I. The History of Sin and Death That Began with One Man, Adam
Expounding on Romans 5:12-21, Pastor David Jang explains human history by dividing it into two colossal eras centered on two pivotal figures: Adam and Jesus Christ. To understand the grand narrative Paul is painting, we must remember that this passage deals with some of the most challenging yet crucial theological themes in all of Scripture: Original Sin, the Doctrine of Representation, the Principle of Corporate Solidarity, and the Doctrine of Imputation. Pastor David Jang emphasizes that although many people find this portion of Scripture difficult, wrestling with it deeply-not giving up-leads to discovering the fundamental truth that undergirds Christian salvation.
Paul repeats the phrase "one man" nine times to argue how Adam and Jesus Christ each brought about the history of sin and death, or righteousness and life, for humanity. In a grand view of history, it can be divided into the "Era of Adam" and the "Era of Christ." After Adam's fall (Genesis 3), sin entered the world, and as a result, all people have come under death-this is the old era (Adam's era). With the coming of Jesus Christ, however, a new era begins-the era of Christ. Paul perceives the appearance of Christ as a cosmic change, proclaiming that believers have moved from the old era to the new era, from the dominion of sin and death to the reign of grace and life.
Yet one doctrine is especially difficult for people to accept: "If Adam was the one who sinned, what does that have to do with me?" Indeed, not only nonbelievers but also many within the church struggle to understand this concept, leading them to resist it. Pastor David Jang explains that if we deny or misunderstand the statement "by one man sin entered the world, and everyone has borne that sin," we will fail to properly grasp the essential doctrine of salvation-namely, "how the righteousness (of Christ) accomplished on the cross by one man is imputed to us so that we are saved." Romans 5:12-21 specifically unfolds the "doctrine of representation" and the "principle of corporate solidarity," in the depths of which the concept of double imputation is at work: "Just as one man's sin was imputed to all humanity, so one man's righteousness is likewise imputed to believers." Here, law and sin, condemnation and justification, death and life, the 'chief sin' and the 'chief righteousness' all interlock and move together.
Paul begins by declaring that "all people became sinners in Adam." Pastor David Jang calls this "the doctrine of original sin," noting that it was theologian Augustine who greatly systematized it. Although Adam's transgression recorded in Genesis 3 may appear to be the mistake of a single individual, the reality is that all of humanity is united in that sin. The unbelief (disobedience) Adam committed has been passed down to all people throughout history. Many object, "How can we say, for instance, that a newborn baby committed any sin?" But Paul points out in Romans 5:14, "Death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses," emphasizing that the matter of sin has nothing to do with whether a legal code exists-it is that anyone born as a descendant of Adam already stands under sin.
Pastor David Jang explains that the moment Adam, in the Garden of Eden, ate of the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil ("the forbidden fruit"), he disbelieved and disobeyed God's Word, and this event marked the entrance of "the power of sin" into humanity. Adam's sin was not merely "picking one piece of fruit" but a foundational act of unbelief-of not trusting God and falling for Satan's word. This unbelief gave rise to disobedience, which brought death to the entirety of humankind. Paul's phrase that "death reigned" (Rom. 5:14) underscores that sin is not merely a moral deviation but a cosmic power that has bound humanity. Thus, every human being groans under the shadow of death. Pastor David Jang recalls Romans 6:23-"the wages of sin is death"-highlighting that when sin enters, the inevitable fruit of it is death.
This structural power of sin and death can be summed up by the theological concept that "original sin has been imputed." Even a child who appears to have no sin cannot escape the guilty nature inherited from Adam. For those who struggle with accepting this doctrine, Pastor David Jang counsels them first to acknowledge that Scripture consistently teaches the principle of solidarity. For example, the Old Testament says that a father's sin extends to his children up to the third and fourth generations (Exodus 20:5-6). In the rebellion of Korah, not only Korah but his entire family perished with him (Numbers 16). In the Book of Joshua, Achan's sin brought judgment upon his whole family and community (Joshua 7). These are all examples of how one individual's sin impacts the entire community and triggers judgment-revealing a structure of corporate responsibility. Conversely, there is a similar dynamic with regard to righteousness. When Abraham believed and obeyed God's covenant, the blessing extended not only to him but to his descendants for a thousand generations. One person does not exist in isolation but carries a representative role with implications for the community and future generations.
