Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.
But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 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. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Sin came into the world through Adam. Adam chose to disobey God. He willingly chose to reject what God had said. Through this single act of disobedience, sin and death came into the world. We look at the pandemic around the world and we know the death rate is 1.4% of those who get infected. This means there is a 98.6% chance of survival. Those are pretty good odds of living. The death rate of “sin” is 100%. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Our sin infection will result in death. It is an absolute certainty. The urgency for a remedy, treatment, or cure that resulted because of COVID is not uncommon because there is a fear of untimely death. Think about the urgency given to an infection that has a 98.6% survival rate. Does that make any sense at all? Think about the certainty of death because of sin, 100%. When you consider the difference in magnitude of a 100% death rate compared to a 1.4% death rate, you have to wonder or be curious why there is so much urgency over a 1.4% death rate and little to no urgency given by many over the absolute certainty of death because of sin. Experts are not certain of the infection rate of COVID, but the certainty of the infection of sin and resulting death are both 100%.
Governments, businesses, and people have invested hundreds of billions of dollars to find a cure for an infection that has a 1.4% chance of resulting in death. Paul is explaining, to the Roman Christians that every single person is infected with sin. There is no escaping it and this infection will, with 100% absolute assurance, result in death.
Physical death will usher us into eternity. God’s word says all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. The penalty of sin is death and the verdict of eternity in Hell. It does not matter how you die – all will die. What truly matters is where you will spend eternity. Many think that we live, we die, that is the end and there is nothing more. They believe the lie that this life on earth is all there is and it is over. Chapters 1-2 make it clear that God is real and that there is more to life after death and that we will be judged. Denying and rejecting God does not make it so – it is 100% certain. Denying and rejecting the coming judgment does not make it so – it is 100% certain.
What is a person to do? There is a 100% assurance of sin infection at birth. There is a 100% assurance of death because of sin. There is 100% assurance of going to hell because of sin. What will you do? There is a remedy given by God through Jesus Christ, that not only cancels the judgment of eternity in hell but removes all of the stains of sin before God’s eyes. Our sin is washed away.
When a safe vaccine is given that has been proven to protect and prevent us from getting a disease the only way you are protected is when you take the vaccine. Likewise, the only way your sin is washed clean and eternal life in heaven is assured is when you take hold of the free gift of grace mercy, and love by believing you are sin infected at birth, the result of this is death and eternity in hell, there is nothing humanly possible to overcome sin or the judgment of God, that God sent His Son to remedy (pay the price) your sin and the verdict of eternity in hell, repenting of sin, seeking forgiveness, and that by believing (trusting in, relying on, and clinging to) Jesus Christ by faith. There is no hope of protection from disease when the vaccine is not taken and yet many think there is hope over God’s judgment by denying it will happen or that they will be good enough to overcome it. There is only one way to overcome the disease of sin – Jesus Christ.