Adam-Christ Typology (5)
What about the “much more” of Romans 5:15: “But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many”? What is “much more” than what?
In previous issues of the News, we have seen that it is not referring to the number of the saved as exceeding the number of the lost. It is not speaking about effectiveness, as if God’s grace is more powerful to deliver than sin is to destroy, though this idea is close to the thought of our text. Nor does the comparison concern assurance, as if grace gives greater certainty of salvation than sin of condemnation.
Our text is teaching that greater blessings come from Jesus Christ, our federal or covenant head, than the evils that come from the fall of Adam, the other federal head. This includes the truth that the glory of fellowship with the Triune God in Christ in the new heavens and the new earth will far exceed the blessedness that Adam enjoyed before the fall in the Garden of Eden.
Let us consider the two sentences in Romans 5:15 more closely for both of them prove our thesis. First, “But not as the offence, so also is the free gift.” The word “offence” here refers to what ensued from Adam’s first sin: the effects and results of his transgression. Clearly, this Word of God asserts that the benefits of free salvation in the “second man” outweigh the miseries that flow from the “first man”—to refer to the two covenant heads in the language of I Corinthians 15:47.
Second, “For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many” (Rom. 5:15). Here we also see that the gracious gift of salvation in the “last Adam” surpasses the wretched effects of the sin of the “first” Adam (I Cor. 15:45).
This may strike you as counterintuitive: “Surely Adam’s fall has brought more misery than Christ’s grace has wrought blessedness!” Yet Romans 5:15 teaches the opposite and even states that the church’s gracious salvation in her covenant head far excels the damage that flows from Adam’s original sin: “But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.”
Though Adam was only a man, Christ is God incarnate, “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily” (Col. 2:9)! He is “infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth” (Westminster Shorter Catechism, A. 4), and “the overflowing fountain of all good” (Belgic Confession 1).
Christ possesses the divine “glory as of the only begotten of the Father” and is “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14), and, wonder of wonders, “of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace” (16). We share in “the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Eph. 3:8) and “the exceeding riches of his grace” (2:7). Surely this surpasses the misery brought about by Adam’s fall! Rev. Stewart
Least and Greatest in the Kingdom
We have another interesting question to answer in this issue of the News: “Could you please explain Matthew 5:19: ‘Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.’ What does Christ mean by being ‘called the least in the kingdom of heaven’? Does it mean that, even though a true believer breaks the commandments, he will still be a saved person but of lesser rank in heaven? Or does it mean that we will all be small compared to Jesus?”
The passage is a powerful reminder of the importance and permanence of God’s law. Those who suggest that God’s law has no place in the lives of New Testament Christians are proved wrong by this single verse, though some of them would also say that the kingdom of which Jesus speaks here is only for the Jews and not for the rest of us.
What a striking word of instruction regarding the keeping and breaking of God’s law. It has to do with our place in the kingdom of heaven! That keeping and breaking cannot ever be the reason for my place in the kingdom. It cannot even be the reason for my status in the kingdom, whether I am least or great. But it nevertheless has to do with my place in the kingdom. I am not saved by, or because of, my keeping the law, my good works, but I will be judged according to them.
How important this word of Jesus is to us when we have opportunity to speak of God’s law to others or to be an example of keeping the commandments to others. If my words suggest that God’s law or any of His commandments do not matter, perhaps the fourth or the tenth, am I not one of those of whom Jesus is speaking? If, by my example, I encourage others to break any of the commandments, am I not one of those who is called least in the kingdom?
That, however, does not answer the question.
As to all of us being small compared to Jesus, there can be no question about that. My life, my accomplishments, my works, my person are nothing in God’s sight in relation to my Saviour. He is my all in all, everything I need, all I have. He is my righteousness, my acceptance, my hope, my life, my peace, my joy. Without Him, I am nothing and have nothing. In comparison to Him, every believer is least in the kingdom of heaven and He the greatest. That is true now and will be true forever, but that is not what Matthew 5:19 is teaching.
Matthew 5:19 has to do with degrees of glory in the everlasting and heavenly kingdom of Christ. Some will be great in the kingdom and some will be less. This is the clear teaching of Scripture. We will be exalted above angels and will judge them on the last day (I Cor. 6:3), though made a little lower than they (Ps. 8:5). There are, therefore, degrees of glory between men and angels. Jesus tells His disciples that they will “sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matt. 19:28)—another example of degrees of glory among men. Most certainly, there are differences in glory among the saints in heaven, just as there are in all God’s works, as the apostle explains by comparing terrestrial and celestial bodies, and the relative brightnesses of the sun, the moon and the stars (I Cor. 15:40-41).