In Romans 5:12 and following, Paul contrasts how "all who are in Adam are under sin and death," while "those in Christ are under grace and life." Pastor David Jang notes here that "even before we were born, humanity was already drowning in a reservoir of sin." He uses a metaphor to describe how people flail in the reality of sin. There is a world of "rotten water" filled with sin, and no matter how hard one tries, there is no way to be saved from that rotten water. Therefore, a new spring of water-life-giving water-must burst forth, and that living water is the coming of Jesus Christ and His work of redemption.
Hence, the essence of original sin is that "one man, Adam, sinned, and it was imputed to all people." Theologically and existentially, this is of profound importance. Pastor David Jang sometimes illustrates this by referring to a "seed improvement" analogy. If you graft branches of a true persimmon tree onto a wild persimmon tree (called a "goyom tree" in Korean), its small, bitter, inedible fruit can, through the grafting process, become sweet, abundant persimmons. Likewise, because of Adam we have inherited a sinful nature, but when the 'new shoot' of Christ is grafted in, we can bear holy and abundant fruit. With the progress of science, we have learned that a seed contains all of the organism's genetic information. This has helped some theologians argue that the notion of "original sin" having its entire character embedded within a seed is now more comprehensible.
Pastor David Jang points out that if Adam opened the "world of original sin" through unbelief and disobedience, then by nature each person tends to follow the flow of that sin. True transformation is possible only by denying oneself (the death of the Adamic nature) and uniting with Christ. This is where Paul's argument in Romans 6 about "dying and rising again in baptism" comes in. The Adamic nature that leads to sin and death must be "crucified" (Gal. 2:20), so that the life of Jesus may be grafted onto us. Missing this principle means that one cannot escape sin on one's own, nor find liberation from the fundamental oppression of death.
Additionally, Pastor David Jang revisits Genesis 15, where God made a covenant with Abraham. When Abraham cut the animals in half and waited, it demonstrated that once a covenant is made with a single representative, all his descendants and community stand under its influence. Because Abraham obeyed and received blessing, his offspring inherited a legacy of blessing. But because he failed in a small detail (not cutting the birds), his descendants endured 400 years of slavery in Egypt. Thus, what the representative does extends to his descendants in corporate solidarity. The writer of Hebrews uses this idea to explain how the Levites, who receive the tithe, did so because they were "in the loins of Abraham" when Abraham gave a tenth to Melchizedek (Heb. 7:9-10). These scriptural examples demonstrate how the actions of "one man" can affect his entire family line or community.
Ultimately, Romans 5:12-14 is the core explanation of why humanity has come under death through Adam's sin. Even if we did not individually commit that sin, we share in it "in Adam," being united with his unbelief and disobedience. This is the history of sin and death, but it also serves as the premise for understanding why "the righteousness of Jesus Christ is imputed to us." Paul calls Adam "the pattern of the one to come (Christ)," revealing a typological framework in which the outcome of one person's representative act is enormous. Adam is the representative who led humanity into sin and death, whereas Christ is the representative who leads us into life and righteousness.
Pastor David Jang notes that this principle of representation and solidarity has practical implications in a believer's daily life. For instance, James 5:13-16 teaches that "the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." When a single individual prays and believes on behalf of others, God responds, healing the sick. In other words, blessing and curse do not remain simply personal matters but have a communal dimension. Therefore, believers must take their choices and actions seriously, while also recognizing that Christ's sacrificial love on our behalf-His "vicarious atonement"-is grounded in this principle of representation. His shed blood truly has power for us today.
In summary, the "history of sin and death that began with one man, Adam" is not an issue we can reduce to a single individual's blunder. Genesis 1:31 declares that God's original creation was "very good," but through Adam's unbelief and disobedience (failing to keep God's command), sin entered in. Consequently, death spread to all humanity, and before or after the giving of the Law, everyone is bound and groaning under that sin. Only by acknowledging this doctrine can we fully receive the mystery of salvation-namely, "How does the obedience of one Man, Jesus Christ, grant grace and life to all?" Paul zealously defends this point in the latter half of Romans 5.
