The Two Men
There are two men representing two different races of men. Here we are introduced to the concept of Federal Headship where one person represents a whole group of people. The Pauline language of being "in" Christ or "in" Adam means to be in union or in solidarity. To be in union with these two men is to also possess their characteristics as the progenitors of these two distinct races of humans. Since Christ is superior to Adam then what Christ gives to His offspring is superior. Grace in Christ goes far beyond sin in Adam. So if a person is in Christ that grace will abound and be obvious in his or her life, where Adam's traits once flourished. This comparison between Adam and Christ leads us to the logical conclusion that a person who is in Christ will not be like a person who is in Adam.
Adam is called a type, or foreshadow, of Christ. But it is a negative type. It is a type that is seen in contrasts rather than direct likeness. Adam's race is marked by sin and death, which reigned over Adam's race, dominating every aspect of human life. There is no aspect of human life that is not somehow ruled over by the effects of sin and death. Adam's race is a race of sinners, but both nature and choice. Adam's race is noted for their disobedience to God's commandments. And for this disobedience God has judged and condemned Adam's race. Note that all of this was true of Adam's race even before the Law was given. The Law did not save Adam's race from his condition, but it actually increased the seriousness of the situation by bringing out the fallen nature for all to see! Every human being is like the progenitor. You cannot rise above your nature and you cannot escape Adam's fate.
On the other hand, Jesus brought the exact opposite of what Adam did. Jesus brought grace, justification, righteousness, and life. Jesus was known for his obedience. Here is how to escape from Adam's race! Now Jesus is also a man. God is redeeming humanity, not destroying humanity. But Jesus is a different kind of man, a fresh start. God has rejected Adam. But He has accepted Christ. Jesus' race will outlast Adam's.
Set Free from Sin
The New Man in Christ has died and been raised like Christ and is therefore no longer a slave to sin. This section begins with Paul answering a question that is deeply flawed reasoning. In the previous argument Paul said that where sin increased grace increases all the more. Well, someone then reasoned that if we sin even more than this will mean that grace can abound even more. More sin brings more grace, so why not sin all you can?
According to this flawed reasoning grace would become a license, even an encouragement for sin. It could have been that some were accusing Paul of teaching grace and therefore encouraging sin. It is commonly believed and taught in our day that grace means that God is soft on sin and tolerant of it, even in His people. This is a terrible misunderstanding of grace and the Gospel. The Gospel does not make sin permissible or encourage sin. Grace actually makes sin unreasonable. And you have to reach this point in your own walk where sin has become unreasonable. It is doubtful that anyone will stop sinning unless there is a radical change in thinking. This is the very issue Paul is addressing.
Sin is unreasonable because the believer has been united with Christ and his or her identity is now found in Christ. Here is how the Gospel becomes personal. The believer is so closely identified with Christ that Christ's death, burial, and resurrection become the believer's death, burial and resurrection. Remember that our identity was once in Adam so that Adam's sin became our fall. All of the characteristics of the Progenitor are transferred to the offspring. Now that we are united with Christ all of the benefits of His death, burial and resurrection are transferred to the believer. This reality is depicted in the act of baptism. Baptism depicts a death, burial and resurrection. The Old Man of sin dies and is buried and a New Man is raised to life.
Now this incredible reality has many implications. This death has brought about a new freedom from sin. That old life marked by sin has been crucified with Christ, or rendered powerless. The power of sin is broken in Christ. This means that no believer has to give in to temptation and sin. The body used to be given over to practicing sin. In fact, the body was a slave to sinful desires. This slavery has ended in Christ. The believer is, like Christ Himself, free to devote himself or herself completely to God and serving God in the body. The body, once an instrument of sin, becomes an instrument of righteousness that is sanctified unto God for His use. Now the Believer must enter into this reality consciously and purposefully. The only people who will obtain eternal life are those who are sanctified, or who continually offer themselves to God and righteousness. This act is what produces the fruit of godly character.
Inner Conflict
The New Man and the Old Man struggle in the life of the believer. The seventh chapter of Romans has two subsections united by a common theme. That common theme is the Law and how the Law functions in relation to the Believer. Is the Believer still under the Law? Paul will argue that the Believer in Christ is no longer under the dominion of Law. We are not under Law because we have died with Christ. The Law has no power over someone who has died. Therefore, the Believer is no longer under the condemnation of the Law. Christ has taken away the condemnation of the Law, so if we are joined with Christ the Law cannot condemn us. To illustrate this point Paul uses marriage. A woman is bound to her husband unless he dies. Death releases the marriage bond and she is free to marry another. In the same way every living person is bound by the Law to obey it. However, this union arouses sinful passions and the result is death. But the believer has died with Christ, releasing him from the Law, and he is now united with Christ. The fruit of that marriage or union with Christ is not death, but is life unto God. So the Believer does not serve God by the Law, but serves God through the Spirit. This point will be developed later in detail.
But first Paul addresses a question. Is the Law the problem? No. The Law is not sin. But the Law does teach us about our sin. Law makes a boundary. Sin is crossing this boundary. The sinful nature, or the Flesh, greatly desires its freedom and its own satisfaction and regularly crosses the boundaries set by the Law. The Law stirs up the sinful nature by attempting to control it, yet the Flesh desires expression and satisfaction. So the Law is teaching us about the nature of our Flesh and thereby the knowledge of sin. The Law could not bring life it could only result in spiritual death. The Law proves that we are dead in sin. Your sinful nature will kill you. It will deceive you. So there is nothing wrong with the Law, but there is something wrong with us! The Law throws light on our sinful nature so that we can see it.
Now the Believer has been made new. But the Old Man has not gone away. The Believer is caught in this tension or conflict between the Old and the New. There are two principles or laws in conflict in the believer. It is like two men struggling against each other. There is a part of us not yet redeemed: our bodies! The New Man is separated from this principle of sin so that when a believer experiences inner conflict he can know that those sinful desires or thoughts are not from the New Man! The New Man loves the Law of God.
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