12Adam sinned, and that sin brought death into the world. Now everyone has sinned, and so everyone must die. 13Sin was in the world before the Law came. But no record of sin was kept, because there was no Law. 14Yet death still had power over all who lived from the time of Adam to the time of Moses. This happened, though not everyone disobeyed a direct command from God, as Adam did.
In some ways Adam is like Christ who came later. 15But the gift that God was kind enough to give was very different from Adam's sin. That one sin brought death to many others. Yet in an even greater way, Jesus Christ alone brought God's gift of kindness to many people.
16There is a lot of difference between Adam's sin and God's gift. That one sin led to punishment. But God's gift made it possible for us to be acceptable to him, even though we have sinned many times. 17Death ruled like a king because Adam had sinned. But that cannot compare with what Jesus Christ has done. God has been so kind to us, and he has accepted us because of Jesus. And so we will live and rule like kings.
18Everyone was going to be punished because Adam sinned. But because of the good thing that Christ has done, God accepts us and gives us the gift of life. 19Adam disobeyed God and caused many others to be sinners. But Jesus obeyed him and will make many people acceptable to God.
20The Law came, so that the full power of sin could be seen. Yet where sin was powerful, God's kindness was even more powerful. 21Sin ruled by means of death. But God's kindness now rules, and God has accepted us because of Jesus Christ our Lord. This means that we will have eternal life.
How on earth did all this sin/salvation stuff happen? Most folks want to blame God for being on some big "ego trip", demanding our obeisance simply because He can. No so...
If life is "in the blood" so is death...
Sin forever changed our spiritual DNA. Before the fall Adam had an entirely different nature...pure and perfect. After the fall it became corrupted...and that corruption is what severed the relationship with God. You see, God only accepts the pure and holy.
As children of Adam we inherit that corrupted spiritual DNA. Basically, we are all born dead. I know, it's also not fair that I was born to be a mere 5'7".
But, of course...Calvary offers the great "transfusion". Our corrupted blood has been replaced by the perfect blood of the Lamb. When that happens our spiritual DNA is restored to perfection.
You see...that's not God's "ego". That's God seeing our need and finding a solution. Amazing! Can you believe it? Abraham did...
Live boldly out there today...
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