God’s Amazing Drama
Romans 5:12-21
INTRODUCTION
I like a good story. A good story captures your attention and draws you along. It includes twists and turns that raise questions in your mind and challenge you. If a story is too predictable, it is boring. If a story is too unpredictable, it is confusing. A good story masterfully weaves its way between the two extremes; giving you enough information to keep you engaged, but not enough to spoil to outcome.
As human beings we are actors in an epic story. It is a story that spans thousands of years. It is a universal story that includes all peoples and every generation. In essence, the Bible records the “Cliff Notes” of the story. It introduces us to the main characters, the plot, and the story line. This epic story is not ancient history. It is an ongoing story that is being acted out daily on an individual and corporate level.
There are many people who believe that history is going nowhere. They believe that life is just a cosmic merry-go-round, moving through a never ending cycle of the same thing. The Bible informs us that history is moving toward a climax. There is purpose and meaning behind the things that occur. They are not just random, unrelated events.
The best way to view this drama is not like a straight line or like a circle. It is more like a conical spiral. With each revolution the spiral tightens and descends, until one day it will end at a final climax.
As believers in Christ, it is important for us to understand the drama of which we are a part. Like every good story, this drama has a crisis, a resolution, and a climax. It has a villain and a hero. It has many supporting characters, of which we are some of them. Although the story does not revolve around us, we play a significant role in the story. In fact, we are at the heart of the story.
God is the author of this amazing drama. He is the one who has designed the story and the one who controls the flow of the story. Like an interactive computer game, God allows for variations in the story, while maintaining the overall integrity and eventual outcome of the story.
The hero of this story is Jesus. From Genesis to Revelation, Jesus is at the heart of the story. He is the moving force behind the story. Everything revolves around Him.
Each of us, whether we realize it or not, play a role in this story. There is an ongoing battle over the souls of human beings. The evil one is seeking to destroy people any way he can. Jesus is seeking to redeem people and return them to their proper place in the story. The more that we understand the story the more we can actively play our part.
Study 1: Genesis 1:1-31
If we are going to understand God’s amazing drama, we need to begin at the beginning. The very foundations of the story start at creation. It is the events of creation that set the stage upon which the dramaunfolds.
1. Genesis 1:1 is the anchor for God’s amazing drama.
a. What is themain point of this verse?
b. Why is this an important point to make up front?
2. What does this account of creation tell us about God’s intentionality?
3. What does this account of creation tell us about God’s power and authority?
4. How does the creation of humanity differ from the rest of creation?
5. What role did God give humanity to play?
6. What was God’s evaluation of the beginning of His drama?
MAKE IT PERSONAL
1.Unfortunately, the creation story in Genesis has become a contentious and even divisive story. What is the main point of the creation story?
2. Why is it important for us to know that God created the world in an orderly, systematic way?
3.Why is it important to know that God created humanity in a way unique from the rest of creation?
4. How does John 1:1-5 place Jesus at the beginning of God’s drama?
5. How does Colossians 1:15-17 set Jesus up as the hero of God’s drama?
6. Why is the creation story foundational to God’s drama?
Study 2: Romans 12:12-14
The crisis or conflict in God’s drama occurred early in the story. God created humanity to live in a close, intimate relationship with Him. But Adam and Eve disobeyed God and broke that relationship. We refer to that event as the Fall.
1. How does Paul describe the introduction of sin into the world?
2. What was the consequence of one man’s failure?
3. What is the legacy that Adam left for all of humanity?
4. What role did the Law play in this drama?
5. How did all of humanity live under the penalty of Adam’s sin even before the Law was given to Moses?
6. What was the command that Adam disobeyed? (Genesis 3)
MAKE IT PERSONAL
1.Why is it important for us to know that sin entered the world because of Adam’s disobedience?
2. How do you feel about the fact that we all face the consequences of Adam’s sin?
3. Just as parents pass on their genetic traits to their children, Adam passed on his spiritual traits to us. What is the result of inheriting Adam’s spiritual DNA?
4. How does ignorance blind us to sin?
5. How does the law awaken us to sin? (Romans 7:7)
6.All of humanity will face physical death because of Adam’s sin. In what other ways do we face death because of sin?
Study 3: Romans 12:15-17
The resolution to the conflict came when Jesus came into the world. Paul shows how Jesus came to restore what Adam had broken. This is called redemption.
1. What words does Paul use to describe Jesus’ actions and Adam’s actions?
2. What was the outcome of the trespass of one man?
3. What is the outcome of the gift of God’s grace through one man?
4. How is the gift different from the trespass?
5. What is the outcome for those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace?
MAKE IT PERSONAL
1.When, if ever, have you suffered because of someone else’s actions? How did that make you feel?
2. When, if ever, has someone stepped in and come to your defense? How did that make you feel?
3. Why do you think Paul stressed that what Jesus did is a gift? (Ephesians 2:8-9)
4. How do you understand the concept of grace?
5. In what ways does receiving God’s gift of grace bring life to you?
6. How does what Jesus did change us from victims to conquerors? (Romans 8:37-39)
Study 4:Romans 5:18-21
The ultimate climax of God’s adventure is our victory over sin and death through faith in Jesus Christ.
1. What was the result of the one trespass?
2. What is the result of the one act of righteousness?
3. How is bringing life “for” all men different than bringing life “to” all men? Look at John 1:10-13.
4. How does putting our faith in Jesus change our spiritual condition?
5. What was the ultimate purpose of the Law?
6. How did the Law actually increase God’s grace?
7. What is the ultimate climax of putting our faith in Jesus?
MAKE IT PERSONAL
1. Throughout this passage, Paul contrasted the outcome of Adam’s actions and Jesus’ actions. How would you describe the basic conflict?
2. What does it mean to you to be justified before God?
3. How does Jesus’ actions result in our being righteous?
4. In what ways was the Law actually a part of God’s gift to humanity?
5. How can a greater awareness of our sin increase our awareness of and appreciation for God’s grace? Look at Luke 7:36-47.
6. What does it mean to you to have eternal life through Jesus Christ? How is this both a present and future reality?
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