Romans 5:13-15
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“For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. But not as the offense, so also is the free gift. For if through the offense of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, has abounded unto many.”
What is “imputed sin”? What was the “similitude of Adam’s sin”? Of whom was he a “figure”?
First, imputed sin is sin that people are responsible for because they knew the law when they committed the sin (Rom. 4:15). People cannot sin or thus be guilty of sin where there is no law. Yet, Adam sinned, as did all others after him, including Cain (Gen. 4:7-8).
Second, the “similitude of Adam’s sin” was that it alone cut people off from the Tree of Life (Gen. 2:16-17; 3:24). No other sin in history ever did that! This first human being’s choice, in real effect, spoke for all people who would follow. In this way, Adam was a “figure” of Christ because they both were unique forerunners.
On the one hand, Adam was the first person to make the wrong choice, thus cutting off all humans from the Tree of Life. On the other hand, Christ was the first to live a perfect life in harmony with God and the first to offer redemption to all people through the forgiveness of sins (Gen 2:18-19). In this way, both Adam and Christ affected the entire human race.
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