'Just as through one person sin entered the world, and through sin, death, and thus death came to all, inasmuch as all sinned — for up to the time of the law, sin was in the world, though sin is not accounted when there is no law. But death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin after the pattern of the trespass of Adam, who is the type of the one who was to come (Rom. 5:12-14).'
Adam the first parent was disobedient and sin and death entered the world. Sin is hostile to God and alienates mankind from God. As a result of Adam’s sin there was God’s just judgment and the punishment of death. Death was not mere physical death which separated body from soul, but also a total separation from God who is the source of eternal life. God’s plan of salvation began immediately (Gen. 3:15) and reached its fulfillment with Christ. Christ, the new Adam, is the head of humanity who, by his obedience and through his death and resurrection, restores humanity to a state of goodness where the barrier between God and man is removed and death can no longer separate mankind from the source of life. Christ is superior to Adam in that the grace earned for us through him is far superior to the judgment brought upon humanity by Adam. Through Christ, grace abounded for all and those who believe in him are justified in God’s eyes and can have eternal life.
All sin is personal and separates us from God. We bear the inheritance of Adam’s sin as well as the burden of our own disobedience and sin. Based on St. Paul’s theology, there are three major biblical periods with respect to sin – Adam to Moses, Moses to Jesus, and after Jesus. Sin was in the world before Adam, but mankind did not violate any of God’s precepts, as Adam did, because mankind had not been given the Law. Consequently, God did not hold mankind accountable for sin until the Law was given to Moses. Once God gave mankind the Law then all sin was a transgression of the Law for which mankind would be held responsible. Christ’s redemptive act bought freedom from the Law through his grace.
Almighty God, your laws are not meant to restrict us but to protect us. Grant us your grace so that our minds may be illumined by the light of Christ and our hearts filled with love for you so that through obedience we will avoid sin and be judged worthy of eternal salvation. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Expanded Edition, Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
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