The Main Thing

One has said that when it comes to the Bible: “the main things are the plain things, and the plain things are the main things.” Well, the main thing in the Bible is the gospel, “the good news,” and the plainest explanation of it is found in Romans 5:12-21. In just 60 seconds, the apostle Paul sums up the bad news for everyone and the good news for everyone.

The Bad News for Everyone

The bad news for everyone is that everyone is guilty and destined to die. What makes this bad news even worse is we are not guilty and destined to die because of our own individual acts of sin. What makes the bad news pitch black is that God appointed Adam as our representative and charged us with the results of his actions. Therefore, we even receive this grim result by birth alone, apart from anything we do. So, because he disobeyed in those 3 seconds, we are all guilty and destined to die.

The Good News for Everyone

Yet the good news for everyone is that everyone can be righteous and destined to live. What makes this good news even better is we are not invited to be righteous and destined to live because of our own individual acts of righteousness. What makes the good news bright white is that God has appointed the last Adam, the Lord Jesus Christ, as our new representative and charges us with the results of His actions. Therefore, we even receive this great result by faith alone, apart from all our works. So, because he obeyed in those 33 years, we can all be righteous and destined to live.

You are Here

There are so many books, podcasts, and voices. Romans 5:12-21 is our map. It tells us “You Are HERE.” We are either in Adam and will die because of his one act of disobedience, or we are in Christ and will live because of His one act of obedience.

You don’t need to walk an aisle, pray a prayer, take the sacraments, speak in tongues, take a pilgrimage, live a moral life, or follow the steps of getting your thoughts together in order to inherit eternal life and become an authentic human being. The gospel says this is a gift received by faith alone in Christ alone, apart from all your works.