Hi Pickles,
Good question, and one I pray we all think about, study about and pray over. so that we may, with a joyful and humble heart agree with Job, '' although he may slay me, I will trust in Him''.
Romans 5:8-19
8but
(A) God shows his love for us in that
(B) while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
9Since, therefore,
(C) we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from
(D) the wrath of God.
10For if
(E) while we were enemies
(F) we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by
(G) his life.
11More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received
(H) reconciliation.
Death in Adam, Life in Christ
12Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—
13for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law.
14Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.
15But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.
16And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification.
17For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
18Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.
19For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
I believe this passage helps answer all our questions.
We are all have sin imputed from Adam (v12), we are all at emnity with God. To be reconciled implies a relatioship that has gone sour and needs mending. Through Adam all of mankind (human race) are sinners (imputed) v18a. Adams sin brought death, so all mankind through Adam will die, it is sin that brings God's wrath upon humankind for God is Holy. Since God is Holy, we are to blame, it was sin that alieneated us from God.
Reconciliation is how God makes His people 'just' before Him, we are Justified in His sight, this is only through the blood of Christ and, therefore, saved from the wrath of God upon evil (v9).
Sso far two things we have noticed:
1) we were at emnity with God (enemies), this came about through Adam.. it was an imputation of a sin nature.
2)Through Jesus, while we were still enemies of God.. God saved us, through His Son's sacrifice and resurrection.. are Old (Adam Nature) died on the cross, and we are saved ad through Christ we have a new nature, this is Christs imputed righteouness.
Those who are saved from the wrath to come (v9), have not Adams imputed nature, but the imputed nature of Christs righteousness ::>
16And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification.
17For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
Reconciliation through Faith has brought us back to a ''right'' (Just/justified) standing before God. No longer are those in Christ enemies of God, but children, friends (John 15:15):
Ephesians 1:4-5::>
4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
5 he predestined us for
adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
Through Christ, we have His righteousness earned and merited by Him, through His life, Death and ressurection.. we no longer have Adams 'unrighteous standing.
Remember, our righteousnes is as filthy rags.. it smells like death! Our standing beofre our Holy Sovereign God is His doing, He Loved us while still sinners, He saved us while Still sinners.
May we rejoice in even the worst circumstances as was Job, and say like Job.. ''even though he may slay me, I will trust in Him''.
We are alive in Christ Jesus!
Soli Deo Gloria