Where We Get Both Life and Righteousness
By G. W. Wells
There Is But One Source of Supply — One Man Brought Sin and Death, and One Man Brings Righteousness and Life “By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin: and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Rom. 5: 12. For six thousand years, this old world has been groaning under the crushing weight of sin and death. “By one man sin entered into the world.” When sin had so entered, none of his, by themselves, could possibly rise above that which he had entailed. None could possibly receive from him more than he had, consequently he sunk the human race under the power of sin. As a consequence of sin, we have death. “So death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” SIN AND DEATH CAME BY ONE
“By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin.” “Therefore as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.” Verse 18. The thought is: By one man sin came, therefore by one man righteousness must come; by one man death came, therefore by one Man life must come. And just so certainly as we became heirs of sin by that one man in the beginning, just so certainly we must become heirs of righteousness and life by that one Man who has appeared “in these last times.” 1 Peter 1: 20. There is no hope of righteousness or life for any soul except by that one Man—the last Adam. True it is that He is called “the second Adam.” But the Scriptures also call Him “the last Adam,” and that is better; for if He had been only “the second Adam,” there might have been some grounds for the suggestion, “There may be a third Adam, and that will give me another chance.” But that will never do. There will be no third Adam. “The last Adam” who can ever come has come; and through Him, and Him alone, may we have life. Whosoever shall not be delivered by that last Adam is forever lost. “There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” The first Adam sinned; and by him, we became heirs of sin and death. The last Adam sinned not; therefore by becoming heirs of Him, we become heirs of life and righteousness. ONLY ONE SOURCE OF SUPPLY
It must be clear to all, that life and righteousness come from one source, precisely as do sin and death; and that source must not be myself. Neither sin nor death entered the world by us, but by that one man. The one who stood back of the man was Satan. Thus Satan is the real source of sin and death. The man was the channel through whom he plunged this world into sin. On the other hand, our God alone is the source of life and righteousness, and “the Man Christ Jesus” is the channel through whom life and righteousness come to us. Yes, Jesus is “our life.” He is “the Lord our righteousness.” “By one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” Rom. 5: 19. It was by one man we were made sinners, and certain it is that by one Man we are made righteous. No man was ever made righteous by his own doing. You and I were not made subject to death, heirs of sin, by our own sinning. Sin was in us when we were born. Indeed, it was the leading thing in us. But thank the Lord, the time came when we were “born again,” “born from above,” created in Christ Jesus, made new creatures. Yet even then no good thing appeared in us, nor can any ever appear in us, that does not originate with Him who caused us to be born again. It is “by the obedience of one” that we are “made righteous.” Therefore we read, “By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight.” Rom. 3: 20. THE LAW CANNOT MAKE US RIGHTEOUS
The law was not given to make men righteous, nor to make them guilty; but “by the law is the knowledge of sin.” It is to show men that they are guilty. Before the law, every mouth is stopped, and “all the world may become guilty before God.” Verse 19. Through the “knowledge of sin” revealed by the law, men may see their guilt, their true condition,—that they are lost and in need of a Saviour. “The law entered, that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. 5: 20, 21. “But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference.” Rom. 3: 21, 22. Please notice, men are “justified by faith,” saved through “the righteousness of God.” This is the truth forever and for all people. It is for all who believe in Jesus. God's righteousness is for us now. This3is made very emphatic in Rom. 3:26. Let us put verses 21 and 26 together: “Now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, . . . to declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” So we see that that “now” is an everlasting word. It was “now” when Paul wrote it; it was “now” when Luther believed it and preached it; it is “now” to-day; and all that believe, may rejoice in the abundant fullness of the free gift of righteousness.