Week 13 - Tuesday

Different in Essence

So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through the one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. (Romans 5:18-19)

Another way that the acts of Adam and Christ are not alike is in their essence. Webster's Dictionary defines essence as that which makes something what it is; the most important or basic quality of a thing. The essence or basic quality of Adam's one transgression was disobedience. God gave Adam just one command and Adam disobeyed it. By disobeying God, Adam brought condemnation to all men. In contrast, the essence of Christ's one act of righteousness was obedience. God sent His Son into the world to die for all man's sins. Jesus obeyed and died on the cross. His one act of obedience resulted in justification of life to all men. This does not mean that every person will eventually be saved. The Bible clearly teaches that many will go to hell. The all referred to in this verse is all who put their faith in Jesus Christ. As far as all of them are concerned, their justification is a result of the obedience of Jesus.

All of Christ's life on earth was characrterized by obedience. Quoting from Psalm 40:7-8, the writer of Hebrews says this about Jesus, "Behold I have come .... to do thy will, O God" Jesus came to earth to do His Father's will and it was the will of His Father that Jesus would die. On the night before His death, Jesus prayed and said, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will but as Thou wilt" (Matt. 26:39). Jesus was telling His Father that He didn't want to die on the cross. Jesus was fully human while He lived on earth. He had emotions and feelings just like any of us. He did not want to go though all the pain, humiliation, and separation from His Father that He would experience on the cross. But He did it anyway because the most important thing to Him, was to do His Father's will.

Those who truly believe in Jesus have been given the same spirit of obedience that He had. When a person first believes in Jesus, God declares them righteous because of Christ's sacrifice for them. As far as God is concerned they are as sinless as Jesus is. Then God begins the process of actually making them righteous in the physical sense. God does that by changing their hearts so they will want to obey Him. This does not mean they obey God perfectly. Because of their human weaknesses, Christians can and do sin. However every true believer, just like Jesus, has a heart that desires to obey God. All people are descended from the first man Adam. As a result of one man's disobedience, when Adam sinned, all people became sinners. Through the obedience of Jesus Christ, all who believe in Him will be made righteous.

Readings for today: John 4:34, 6:38; Phil. 2:8; Ezek. 36:26-27; Rom. 6:17