The contrasts of Adams

There are at least seven ways that the influence of the two Adams is different.

First, Romans 5:15 described the outcomes as death and gift respectively. Adam brought death to many. Christ brought a gift to many. It is not difficult to tell which is better!

Second, Christ’s gift comes to the many by word translated as “abounded” (vs 15). The word occurs in the feeding of the five thousand to refer to leftover food, because the word connotes a surplus or overflow (Matt. 14:20). Christ’s gift of grace overflows to those who trust in Him. The way Adam’s influence came to people was described as traveling or spreading. But the grace from Christ abounds and overflows to those who are united to Him by faith. Again, in the contrast between an infectious spread of death and an abundant gift, it is clear which one wins.

Third, in verse 16, the effect on the human race is described in opposite terms: judgment or condemnation versus justification. These two concepts are exact opposites. Adam’s effect is described as condemnation. The Greek word behind this term is “a judicial word that refers to a decision to punish someone for wrongdoing”. Legal guilt leading to punishment is what Adam gave to the world. Jesus gives the exact opposite – justification, a verdict wherein believers are declared to be in right standing with God and not to be punished by Him.

Fourth - the two men introduce a different situation to the world. Both states are described in royal kingdom language as a reign. Through Adam, death reigned over humanity. Isaiah 25:7-8 describes death as a dark cloud under which humanity is stuck. First Corinthians 15:26 calls death an enemy. Together these texts paint a picture of a dreadful ruler antagonizing the whole of humanity.

The second Adam invaded death’s kingdom with a new governing reality described as a righteous reign of life. At the Second Coming, the enemy kingdom will be abolished forever, but until then Paul asserted in Colossians 1:13 that believers exchange their citizenship from the condemned kingdom of death to Christ’s righteous kingdom of life.

The Fifth contrast is very important and clears up potential misunderstanding Romans 5:17 describes the benefits of the Second Adam by the term “receive.” This notion was already present in the imagery of a gift coming from the Second Adam. People receive the results of Christ’s work. Adam’s influence was thrust upon the human race, but Christ’s influence is given as an abundant gift to all.

This contrast rules out a misinterpretation of verse 18. Some have read verse 18 as saying that since Adam’s influence spread to everyone, so too Christ’s justification and life would necessarily be enjoyed by all automatically. Both the word “receive” (vs. 17) and the gift imagery undercut this misinterpretation because the blessing of the Second Adam only comes when people trust in Him (and thereby receive the gift).

Sixth – verse 18 contrasts condemnation from Adam – guilt leading to punishment – with Christ’s provision of life. Eternal life is a hallmark offer in the gospel. It is the eternal reversal of sin and death in a new creation better than the one Adam briefly enjoyed.

Seventh – In Romans 5:19, the influence of both men is described with a verb (“made”) that refers to appointing someone to a status or position. Adam’s sin appointed humans to the status of sinner. That status is why people sin, and their possession of the status is what leads to their inevitable lives of rebellion against God. Jesus appoints people to a status too, and it is the status of righteousness. That dignified status is another way of describing the legal verdict of justification. After reviewing these seven contrasts, these men clearly are the two most influential men in history!!!