Romans 5:12-14

 Scripture Verse

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—¹³ To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law. ¹⁴ Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come.

A journey through Middle Earth

I wonder if Tolkien took inspiration from these passages when he envisaged Middle Earth ruled by Sauron in Mordor in the Lord of the Rings where all goodness is suppressed. The one ring being the ultimate power to tempt and corrupt and confer death rather than immortality.  All middle earth is in a state of darkness and groaning as Frodo embarks on a hazardous journey and like all inhabitants is waiting for the king that shall come to deliver.

Adam is the representative of mankind, the 1^st man who succumbed to temptation and conferred the state of sin on all mankind. Consequently, the garden of Eden and immortality are exchanged for death. This passage shows an inherited devastating permanent state of our world, rather than a view of our own individual sins.

So, in the Old Testament “middle earth” full of wandering through deserts to a promised land, can the Mosaic law that was handed to Moses solve this? Unfortunately, the law was given to make sin known and highlight humanity`s guilt and transgression, but all the animal sacrifices of the Old Testament do not bring grace and salvation as we now know.

The light and optimism we have in this passage is the title before verse 12 in the NIV Bible: Death through Adam, Life through Christ. The final phrase contrasts the destructive entry of Adam with God`s overwhelming grace and sacrifice of his son for our salvation. So, to complete our journey through middle earth we rejoice to live in the knowledge that the Christ figure (Frodo), the Prophet (Gandalf) and the kingly lineage (Aragorn) have triumphed over evil and the darkness and we are forgiven and saved.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, may I live a life overflowing with thankfulness and praise knowing I am saved by your incredible and undeserved grace. Thank you for the gift of life, your constant love and for the forgiveness found in Jesus which has set me free from sin.