Romans 5: 12-21 // One Man's Obedience 

The gift of Christ's saving work supersedes the power of sin and death brought into the world through Adam. This is to increase our wonder and gratitude for Christ's amazing gift. 

This series is calling us to expand our vision of the gospel: It changes everything // Not just the entrance to heaven. 

• Tonight we have the opportunity to do exactly that; here we see that the Gospel is God's global answer to our grave problem (read Romans 5: 15-21) the hope of this message today is that you will grow in your wonder and gratitude of this incredible gift accomplished and offered in the saving work of Jesus. 
• Asking nearly the impossible: to step out of your world/life/problems/stress and think globally about salvation. 
• Hard for us to do: I get it - I'm in the same boat: raising a family / have family members who are stressing me out / I have a full-time job where I manage a team of millennials. 
• We come to church, here in the middle of the week expecting a little pick-me-up, a shot in the arm with some practical wisdom for getting through life, instead Br. Jordan asks me to start "thinking globally".

Here's the "why: 

1. The Bible demands it - this was the next text in line, can't overlook it, we have to deal with it as it comes to us.
2. This text displays for us the overwhelming generosity of Christ in his saving work. And if we do this rightly, we will be prompted to worship God for his amazing gift. 
3. You will not get the full picture of the Christian faith if you don't get this text. This text explains what Christians teach is our most fundamental problem and the most glorious solution.
4. This text is about everyone you've ever known or ever met: Every family member, every friend, every acquaintance, every person you've given "the nod" to every cashier or waiter: 

Every person you've read about in history books // everyone is in this text // it touches every soul that has ever lived // so this text is one of the most practical texts in the whole Bible. It is all about the gift that Jesus brings us. The gift of his soul-saving, sin-conquering work freely given to us and how it overpowers the power of sin and death in our world. 

• But as you can see, the passage is tightly wound, building on ideas using comparisons and contrasts. So as we look at these scriptures, I do have an outline for people who are helped by that // but our study will be a bit more thematic trying to show how what Jesus brings us is better. 
• Than what? Anything we can get on our own. Let's dive in and see how Jesus is a better representative / he is a better reign / he provides a better righteousness.