This week, we’re going to get to the heart of the Gospel that for many continues to be a paradox: how could the death of one man provide salvation to an entire world? 

Read Romans 5:12-21 and journal through the following questions this week: 

• How did sin and death enter the world? (v. 12) Also see Genesis 2:17, Ezekiel 18:4 and 1 Corinthians 15:56

• How was sin in the world before the law was in the world? (v. 13) See John 1:17

• Why did the law enter the world? (v. 20)

• Read 1 Corinthians 15:45-49. 

  • Who is the “last Adam” (v. 45) / the “second Man” (v. 47)?

  • What does it mean to bear the image of Adam? (v. 47-48) See also Genesis 2:7

  • What does it mean to bear the image of heavenly Man? (v. 49) 

  • How are we transformed into the image of Christ? See Colossians 3:10, Ephesians 4:24, Philippians 3:21 and 2 Corinthians 3:18

• Romans 5 and 1 Corinthians 15 both build on the concept of a federal head. Examples of a federal head include presidents and prime ministers. Whatever the “head” archives or loses applies to all the people under the federal head. If they declare war, then all of their people are at war. If they make peace, their entire country is at peace. 

  Adam and Christ are each a federal head. Adam was a representative of created humanity and Christ is a representative of a new spiritual humanity. So, what Adam did is attributed to all mankind and what Christ did also applies to all those who are His. 

  Review this chart for a comparison of the two humanities (take the time to read the verses cited on each line): 

• What stands out most to you from this comparison chart? 

• John Stott once said: “Whether we are condemned or justified depends on which humanity we belong to … the old humanity initiated by Adam, or to the new humanity initiated by Christ.” Take inventory of your own life, thoughts and feelings. Which humanity do you identify more with? Why? 

• We’re all human, so we naturally fall into Adam’s humanity. So, how do we gain access to what we can have as God’s children? See Galatians 2:19-21

• What does it mean for sin and death to reign in your life? (v. 17)

• What does it look like for the gift of righteousness to reign in your life? (v. 17) See Galatians 5:1 and Matthew 6:33

• How do we get access to God’s grace? See Ephesians 2:8-9, Hebrews 4:16 and James 4:6

• Verse 20 says that where sin abounds, grace abounds much more. Does that give us permission to sin in order to gain more grace? Why or why not? See Ephesians 4:7

• What does the grace of God do in us? See 1 Corinthians 15:10, 2 Corinthians 9:8 and Titus 2:11-14

Remember, think about what Jesus is like; where He is; what He does; who He belongs to. In God’s eyes, all these things are true of you too! 

Reflect & Respond

• What does this passage teach me about God?

• How does this change the way I live? 

Scripture to Memorize

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” -Hebrews 4:16 (ESV)

If you’re new here or missed a week, you can find prior weeks here:

• Week One

• Week Two

• Week Three

• Week Four

• Week Five

• Week Six

• Week Seven

• Week Eight

• Week Nine

• Week Ten

• Week Eleven

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Yelena is the founder and editor in chief Tirzah. Yelena works as an attorney in tax and in her spare time, she is working on her first book for unmarried twenty-something women in extended waiting seasons and running Tirzah. She has a passion for pointing young women to Christ, and enjoys reading, writing, traveling, and spending time with her family.