Adam - A Tragedy In Three Acts
Introduction
Romans 5:12-21
When you take a close look at the account of Adam in the Book of Genesis, it is like a tragedy in three acts.
I. Act One - Adam's Foolishness
Act one reveals the foolishness of Adam. He heeded the voice of his wife who heeded the voice of the wicked one, Satan
We know from 1 Timothy 2:14 and 2 Corinthians 11:3 that Eve was deceived, but Adam deliberately chose to disobey the clear command of God and ate of the forbidden fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Psalm 14:1 and 53:1 remind us that, "... the fool has said in his heart, 'there is no God.'" Literally it could be translated, "...the fool has said in his heart, 'no God for me, thank you.'"
To disobey God's clear command is the most foolish thing anyone can do.
II. Act Two - Adam's Fearfulness
The fearfulness of Adam is clearly seen in the second act. God called out to Adam, but Adam hid himself because he was "afraid" according to Genesis 3:9-10. Although Adam was given dominion over all the beasts, he suddenly cowered in fear in the presence of the Lord.
Hebrews 10:31 reminds us that "it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."
Jesus said, "I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!" (Luke 12:4-5)
III. Act Three - Adam's Fallenness
In act three we encounter Adam's fallenness. Adam's loss was very great! His sin caused him to fall from his position of dominion on earth and to be exiled from the glorious Garden of Eden. Because of Adam's sin there is a fallenness that marks creation until this day.
We learn from Romans 8:18-23 that "the whole creation groans" to be redeemed from her fallen condition.
In The New England Primer children of Colonial America read, "In Adam's Fall we sinned all." It is interesting to note that these children were reminded of their depravity and in modern times they are taught their dignity.
The Scripture tells us that "through one man [Adam] sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned" (Romans 5:12). Although we share in the depravity of the sin of Adam, we are all sinners by nature and by choice. The Bible says that "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). We know from Romans 6:23 that "the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 5:12-21 reminds us that death comes through Adam but life comes through Christ. This truth is echoed in 1 Corinthians 15:22 which says, "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive."
Are you in Adam or in Christ?