Are You Defined By Sin or Victory?

“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned” – Romans 5:12

Paul is drawing a contrast between two men—Adam and Christ—and the universal impact each has had on humanity. Adam’s disobedience opened the floodgates of sin, and through him, death became the inheritance of every human being. Sin didn’t originate with Adam—it began with Satan’s rebellion. But Adam joined that rebellion by believing the lie, and in doing so, he became the federal head of a fallen race. Just as a president signs a law that affects every citizen, Adam’s one act of sin affected all his descendants. The proof is undeniable: everyone dies. Genesis 5 repeats the refrain “and he died,” confirming that death is the evidence of our connection to Adam and the curse of sin.

This reality is sobering, but it’s not the end of the story. Paul doesn’t leave us in Adam—he brings us to Christ. Just as Adam’s sin was imputed to us, Christ’s righteousness can be imputed to us by faith. Jesus is the federal head of salvation. Through His obedience, we are offered eternal life. Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” Though we weren’t physically present at the Cross, by faith we are united with Him in His death and resurrection. What Adam lost, Christ restores. What Adam broke, Christ heals. The curse of death is overridden by the gift of life. And this isn’t temporary—it’s eternal. In Christ, we are no longer children of wrath but children of God.

Examine who you are in today. Are you still in Adam, under the curse of sin and death? Or are you in Christ, covered by grace and secured in life? John 3:18 makes it clear: “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already.” The choice is not between being good or bad—it’s between being in Adam or in Christ. If you’ve never trusted in Jesus, today is the day to step out of death and into life. And if you have, let this truth stir your heart with gratitude. You were born into a stream of sin, but Christ has placed you into a stream of grace. Let that truth shape your witness, your worship, and your walk. You are no longer defined by Adam’s failure—you are defined by Christ’s victory

“Through one man, sin entered the world—and with it, death. That’s not just theology; it’s reality. Every graveyard testifies to the truth of Romans 5:12.” – Danny Bond