series in the 86-year period from 1918 to 2004. This misfortune began after the Red Sox sold Babe Ruth, sometimes called The Bambino, to the New York Yankees in the off-season of 1919–1920. Before that point, the Red Sox had been one of the most successful professional baseball franchises, winning the first World Series and amassing five titles [in the first 15 World Series]. After the sale they went without a title for decades, as the previously lackluster Yankees became one of the most successful franchises in North American professional sports. The curse became a focal point of the Yankees–Red Sox rivalry over the years. It was not until the year 2004 that Boston won another world series title. (From Wikipedia)

Well, it is one thing to talk about a superstition that was even more prominent after a book with the same title was published.

It is quite another thing to talk about a curse that is real and that originated from God Himself. In fact, you and I have been living with the consequences of that curse every day of our lives, and so has every human being that has ever lived on earth.

Of course, I’m talking about the curse that God placed on mankind an upon the earth following the sin committed by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. (Read to us earlier from Gen. 3)

As we continue our messages in the book of Romans today, we are going to be talking about Paul’s comparison between Adam and Christ and how our Lord overcame the disastrous consequences of Adam’s sin.

 In a very real sense, Christ “reversed the curse.”

If you are following the outline that has been provided, you will notice that Romans 5:12-21 falls under III. God's righteousness is revealed through justification. (3:21-5:21).

A. The concept of justification is explained. (3:21-31)

B. The reality of justification is illustrated. (4:1-25)

C. The benefits of justification are described. (5:1-21)

i. It produces peace with God. (5:1)

ii. It procures access to grace. (5:2a)

iii. It provides hope in adversity. (5:2b-5)

iv. It provides reconciliation with God. (5:6-11)

v. It reverses the curse of sin and condemnation. (5:12-21)

Today we want to give a brief overview of this portion of Scripture and then tie it in to the communion service that we will share in a little while.

v. It reverses the curse of sin and condemnation. (5:12-21)

There are a few general theological points that are taught in this passage that I want to mention, then I will focus on the specific contrasts that Paul makes as he emphasizes how Christ reversed the curse passed down from Adam.

There are at least three important theological points that come from this passage.

Original Sin – The doctrine that every human being ever born since Adam inherits a sinful nature that places him under the condemnation of death.

Universal Atonement – The doctrine that Christ’s sacrifice provided atonement and satisfies the justice of God for sin.

Evolution vs. Theology – Some people have tried to promote the idea that the Bible is reliable when it speaks about theological issues, but it may not be when it speaks about science or history. This passage proves that the biblical account of creation is inseparably connected to theology (the topic of salvation).

Having mentioned those important theological points I want to turn our attention to some specific ways in which Christ can be described as One who reversed the curse.

One writer (Vic Reasoner) has listed five different contrasts… sin and grace (v 15); condemnation and justification (v 16); death and life (v 17); judgment and free gift ( v18); disobedience and obedience (v 19).

I came up with similar contrasts, but my list would be like this:

Adam vs. Christ (v. 14-15)

Paul apparently begins this contrast with verse 12, but he digresses before he completes his thought, but this is the point he is essentially making: Adam and Christ are representative heads for the human race.

Adam represents all men in his sin. Christ represents all men in His sacrifice.

Offense vs. Free Gift (v. 15)

The offense (transgression) brought about death to “the many.” (lit. all)

The free gift (God’s grace as demonstrated in Christ) brought life to “the many.”

Condemnation vs. Justification (v. 16, 18)

The consequence of the transgression or the offense was condemnation before God. (Guilt)

But, the consequence of the free gift (righteousness) is justification (accounted as righteous; acquitted)

Death vs. Life (v. 17, 21)

The final consequence of condemnation, guilt and the offense is death.

The final consequence of grace and gift of righteousness is life.

Disobedience vs. Obedience (v. 19)

When we speak of one man’s offense (transgression) we are really speaking of his “disobedience.” (i.e. what really happened at the time.) The result? The many were made sinners. (see v. 18)

When we speak of the other man’s gift of grace, we are really speaking of his “obedience” to God’s plan for redemption.

Result? The many were made righteous. (cf. v. 18)

Conclusion:

As we wrap up the theme of justification here at the end of chapter 5, I believe that the verse we should highlight as the most important to remember is verse 20.

Romans 5:20 (KJV)
²⁰  Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

The flood of grace surpassed the flood of sin, great as that was (and is). (A. T. Robertson)

cf. 1 Timothy 1:14 (KJV)
¹⁴  And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

Literally everything Adam ruined through his disobedience and transgression Christ more than made up for through His obedience and gift of grace; His righteousness.

Sin is an awful curse on the human race, but God has made every provision necessary to reverse the curse.

We want to share the elements of communion today to help us once again remember the suffering and sacrifice of Christ which provided the atonement needed for our justification.