We need to turn, once again, back to Adam, before we leave him and move on in our study.
Romans 5:12,15,17,18,19 says:-
“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death though sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned…
For if by one man’s offence many died, much more ……
For if by one man’s offense death reigned through the one…
Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men…
For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners….”
The terrible consequence of Adam’s sin was that he brought down the whole of humanity with him. I have heard him described as the federal head of the human race.
What happened through, and to, him has resulted in the principle of sin being inherited by every man and woman born into the world. This is called original sin, or as Charles Wesley often says, inbred sin, although Scripture doesn’t use these exact terms.
It is even more starkly stated in 1 Corinthians 15:21, 22 “For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive”.
Note the contrasts: in Adam in Christ.
This actually is the tone of the New Testament. There is no middle ground, no compromise position, no uncertainty or room for negotiating.
One is either in Adam or in Christ.
Either in one man or the other Man.
Either alive or dead, lost or found, light or darkness, with or without, old or new, etc.