II. The Era of Righteousness and Life Opened by the Obedience of Jesus Christ
As we have seen, in Adam, sin and death came to dominate humanity, inaugurating the old era. Building on this framework, Pastor David Jang emphasizes that Paul now presents Jesus Christ-this "one Man"-as the new Adam. Romans 5:15-21 resounds like a hymn extolling this new era. Paul proclaims that "Just as sin entered through Adam, grace and life have come through Jesus Christ," calling this the "Gift of Grace." Humanity did not discover salvation on its own; it was a unilateral gift arising from the love of God.
Paul declares in Romans 5:18-19 that "just as one man's trespass brought condemnation for many, so one Man's act of obedience brings justification for many." Pastor David Jang unpacks this through a "two-Adam typology," recalling 1 Corinthians 15: "The first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit." The first Adam was of the earth, while the last Adam, Christ, is from heaven. Those who belong to the old era share in the attributes of sin and death, ultimately unable to escape final destruction. Those who belong to the new era, however, share in the eternal hope and everlasting life found in Christ, the life-giving Spirit.
In Romans 5:15-17, Paul describes how if death "reigned" through Adam, now righteousness and life "reign" through Jesus Christ. The tyrannical dominion of sin has been overthrown, and the dominion of Christ's righteousness has taken the throne. This is what Pastor David Jang calls a "cosmic reversal," and it explains Paul's exultant statement, "where sin increased, grace increased all the more" (Rom. 5:20). Ultimately, liberation from sin and death is not something humanity could achieve on its own but comes only through the atonement and obedience of Jesus Christ.
One critical insight is that the obedience of Jesus Christ precisely "offsets" and "overturns" Adam's disobedience. Adam did not trust God's Word; his unbelief translated into disobedience to the command. Jesus Christ, in contrast, did the opposite. He "became obedient to the point of death-even death on a cross" (Phil. 2:8), fully trusting and fulfilling the Father's will. The cost was to bear the sins of humanity on the cross, and by His death and resurrection, life and righteousness are imputed to us. Paul has already referred to Christ's sacrifice as "propitiation," "redemption," and "the basis of justification" (Romans 3 and 4).
How does this concretely connect with our lives? Pastor David Jang highlights Paul's emphasis on our "union with Christ." Romans 8:1 proclaims: "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus," meaning that believers are united with Christ, so they can no longer be condemned. Christ's blood and righteousness become ours, we remain in Him, and He abides in us-this spiritual reality is as a head and its body parts belong together. James 5's statement about "the prayer of a righteous person" echoes that those who are declared righteous in Christ can actually channel grace and life into the world.
If we fail to grasp this, Pastor David Jang warns, we cannot properly understand the doctrine of sanctification, which Paul elaborates in Romans 6 and 7. The Adamic root of sin is already condemned, but we still experience our sinful nature in the flesh. Once transferred into the new life in Christ, we regard the old Adamic self as crucified (Gal. 2:20) and daily choose to live in union with the Lord. This process is not a magical, instantaneous completion but a gradual journey involving the believer's voluntary obedience and faith commitment, aided by the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, the objective foundation of salvation has already been laid by "one Man, Jesus Christ." We have the assurance that the era of "sin and death reigning" is past, and we are now in an era of "reigning in life."
Paul's words in Romans 5:21-"so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life"-do not merely state a grand doctrine but promise us genuine eternal life. If someone has moved from being in Adam to being in Christ, washed by Christ's blood, that person is now a "royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9), called to reign in dignity. We are no longer slaves to sin but rather those who, in turn, rule over sin. This new identity holds profound implications for the church as well, Pastor David Jang explains, for the church is the body of Christ, and individual believers are members connected to one another. Just as one person's act of faith and obedience naturally spreads to bless the community and society, so one person's sin and unbelief can also have a significant negative impact. Once again, the concept of "representation and solidarity" applies in every aspect of church and social life. Therefore, believers must be ever watchful: "Am I identified with Adam or with Christ?"
In the latter part of 1 Corinthians 15, Paul confidently states, "For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man." Jesus Christ is the firstfruits of resurrection, and those who believe in Him will likewise partake in resurrection. Just as all those who were in Adam could not escape sin when he fell, all those now united to Christ will share His resurrected life. Ultimately, Romans 5:12-21 urges us to "abide in Christ, not in Adam." In Him is not only eternal salvation but also the day-to-day empowering of the Holy Spirit, enabling us to walk in victory.
