Adam vs. Jesus

Series: Recalibrate | Week 5: Reverse the Curse

Day Four Romans 5:12-17

Pray: Invite God into your time and ask Him to speak to you, then read the passage.

12 When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. 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. 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. 15 But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. 16 And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. 17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. – Romans 5:12-17 (NLT)

Discover: Use the Discover section of your Recalibrate journal to write down your answers to the following observation and interpretation questions.
1. What do you learn about Adam in these verses?
2. How is Adam a symbol of Christ? Contrast what Paul says about each.
3. How many times do you see the word ‘gift’ repeated? What is the gift and what words are used to describe it?

Respond: Use the Respond section of your journal to answer the following application prompts.
1. What does this passage teach me about God?
2. How does this aspect of His character change my view of self and others?
3. What should I do in response and when?

For Further Reading: A Second Adam to the Fight and to the Rescue Came

For Families with Kids at Home:
Ask your kids: What’s the best gift you’ve ever been given? What about that gift made it special?

Paul mentions God’s gift to us several times in Romans 5:12-17. It’s be best gift we could ever receive: it’s Jesus! God send Jesus to make up for the mistakes of Adam, the first human, and for the mistakes of every human since—including us! Jesus paid the price we should have paid in order to give us the gift of a friendship with God!

Take time to pray with your kids this week and thank God for sending Jesus to be our best gift ever.

*If you don't have a Recalibrate journal, you can use any journal available to you to write down your responses.
**TPCC does not necessarily endorse all For Further Reading/Learning sources. They are simply meant to be a helpful tool.

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