I’ve been thinking about Romans chapter 5 a lot lately—partly because I’m doing some work with it for a class at school, but also because the passage has always interested me.  In the first half, 5:1-11, Paul reminds those who listened to the reading of his letter that they have been made righteous through Jesus, and that even though life may be hard, they can approach it with hope because in Christ they can be sure of their coming salvation.  In verse 12, though, he begins to talk about Adam.  He paints a bleak picture of a world into which the personified power of sin has been let loose to reign through the wrongdoing of the first man.  Darker still is his assertion that death followed sin as its consequence, like thunder follows lighting, and that all people, even before the law was given, were slaves under the dominion of death because all were somehow made sinners through their unity with Adam, the first sinner.

The unspoken question in this section is “who will come and break the power of sin and death?  Who can undo what Adam and the rest of humanity have done?”  And in answer, Paul whispers, “Jesus.”  Because, he says, the gift is not like the trespass, the ‘righteous act’ of Jesus is not like the evil one sin of Adam.  Through Adam’s one offence sin broke in and brought death to all, and crime and sin and hate raged and piled up through the centuries, like some hideous, reeking garbage dump.  But Christ, at just the right time undid the work of Adam, through His death, burial, and resurrection, sweeping the universe clean and breaking the power of sin in one great and mighty moment.

For us and for the Romans, the message is clear: if we are in Christ as before we were somehow in Adam, not only are our own sins forgiven, but the power of sin itself has been broken for those who are part of the “body of Christ.”  And we live now, in eager anticipation of our coming salvation, when Jesus will destroy death and finally demolish the work that Adam began.

David Taylor

The Minda Street Church of Christ cordially invites you to their 10th Annual Community Wide Singing Extravaganza featuring Abilene City Wide Multi-cultural Community Chorus, Wayburn Dean, former lead singer of the singing group Acappella, and others.  This event will be held on Saturday, April 28th at 6 p.m. at the historic Paramount Theatre.  As always this event is free and open to everyone.  (See the flier on the bulletin board across from the church office.)

The Ronquillo Twins are Here!!
Carson Ephesian and Christian Elijah were born on Saturday, April 14th.  Carson weighed 3 1bs 8 ozs and was 14 1/2” long.  Christian weighed 1 lb 12 ozs and was 13 1/2” long.  Both are doing well.  They will continue to stay in Harris Hospital in Ft. Worth for several weeks.  Donna is recovering well.

Congratulations to Jim & Cara Hill.  They have a new grandson who was born on April 13th.  Caidon Michael Hill was born weighing 9 lbs 2/3 ozs and was 19 3/4 long.

The Senior Bible Bowl Team has completed their Bible Bowl season for the year.  Congratulations to Jana Hill, Eric Hill, Tyler Sparks, David Wright, and their coach Dixie Mabry on a wonderful year.

The Junior Bible Bowl Team competed Saturday in Monahans.  They will be traveling this next Saturday, April 28th to Denver City.

You are invited to a Surprise 85th B-day Reception for Viola Hopkins on Sunday, April 29th from 2-4 p.m. in the Woodlawn Fellowship Hall.  No gifts please, just cards, pictures, and special memories.

STATISTICS FOR WEEK OF APRIL 15, 2007