In closing his sermon, Pastor David Jang returns to the parable of John 15, where Jesus said, "I am the true vine; you are the branches." This parable also proclaims the principle of union: only when we are grafted onto the true vine, Jesus Christ, can we bear the fruit of righteousness and life. In our natural state, grafted into Adam, we are like a wild vine incapable of bearing any true fruit-namely, the righteousness and love that pleases God. Therefore, the most urgent and essential task for us is to "put off the old self and be baptized into Christ" (Romans 6:3-4), thereby "putting on the new self" (Ephesians 4:22-24).
In conclusion, Romans 5:12-21 outlines a sweeping vision of history: "Through one man, Adam, sin and death entered, and through one Man, Christ, righteousness and life came." Adam is our old representative; Jesus Christ is our new representative. Pastor David Jang invites believers to see how this passage encapsulates the doctrines of original sin, atonement, justification, and glorification. If the old era-filled with sin and death-has ended, and we have now entered an era of righteousness and life in Christ, we must experience this truth actively and concretely in the Holy Spirit. No sin, no past can any longer tyrannize us with the reign of death, because grace and righteousness, holding a higher sovereignty, now reign. This is why Paul exults, "where sin increased, grace increased all the more."
The old era and the new era demarcate every part of our lives. Christians are no longer those who trace their lineage to Adam; through the blood of Jesus Christ, we have received forgiveness of sins and been grafted into the life of resurrection, becoming new creations. Recognizing the contrast between these "two men" (Adam & Christ) prompts believers to continually ask, in gratitude and reverence, "Am I truly in Christ?" When Paul proclaims in Romans 8:1, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus," the heart of faith becomes crystal clear. Simultaneously, we discover our mission to serve the world with this astounding gospel.
Thus, through the choice of unbelief by one man, sin and death reached all people; through the choice of perfect obedience by one Man, grace and life reached all who believe. This dramatic account of salvation history offers genuine insight for our daily lives. We must grasp the doctrine of representation and solidarity in order to confidently affirm how the death of Jesus Christ on the cross can atone for our sins and how His righteousness can be transferred (imputed) to us. This is not mere theoretical knowledge. It brings concrete changes to our prayer, worship, communal service, and personal routines. The prayer of one righteous person can change the era, one church can bless an entire city, and a community truly united with Christ can exert a profound and benevolent influence on an entire nation. This is the fundamental foundation.
Pastor David Jang, reflecting on this principle of faith, prays that we truly become a faith community walking in the path of the "new Adam." This is not a simple moral lesson; it is a cosmic change that has already been declared in the cross and resurrection of Christ-encompassing all humanity. Each individual stands at a crossroads: Will you remain in Adam, or will you move into Christ? And if you have already been grafted into Christ, you must continually break away from sin and practice righteousness through the power of the Holy Spirit, bearing rich fruit in the kingdom of God. Thus we taste the era of new life on earth and ultimately look forward to the coming fulfillment of God's kingdom.
To summarize, the message of Romans 5:12-21 is unambiguous: "By one man's trespass, all were made sinners, and by one Man's obedience, many are made righteous." This is the core message that puts an end to the era of sin and death and ushers in the era of grace and life. The doctrines of original sin and atonement explain how one man's sin became everyone's sin and how one Man's righteous obedience can be imputed to all who believe. If Adam, the head of humanity, led us into the realm of sin, then Christ, the Head of the new era, invites us into the realm of grace and eternal life. That is why Paul crescendos his praise at the end of Romans 5.
Pastor David Jang concludes his sermon with these words:
"We are no longer powerless beings living under the dominion of death. In Christ, the rule of sin and death has ended, and the reign of grace and righteousness has begun. Now we must no longer have Adam as our head but Jesus Christ. If we remain in His love, we will live a marvelous new life. We can begin to reveal the kingdom of God here on earth and ultimately inherit eternal life. Therefore, beloved saints, do not stay in Adam. Remain in Christ. No longer live as a slave to sin but enjoy the freedom of life. This is the blessed message of Romans 5:12-21."