In considering this, there are a number of things we must remember. First, Psalm 84:10 reminds us that it is better to be a “doorkeeper” in the house of God, better to stand at the gate and only look in, “than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.” My place in the kingdom of heaven will only ever be a reason for amazement. It is astounding that a sinner such as I am should inherit the everlasting realm of light and bliss! My own place in the kingdom is all of grace. Who am I to think that I deserve something more than I am given, whether now or in the age to come?
Second, we must remember also that God judges things much differently than we do. Those who think much of themselves will either find that they are not of much account or of any account in God’s sight. The humble father or mother who is a blessing to his own wife or her own husband, or his or her children, is of more worth than many who are counted great by men. The poor day-labourer who carries his sandwich off to work each day in a paper bag, but who works faithfully to support his family, and to have something to give to the church and the poor, is certainly very great in the kingdom of heaven, much greater than many who have the praise of men. The person who is content to collect the rubbish of others, because that is the place and calling Christ has given him and what his God-given talents allow him to do, is a far greater citizen of the everlasting kingdom than one who wastes his talents and time, though he has so much more ability than the other.
Third, that there will be degrees of glory does not mean that there is any room for jealousy or discontent with whatever it is that God gives me. If I understand that my salvation is all of grace and all of Christ, then there is no room for envy but only for humble thankfulness. Not only that but, since my cup runs over, what more could I possibly want than what I have?
In Matthew 5:19, these degrees of glory are connected with keeping or breaking God’s commandments and with teaching others, either by word or example, to keep or break them. In other words, the degrees of glory in heaven are the result of our being judged according to our works. That we will be judged according to works is the clear teaching of Scripture (Ps. 62:12; Matt. 16:27; Rev. 20:12).
This cannot mean that our works have any merit or that they are reason we escape the wrath of God. Never, in any way, must I rest on my own works but only on the finished work of my Saviour. Nevertheless, my works, though always imperfect and without merit, do show that Christ died for me and that I belong to Him, for He purchased these good works for me and works in me by His Spirit both the willing and the doing of these works.
That we are judged according to works and that these works are related to our place and glory in heaven is a testimony to God’s sovereignty, power and mercy. It is God who works in us both the willing and the doing of that which is pleasing to Him (Phil. 2:13). He then graciously rewards that willing and that doing with a greater or lesser glory in heaven, and He does so according to what we have done, whether it be good or evil. My sins are my own fault, as is my breaking of His commandments and my teaching others to do so. I receive all the blame for my wrong-doing, but He receives all the credit and glory for my well-doing and for whatever I receive as a reward of well-doing.
The sovereignty of God in rewarding our good works will be right and just, but it will also be a testimony to His sovereignty, as the parable of the labourers in the vineyard teaches (Matt. 20:1-16). There all receive the same, though some only laboured an hour. There, in answer to the criticism of some, the owner of the vineyard says, “Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?” (15). Both in judging us according to our works, and in rewarding our works with eternal glory and blessedness, God does as He sovereignly pleases and is not under obligation to any.
Who dares, then, to complain that God judges according to works? Who dares to call Him to account for His graciously rewarding our good works? Who, himself saved by grace, can complain about his place in the kingdom of God? Who, remembering his own sins, would think to be anything more than the least of all saints?
Knowing that keeping the commandments is pleasing to God and is rewarded by Him, I strive to be holy and to live a life of good works. Knowing that I can do nothing of myself, I pray daily that God will give me the necessary grace. But I also understand that obedience, holiness and good works are a way for me to show my thankfulness to God, and I have so much for which to be thankful! So, though my best works are imperfect and full of my own sinfulness, I do not abandon the Christian life or give up the fight against sin and Satan, but with many tears continue the struggle until the day I die, when I shall finally be delivered from this body of flesh.
Striving, struggling, working, praying and repenting of my sins, I am not jealous of some who may have a greater glory in the kingdom than I do but am thankful that I have any place at all. Indeed, I would be content to be the doorkeeper since I deserve nothing better, really nothing at all. Even if only the doorkeeper, it is still far better to have a glimpse of the wonderful kingdom of God than to live in the richest tents of wickedness. Rev. Ron Hanko
