Romans 5:12 - 14

ADAM AND CHRIST CONTRASTED

Romans 5:12-21

Life Application New Testament Commentary says about these verses:” Having linked Jews and Gentiles through Abraham to the promises of God, Paul now shows how the gospel applies to all humankind. Paul made important points by going back to Abraham; but by going back to Adam, he will draw conclusions that affect the fate of every person.

Rom 5:12 When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam's sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.

Just about everyone that gets into a discussion on Adam wonders why are we paying for Adams sin.  Adam of all people knew what he was not supposed to do. He had a direct connection to God and could talk to him as if he was in the room. Adam was given free will like we have. He sinned causing the world great harm. I think if God thought that we could live pure lives he could remove the penalty after Adams death but unfortunately we all continue to sin.  

Rom 5:13 Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law to break. Rom 5:14 Still, everyone died—from the time of Adam to the time of Moses—even those who did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. Now Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come.

Anyone confused? Do these verses mean that anyone that lived between Adam and Moses had a free ticket to heaven? I do not think so. Even though the law was not written everyone knows inherently what is right or wrong. They also would have known about God because Adam would have passed that down. When Cain killed Able he knew immediately that he had sinned. The question that remains would Cain be able to be forgiven. There was a discussion between God and Cain and Cain did not confess to what he had done. The Lord exacted punishment, Gen 4: 9-16, I still cannot make a judgement on what will happen to his soul but he knew God and was very aware of his power.

Because Cain was judged for his sin those that live between Adam and Moses will also be judged what will happen is between them and God. Not the best of answers but I think it is logical.