Read: Romans 5:12-19
On November 24, 1971, a man called D. B. Cooper hijacked a commercial flight between Portland and Seattle by threatening to blow up the plane unless he received 200,000 dollars. After landing to receive a ransom, he ordered the plane back into the air. It was night time. Then the rear stairs of the aircraft were lowered, and he used the stairs to exit the plane using a parachute. He was never captured, and the case was never solved. This hastened the age of airport security in which trust and confidence have been replaced by suspicion and fear. What he did affected us all.
The Bible describes two actions that changed the world in a far more significant way. Through Adam’s choice, sin and death entered the world, “and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned” (Rom. 5:12). But through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, God provided a remedy for the results of sin. “Through one man’s [Adam’s] offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s [Christ’s] righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life” (Rom. 5:18).
Jesus did what no one else could do when He broke the power of sin and death by His resurrection. He offers forgiveness and eternal life to all who will accept His free gift. John 1:12 says, “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” And for that, we thank Him with all our hearts. The cross of Christ can cure the condemnation of Adam’s choice.
