Scripture: Daniel 7:13-14 / Romans 5:12-19
I. In union with Jesus, you are a victorious king.
A. In Daniel 7:13, the prophet Daniel has a vision of one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. The title son of man is used of Jesus in the four gospels 80 times. This title means son of Adam because the Hebrew word for man is Adam. Adam was the first man and would be man’s representative. Jesus would also be called a son of Adam in Luke 3:38: “the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.”
B. Jesus did what Adam did not. He obeyed God while Adam disobeyed God. Because Adam is humanity’s representative, everyone sinned in and with Adam (Romans 5:12), and so everyone dies. We are all guilty for what Adam did. But Jesus reigns victoriously as king over all nations (Daniel 7:14) in a way that Adam should have reigned but did not (Genesis 1:28). And if you are united with Jesus by faith, you too will reign with Jesus as a King or queen.
II. In union with Jesus, you are justified.
A. At the end of Romans 5:14 we see some good news. We read there that Adam was a type of the one who was to come. Both Adam and Jesus represent us. And both Adam and Jesus’s actions have huge consequences for us as they act as our representatives. But in some ways Adam is massively unlike Jesus. First, Adam trespassed (vs. 15). How was Jesus different? He gave us a free gift. He did not take something for himself like Adam did. He sacrificed himself for us.
B. Adam’s disobedience resulted in death for the many that were represented by Adam (vs. 15). But what was the result of Jesus’ obedient act of death on the cross? Life! Justification (vs. 16). We are declared righteous by God when we are united to Jesus by faith. When Jesus represents you, Jesus’ act of righteousness completely undoes Adam’s act of unrighteousness. Jesus then has far more power than Adam. You want Jesus to represent you – not Adam.
III. In union with Jesus, you are reigning in life.
A. If you put your faith in Jesus and make him your representative, you can be the King that Adam was supposed to be but was not. What do you get if Jesus is your representative? Much more (vs. 15, 17)! You get far better than you deserve. Until you are united to Christ by faith, until Jesus is your representative, all that is true of Adam is true of you. But once you are united to Jesus by faith, whatever is true of Jesus is true of you! Romans 16:20: “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” You will win. You will reign.
Application:
Better days are coming. Sin, death and Satan will be completely defeated.
Sources:
The Bible
“Union with the Resurrected Christ” by G.K. Beale.
Commentaries on Romans by Doug Moo, Tim Keller & Frank Thielman
Sermon Discussion Questions
1) What did God want Adam to do in Genesis 1:28? How would Jesus act as of the son of Adam that Adam should have acted like (Daniel 7:13-14)?
2) In what way are Adam and Jesus representatives for us? How are Adam and Jesus similar? How are Adam and Jesus very different?
3) How does Jesus’ act of obedience overcome the disobedient act of Adam? What do we have to look forward to because we are now united with Jesus?