Romans (Youth) 5B

Federal Representatives in Adam & Jesus

Scripture: Romans 5:12-21

Exposure to Exposition & Exploring the Scriptures: (15-20 mins)

• Bible Drills (Memorization of OT & NT Book order)

• Guide the children to Romans 5:12-21 in the Bible. (Help them as needed, NT vs OT)

• Say: We are going to continue through Paul's letter to the church of Rome.

• We will learn that the gospel is God’s power to save everyone who believes, and we should never be ashamed of Jesus.

• Read aloud. (Ask kids to start their pointer fingers on V12 and follow along)

Opening Question

“Have you ever broken something that someone else had to fix for you?” → That’s what happened when Adam sinned. He broke our friendship with God, but Jesus came to fix it and make us new again!

Notes:

• Paul begins Chapter 5 by showing what happens after we’re made right with God through faith.

• Paul will answer two big questions:

  • How can we know for sure that we’re really forgiven and at peace with God—especially when life is still hard? (1-11)

  • How can one man, Jesus, pay for the sins of everyone in the world? (12-21)

• Paul will spend the second part of Chapter 5 showing that just as sin spread to all men through Adam, Life will spread to men in the same way.

Romans 5:12-21 NLT
12 When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. 13 Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law to break. 14 Still, everyone died—from the time of Adam to the time of Moses—even those who did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. Now Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come. 15 But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. 16 And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. 17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.
18 Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. 19 Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.
20 God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. 21 So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

• V12 Sin came into the world through Adam disobeying God’s ONE rule (Genesis 2:17)

  • When Adam disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden, sin came into the world for the first time.

  • Because Adam sinned, everyone born after him was born with sin in their hearts too.

  • Sin broke the friendship with God and brought death and sadness into the world.

  • Kid Point: Adam’s sin spread to everyone—

Romans 5:13 Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law to break.

• V13 People had no idea how sinful they were until God gave the law

  • People were already doing wrong things before God gave the law to Moses.

  • The law helped people see what sin really was, but sin had already been there all along.

  • Kid Point: God’s rules help us see our sin.

Romans 5:14 Still, everyone died—from the time of Adam to the time of Moses—even those who did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. Now Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come.

• V14 Adam as our Federal Representative

  • Death is the result of sin, proving that everyone is sinful because of Adam’s one act.

    • (Genesis 2:17 (Spiritual Death) & Genesis 3:17 (Physical death- cursed is the ground, Adam is made from the ground.))

  • Even people who didn’t break the same rule as Adam still died, proving everyone is born sinful.

  • Sin is something that lives in us from birth—it spreads through the whole human family.

  • Adam’s story points forward to Jesus: Adam brought sin and death, but Jesus brings forgiveness and life!

  • Kid Point: Adam brought death, but Jesus brings life!

Romans 5:15 But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ.

• V15 Jesus as our Federal Representative

  • Adam’s one sin brought death to the whole world.

  • But Jesus’ one loving act—dying on the cross—brought life and forgiveness to everyone who believes.

  • Adam’s sin spread to many, but God’s grace through Jesus spreads even further.

  • The gift of Jesus is much greater than the sin of Adam!

  • Kid Point: One man vs One man

Romans 5:16 And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins.

• V16 A Gracious Gift from God through Jesus

  • Adam’s sin led to guilt and punishment for everyone.

  • But Jesus’ gift takes away our punishment and makes us right with God.

  • Even though we’ve sinned many times, Jesus’ sacrifice covers them all.

  • Kid Point: What Adam ruined, Jesus restored completely.

Romans 5:17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.

• V17 We get death and sin from Adam, but new life and forgiveness from Jesus.

  • Adam’s sin passed down to all of humanity.

  • Jesus’ perfect life is passed down to humanity.

  • We are no longer born into sin but born again into Christ.

  • When we believe in Jesus, we are reborn spiritually—just like being part of a new family.

  • We now belong to Jesus’ bloodline instead of Adam's.

  • Kid Point: We are Born-agin!

Romans 5:18-19 Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. 19 Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.

• V18-19 One man’s sin brought death—but one man’s obedience brings life forever!

  • One act of disobedience (Adam’s sin) brought guilt, death, and separation from God to all people.

  • One act of obedience (Jesus’ death on the cross) brought forgiveness, righteousness, and eternal life.

  • Kid Point: Adam vs Jesus as our Federal Representative

Romans 5:20-21 God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. 21 So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

• V20-21 One man’s sin brought death—but one man’s obedience brings life forever!

  • God gave His Law to show us what sin really is — like a mirror that shows our mistakes.

  • The Law only showed how much we needed a Savior.

  • As sin increased, God’s grace grew even bigger to cover it!

  • No matter how dark sin seems, God’s grace shines brighter.

  • Kid Point: God’s grace is stronger than sin — grace wins forever through Jesus!

Chart Main Idea:

Everything Adam broke, Jesus fixed. Adam’s disobedience brought death, but Jesus’ obedience brought eternal life.

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Chart

Romans (Youth) — Romans (Youth) 5B

Observation Questions (What did it say?)

1. Who brought sin and death into the world? (Adam did when he disobeyed God. Romans 5:12)

2. What happened because of Adam’s sin? (Everyone was born with sin and faces death. Romans 5:18)

3. Who brought righteousness and life? (Jesus did through His obedience and death on the cross. Romans 5:19)

Understanding Questions (What does it mean?)

1. Why is Adam called our “representative”? (Because his choice affected everyone who came after him. Romans 5:12-14)

2. How is Jesus like Adam, but better? (Adam’s one sin brought death to many, but Jesus’ one act of righteousness brings life to all who believe. Romans 5:18-19)

3. What does it mean that grace “abounded more”? (It means God’s forgiveness and love are greater than all our sin. Romans 5:20)

Application Questions (What should I do?)

1. Why does Paul repeatedly compare Adam and Jesus in this passage, and how does this comparison help us? (It helps us understand that we all inherit sin and death from Adam, but through Jesus we receive forgiveness and new life. Knowing this reminds us to trust in Jesus, not ourselves, for salvation.)

2. How can you show thankfulness that Jesus reversed Adam’s mistake? (By obeying God out of a love for Him and showing His love to others.)

3. What gives you hope when you feel guilty or afraid? (Knowing Jesus’ grace is stronger than my sin and I’m forgiven forever.)

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For Older Kids

Romans (Youth) — Romans (Youth) 5B

Remind them: What is the Gospel?

Jesus’ perfect life paid for the sins of all who believe. Jesus died on the cross as the punishment for sin. But Jesus did not stay dead, three days later He rose to life (resurrection) defeating the power of death. Believe, and you will be saved!

• We are all sinful. We all deserve the consequence of sin- death.

• Jesus is what saves us from the sin we all have in our bodies. And one day, he’ll even give us a new body.

Supporting Truths Kids Can Grasp:

•  

• Sin came into the world through Adam.

• Jesus came to fix what Adam broke.

• One man’s sin brought death — one Man’s love brings life.

• God’s grace is stronger than our sin.

• Jesus gives us a new life and eternal life. (Born again)

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.