Who Has the Legal Authority?

By Dean Collins

Legal authority is a big deal. In the various roles and jobs I held throughout my career, my signature indicated that I had the legal authority to execute contracts, purchase and sell property, and do a host of other things. Sometimes, it was a bit frightening to think about the responsibility and authority I carried through my signature.

In Romans 5:14, Paul makes an important reference to Adam, whom he describes as “a type of the one who was to come.”

“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.”

Because of Adam’s sin, we all face the consequences of sin and death. Those consequences continue even now. However, Paul goes on to explain in the rest of this chapter, as well as in much of Romans and his other epistles, that the One who was to come is Jesus Christ.

Before we know it, we will celebrate the birth of Jesus. Jesus came in the flesh, making Him like Adam in His humanity. But there was a significant difference: unlike Adam, Jesus was sinless.

Remember what Jesus said in John 14 as He concluded part of His conversation with His disciples in anticipation of His death on the cross?

“I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me.”

Note that last statement from Jesus: “He has no claim on me.”

The consequences of sin include death, and we all live with those consequences. But Jesus willingly went to the cross to pay the penalty for our sin. He had no sin of His own. Death had no claim on Him because He had committed no sin, yet He chose to lay down His life for us.

Consider the powerful truth Paul wants us to remember:

“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.” (Romans 5:17–19, ESV)

Because our lives are hidden with Christ, our physical bodies will die, but death does not have the final word. We have eternal life through Christ, and one day we will experience the resurrection. Jesus is our victory over sin and death!

Through Christ, we receive the gift of righteousness. Sin and death no longer reign over us as our masters. Instead, God’s grace reigns through righteousness, leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Praise be to God!

Father, thank You for this marvelous reminder that death no longer rules over us. Because of Jesus, we have entered into eternal life, and one day we will experience the resurrection and see You face to face. Thank You, Jesus, for Your precious blood and for the victory that is ours through Christ, our Savior and King. Amen!

Your Time with God’s Word
Romans 5:14-21; John 14:30 ESV

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