Commentary on "Expounding the Faith"

RICHARD PEIFER

 

Day 4: Tuesday, August 3, 2010 - Death Swallowed Up

 

Overview

“Commentators have argued more over this passage of Scripture [Romans 5:12] than over most others.” (Adult Teachers Sabbath School Bible Study Guide; July, Aug, Sept, 2010, Page 70)

 

Observations

Come on, folks. This isn’t difficult. Paul plainly states that sin and death came into the world through one man – Adam (as Verse 14 makes clear). As a result, death has spread to all humanity, because all have sinned.

This is hard only for those who insist on believing that I have something to do with salvation, either in earning in the first place or keeping it after receiving it. Behaviorists claim that their belief system is based on grace, but it turns out to be nothing more than loan sharking – I’ll give you salvation, but the interest rate in exorbitant, and if you miss a payment I’ll take it back and break your legs for good measure.

Thankfully, the author of this section leaves the questions behind to focus on the real issue, which is death in Adam but life in Jesus.

I wish he would have left the supposed controversies completely out of the lesson. They don’t serve his point. He started strong with his description of the wrongness of death, and he finished strong with Jesus’ victory. I think the middle part of this section just sows doubt.

 

Summary

1. There is no difficulty in the idea that sin and death entered the world through one man
2. In Adam we all have death; in Jesus, however, we have life.

 

GO TO DAY 5

 

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