Romans 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. I. WHO IS THIS ONE SPOKEN OF? Note — 1. All mankind being contained in, and so fallen with Adam, God raised up another Adam, by whom they might rise (1 Corinthians 15:45). Who being promised, as soon as the first fell (Genesis 3:15) is called the Second Man (1 Corinthians 15:47). 2. This was no less a Person than the Son of God made Man (John 1:14; 1 Timothy 3:16). For He took the nature of man into His Divine Person (Hebrews 2:16). 3. Hence the whole nature of man was so fully and really contained in Him as in the first Adam (1 Corinthians 15:22). 4. This, the Second Man, had an advantage over the first, that whereas the other was but a man made in the likeness of God, this was God made in the likeness of man (Philippians 2:6, 7). II. WHAT WAS THE OBEDIENCE OF THIS ONE? 1. He did no sin, was not guilty in the least (Isaiah 53:9; 1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5; John 8:46). 2. He did whatsoever the law required, and so remained perfectly righteous in all things (Matthew 3:15; Hebrews 7:26-28; John 15:10; John 4:34). 3. He was obedient, even to death itself (Philippians 2:8); so He underwent that death which the first Adam had deserved for all mankind. III. IN WHAT SENSE ARE MANY MADE RIGHTEOUS BY ONE? In the same sense as they are sinners by one. 1. By having Christ's righteousness as we had Adam's sin imputed to us. (1) No man can be pronounced righteous by God, unless he be really so (Proverbs 17:15; Isaiah 5:23). (2) But no man is really righteous in himself (Ecclesiastes 7:20). (3) Hence it is impossible we should be accepted as righteous before God, unless we have some other righteousness imputed to us (Romans 4:6, 11). (4) Hence Christ was pleased to be obedient even unto death for us; that so by His obedience imputed to us we might be accepted as righteous. For — (a) Our righteousness is plainly asserted to be only in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21). He was made sin for us. Our sins were laid on Him (Isaiah 53:6); so His righteousness on us (Philippians 3:8, 9; Ephesians 1:6). (b) He is expressly called "Our righteousness" (Jeremiah 23:6; Jeremiah 33:16; 1 Corinthians 1:30). (c) He is called our Surety (Hebrews 7:22), who, being bound for us, paid in our stead what the law required of us. (d) Christ's whole obedience was only upon our account, and for our sakes (Galatians 4:4, 5); so that by His obedience the law is perfectly fulfilled in us (Romans 8:3, 4). 2. We are made righteous by Christ as sinners by Adam, inherently. He — (1) Mortifies our sins (1 John 3:8; Acts 3:26; 1 John 1:7-9). (2) Gives repentance (Acts 5:31). (3) Sanctifies our whole nature (1 Corinthians 1:30; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Ephesians 5:25-27). (4) Enables us to do good works (John 15:4, 5; Titus 2:14; Philippians 4:11-13).Conclusion: 1. Thank God for Christ. 2. Put your whole trust in Him only, for grace as well as pardon. 3. Let it be your great care to be in the number of those who are made righteous in Christ, in believing in Him. 4. Live as becometh righteous persons. (Bp. Beveridge.) Parallel Verses KJV: For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. |
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