Romans 5:17 (ESV) — For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

My middle school basketball coach loved to end practice by picking one player to step up to the free throw line to shoot. If he hit the basket, practice was over. If he missed, we ran sprints. There are football coaches who have the field goal kicker do something similar so they know the feeling of pressure to make an important kick at the end of the game. In scenarios like these, one person on the team determines the fate of the whole team. 

In a similar way, all of humanity, every single human being, has their eternal fate determined on the actions of one person: Adam or Jesus. We see this in our text today. Paul writes, “For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.”

Romans 5 talks about this issue. Because of Adam’s sin, all of his descendants are born into sin, and carry out our own rebellions against God. So to be under Adam, our representative head, we are guilty sinners. Adam’s choice determines our fate. But it is our repeating of his choice that determines it also. So you are either under Adam, which implies the curse of your own sin too, or you can be under Christ. If Christ is your representative head, then the actions of Christ, His death on the cross and resurrection, and His righteous life, are applied to you. In this case, the one person, Jesus, determines your fate. Adam or Jesus? In the eyes of God, you are under one of these men this morning. Which is it? 

The eternal fate of every person is determined by one person.

Look to Jesus today to represent you before God. In Christ, you are forgiven.
In Christ, you have acceptance.
All in Adam, die.
There is no life in Adam.
Who will represent you?

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Reflection & Journal:
- Why is mankind represented by a head?
- What are the differences between Adam and Jesus?
- How can mankind be reconciled to God?

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