Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

“Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ.” That’s the title given in my Bible for this section of Romans 5. It’s a very good concise overview of Paul’s presentation of the spiritual realities facing us—indeed, facing the entire human race. There is a technical point that I think is worth making here. It is not necessary for me to “feel guilty” for Adam’s sin violation way back in the Garden of Eden. But it is important for me to understand what Adam’s failure did to posterity—infusing a kind of spiritual infection into the life-stream of all humanity—causing a propensity toward sin and evil. So rather than attempting to excuse myself, saying, “I wasn’t there! I didn’t have anything to do with Adam partaking of the forbidden fruit! Why should I be blamed?”—I need to recognize that I have tallied up quite enough of my own violations to be legitimately labeled a SINNER.

Would it help if we likened our SIN problem to a medical condition? In line with that idea, I was born sick—with a terminal illness. The Sovereign Doctor has not only diagnosed my condition, but has also graciously offered an antidote and cure. All I need to do is believe it and receive it—surrendering myself to the operation of transformation. To be sure it’s not just cosmetic surgery. What a deal! How smart would I be if I responded, “Thank you, Doctor (God), but no thank you. I’ll get a second opinion and deal with it on my own.” Taking it all into account, that response would be nothing short of insanity!