Grace Gospel Ministry

The practical lesson that should be gleaned from Imputation is thus:

There should never be the impression that sin is only accounted unto us in the same manner or sense as righteousness is. Sin is that which we are by nature. Ephesians 2:3 states that (King James version), "Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others". Now from the Greek Text, "among whom we all also lived in the lusts of our flesh, doing the will of the flesh and of the thought, and we were by nature children of wrath even as also the rest". So it is by eternal design that man by this very makeup (composition), became a sinner. We were made sinners through Adam in the sense that he (Adam) was the father (origination) of the human race, thus it’s legal agent or the "first man", standing in our stead. The very fact that he was a human creature made it inevitable that he fell into sin. We as his progeny were not only in him seminally as our natural head, but we were in him also morally and legally as our moral and forensic head. In other words, by divine constitution and covenant arrangement, Adam in his role as the first man created, acted as the federal representative of us all. Note it was by an act of HIS sovereign will that it pleased God to ordain that Adam’s relation to his natural seed should be inherently linked.

For one to properly construe the thought conveyance of the Apostle Paul in Romans 3:12-19, one must be totally epistemic in the doctrine of human depravity. The bearings of Adam’s sin upon his posterity entailed the consequences of the fall. One can even state that it produced it, but one should never say that except for Adam’s deeds, mankind might or may be a righteous creature void of the capacity to be in opposition to his creator.

God, who by His very nature is the God of order and harmony, always arranges the environment concomitant with its state whether it is perfection or imperfection, righteous or depraved. Thus no state or status of mankind whether it is original (innocence), current (depraved) or future (glorified), should ever be construed as incidental or accidental. But all must be viewed according to God’s eternal plan, will and purpose; thus His design i.e., as it has pleased Him to do so. It is from this viewpoint that we examine the doctrine of human depravity. It is in this light that one is required to particularly note that in the original design of mankind; namely in Eden, Adam acted not simply as a private person whose resulting conduct affected none but himself, but he served as the representative or a public person, carrying out a transaction that affected the entire human race. Thus his actions directly concerned and judicially involved all of his progeny.

Notice by an act of His (God’s) sovereign will, it pleased Him to assign Adam’s relation to his (Adam’s) natural seed, to foreshadow that which Christ’s relation would be to His (Christ’s) spiritual seed. Hence we note God’s original design of mankind in innocence worked out through Adam (the first representative), resulting in depravity (our current status); ultimately resulting in the redemption of some (the elect). This is worked through Christ (the second or succeeding) representative, which is righteousness, our eternal status. Accordingly, as we focus on the Edenic Covenant and the administration of God’s policy for the dispensation (administration) of innocence, we note from the terms and conditions, the entire human race (not just Adam) being placed on probation in the person of our legal representative and covenant head. Now this must be established as a principled truth as it brings clarity to many things in the scriptures including human history. Note as long as Adam retained the approbation of God and remained in fellowship with Him, the entire base of his (Adams’) constituency did likewise.

As one surveys the terms or conditions of the Edenic contract, it required Adam to survive the appointed (designated) trial. Had he faithfully and fitly performed or dutifully discharged his obligated responsibility of the continuity of obedience according to the agreement, it would have rendered him worthy to receive the benefits of the arrangements or provisions thereby. This would have constituted Adam’s contribution as the basis of his status as a participant of the reward or the benefits bestowed upon him. Contrariwise, the stipulation of the contingency was, if the federal head (representative) failed and fell, then all those who were represented by him likewise fell with and in him. Hence his disobedience transferred the inherent curse and penalty of death pronounced upon humanity. Thus all of mankind was required by the justice of God to be subjected to the guilt of its representative.

As one views the wording of Romans 5:18 (King James Version), "by the offense of one judgement came upon all men to condemnation", one is compelled to commend the justice of God in assigning condemnation to all. Some may view justice as God placing each member of the human races on probation separately and successively. To comprehend the absurdity of this notion, one must understand the principle of fatherhood and originality. A simple analogy is found in the design of a tree. All the branches stem from one common root. As long as the tree remains healthy and is alive, the components of it do likewise. But if the root is severed, then its trunk, branches, twigs, leaves and fruit all die with it.

Thus, this is the case with the "tragedy of Eden", i.e., when Adam’s communion and relationship with God was severed and he died, all his posterity also died. Hence there is no plausible theory of human speculation concerning human depravity by imputation. But in our gospel (the Mystery) we have the fact of divine revelation, i.e., according to Romans 5:12 (King James Version), "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned". Adam then occupied the unique position as the root of the human tree. At his (Adam’s) creation all of his unborn children were germinally created in him. When God entered into a solemn covenant with him in our name, the entire human family was represented, thus it is unnecessary after Adam for God to test the morality of that which is obviously depraved. But again, none of this is by accident, it is all by design.

In order to understand God’s purpose regarding mankind, one must comprehend Paul’s revelations in Ephesians chapter one; wherein we find the eternal workings of God’s plan as it relates to His provisions to deliver those whom He obviously loved and favored to be the recipients of love, grace and mercy. This is manifested in detail by the description of God’s eternal (first) work involving mankind’s ultimate relationship with Him. Here the essence of Sonship was established in His call and election, even His adoption of those chosen in Him to be conformed to the image of Christ (1Corinthians15:49; II Corinthians 3:18).