The Two Great Covenants: Adam and Christ

Two Great Covenants: Adam & Christ (Rom 5:12-19)
Intro
Real division in world is not Jew/Gentile. Both are either in Adam or Christ.
Do we die because we personally sin? (v.12)

Question: Is there another kind of sin besides 'actual sin?'
Why does death reign 'even over those who had not sinned acc. to likeness of the transgression of Adam' (v.14)?

Why important?

1. This is the gospel! You need to understand & be able to explain it.
2. Brings out dreadfulness of our natural condition ('we were by nature children of wrath,' Eph 2:3, do we believe that?) & glory of our redeemer
3. Leads directly to our views of salvation, assurance, Christian life

Why so hard for us? In general, we do not believe in 'corporate sin' for which we're responsible & liable.

Answer: How can we understand 'one sinned' & 'all sinned'? ('original sin' vs. actual)

1. This is about the glory of our redeemer & our justification in Christ.
2. We're justified by righteousness of another (v.18-19)
3. There are two 'public persons' in the world: Adam & Christ. Both in our fall & redemption, we're inseparably joined to another & our destiny is set by him. 1Cor 15:21-22,45,47; Jn 14:6
4. Principle of 'representation' is common in society; called in Scripture 'covenant' or Latin, 'federal.' Heb 9:15
5. If you ask, 'Why am I condemned by action of another,' you'll have same difficulty w/'Why am I justified by actions of another.' But this is the gospel: v.15-21!