Romans 5:12-20 study and side commentary – September 8, 2017

This is another tangent-filled discussion continuing on in Romans 5 from 5:12-20.

The second recording was a random discussion that tried to at least somewhat discuss the “sin nature” of man further.

In the discussion was reference to man’s having “self” as his center, and the effective “god” on the “throne” of his heart. Sins come from a person whose internal makeup is twisted or warped somehow before God. A Christian is called to flee the sin nature by running and hiding himself in God through Jesus Christ.

1 Pet. 1:5 – who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Mention was made of secular psychologist Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs (see below). This is not to teach the Bible based on secular psychology, but simply that human nature can be categorized. What Maslow did not say is sin is present in man seeking to fulfill his inherent needs.

Jesus Christ is the remedy God gives, if we may see Him as the effective savior who came to turn His people away from their iniquities (Acts 3:26).

Lord bless you!

Christ’s Free Gift

Rom 5:12-29 – Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— 13 (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. 15 But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. 16 And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. 17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)

18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

As noted in the study, the above refers to humans who have an “inherent tendency to do evil,” and in Rom. 7 Paul clearly portrays it as well.

Rom 7:14-23 – For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

Paul in verse 22 concludes there is a “law of sin” which is the sin nature, as it is commonly called.

Within man, there is corruption in attempting to fulfill needs, wants, and desires that center around self. Many people do not know the half of just how baked they are in this powerful drive to serve self.

Without giving any more credit than due to a secular psychologist, Maslow merely observes what is true of God’s creation and he categorized the levels of self-needs man naturally has.

Sin complicates even normal drives. One example among many could be the God-given sex drive. This is rooted in the God-given human need to procreate, have family, and all that is behind that including love, acceptance, meaning and purpose.

Sexual immorality happens when man’s innate needs and drives try to fulfill a mix of proper and improper motives and he takes an illicit direction in his futile mind apart from Jesus Christ.

Another example is anger. This can originate in a self-preservation drive. Or it can originate in a desire for justice, or one’s own way, or any number of self-focused reasons.

The impulse for a man to fight or even maim or kill another man (murder) can have had its root in simple self preservation. A person who feels threatened may sin upon acting form his self-preservation drive – which it itself there is nothing wrong, and it is God given.

The complications are endless. Sin is a confused tangle in the soul driven by a mixture of needs/wants/rights/desires that humans fumble over in trying to meet.

The analysis could go deep, but God in sum has declared man a sinner.

Jesus Christ came to provide the solution!