But would it be right for God to reckon the one righteous life given, as a full payment for the lives of the millions of sinners who have died?

Does not the price – one life, for a billion or more – seem like a short (or insufficient) payment?

This is a reasonable question, and we will allow Paul to give it a reasonable answer.

He is a logical reasoner, as well as an inspired Apostle, and argues that, as God had seen proper to condemn ALL MEN to death on account of Adam’s disobedience, even so he had a right to reckon the second Adam a representative man, and justify to life ALL THE RACE, in return for the sacrifice of this one perfect life.

“For as by one man’s disobedience many (ALL) were made sinners, so by the obedience of one man shall many (ALL) be made righteous.” “Therefore, as by the offense of one, judgment came upon all men to condemnation,” (condemned to suffer the penalty of sin – death,) “even so by the righteousness of one, the free gift came upon all men unto justification to life.” (Remember that we do not now enjoy life; our condition is a dying one.) “Dying thou shalt die” was the penalty pronounced on Adam (margin). The condition of perfect life as it was enjoyed before death came, is what all men are justified to, by the obedience of “Jesus Christ who, by the grace of God, tasted death for EVERY MAN.”

“For as in Adam (or by Adam’s sin) All die, so “in Christ (or by Christ’s obedience, and etc.,) shall ALL be made alive.

As the first Adam’s bride was a party to the sin, so we see the second Adam’s bride is made a party with her Lord in the removing of the curse. Oh, glorious plan, of our all wise and loving Father, and “the exceeding riches of his grace toward us, in Christ Jesus.”

But says one, I thought that Jesus had nullified, set aside and destroyed the law; and that therefore mankind could approach God?

Oh no, that was a great mistake. Would it not be strange indeed if the Father made a law, which we have seen was “just” and “holy” and in fact the only one he could give because he could not make an imperfect law (all his works being perfect); would it seem proper even to think of Jesus as setting aside and destroying that “just” and “holy” law, or in any way making a league with sin or sinners?

No, no. He came to do the Father’s will and the law was the record of it. He kept it himself and taught the true meaning of it to be higher than the letter, and that to be “angry with a brother without a cause” was to violate the command “Thou shalt not kill.”

No, says Paul: “Christ magnified the law (made it larger and more minute) and made it honorable,” showed in fact that, that law could not be set aside nor broken.

But we read, “Christ is the end of the law.” What can that mean?

The trouble is you have not quoted the connections. The text reads: “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.” (Rom 10:5).

To whom is he this?

To the believers – the members of his body. How?

Righteously, not by breaking it, but by righteously fulfilling its requirements (and we in Him are just before the law.)

Another similar text reads: “There is therefore” (because we in Him are reckoned dead to the world and alive toward God through Him – our new life) “now no condemnation to them which are IN Christ Jesus.”

Why are those in Christ not condemned?

Because, since coming into Him by faith they have received of His spirit, and with Him can say

“I delight to do thy will O, my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.” (Psa 11:8.) They are then alive spiritually though yet living in the dead body of sinful flesh which they are opposed to, and which by the holy spirit given they are enabled to “crucify,” and etc., These walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit, and to all so walking in Christ there is no condemnation from the law.

And we may add none can so live and walk except they have recognized their ransom, come into Christ and received of His spirit.

And in the glorious millennial age, when all shall know God from least to greatest, when “The knowledge of the Lord shall fill the whole earth;” – “The times of restitution” – there will be the same “holy and just” law, and under the “Royal Priesthood” after the order of Melchisedec (the order of an endless life,) poor fallen humanity will be helped back again to that perfect condition from whence Adam fell (perfect human life); a condition in harmony with God’s law, and therefore in harmony with God.

But will they receive no punishment for misdeeds of the present life?

They will receive punishment, “stripes, and etc.,” in proportion as they had light and lived contrary to it. As our Master explained: “It shall be more tolerable for Sodom, and etc.,” in the day of judgment (in the age of trial) than for the Jews, to whom He spoke, because the Sodomites had less light. (Matt 2:24.) There will be many or few “stripes,” in proportion to the amount of light they have had and the use made of it. (But let none of us pass judgement before the time, nor to erroneously presume to be more just than God who can read the heart, who knows the circumstances governing each individual and their conduct.)

There will be rewards given to some during that age also; “for whosoever shall give to one of these little ones (of ‘little flock’) a cup of cold water, only in the name of a disciple, shall in no wise lose his reward.” (Matt 10:42.) And when the King shall sit “on the throne of his glory,” (during the millennial age), some will be rewarded for having ministered to the members of His body. “Inasmuch as you did it unto one of the least of these,” (in the throne) “you did it unto me.” (Matt 15:40 – site Editor].) R78