Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—
There is some debate amongst scholars as to what Paul intended to communicate in the word death. More recently, the consensus is that the death that came into the world because of Adam’s sin is arguably two-fold: death in body, and death in spirit.*
All of us have seen death in body. We have seen generations come and go as loved ones pass. When Adam and Eve sinned, they stepped out of the Garden of Eden and into a life of mortality. Their lifespan limited, they also experienced a spiritual death in separation from God.*
If you have come alive in Christ, you understand by way of experiencing life what death felt like. All who have come to Christ recognized to some degree the death in their spirits to know that they needed life, but how much greater is our perspective on death now that we have further revelation of life?
The more we come to know all that Jesus wants for us that looks like life, the more we see how depraved and dead we were.
Paul tells us that the death that sin brought into this world impacts us all. This means that no matter where you are (the grocery store, school, work, or even in a church’s building), you are surrounded by death. The bodies walking to your right and left could very well be empty houses of dead spirits with broken souls.
This gruesome notion may cause you to shutter, but allow it to bring you to compassion. The life within you from Christ is just as contagious as the death that came from Adam.
Paul goes on to say:
For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
Introducing someone to Jesus opens the door to them to the life that was lost in the Garden of Eden.* Introducing someone to Christ makes the dead alive again.
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to introduce someone you know to Jesus. Perhaps God wants you to see the miracle of who you were before Christ versus how alive He has made you today. Maybe God wants you to remember, I am alive in Christ.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a water break… we all get thirsty.
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*Kruse, C. G. (2012). Paul’s Letter to the Romans (D. A. Carson, Ed.; p. 242–244). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Apollos.
Osborne, G. R. (2004). Romans (pp. 136–139). InterVarsity Press;
Morris, L. (1988). The Epistle to the Romans (p. 227–230). W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.
Moo, D. J. (2000). Romans (p. 179–183). Zondervan Publishing House.