It is explicit in the New Testament witness regarding Genesis, Adam is the first parent of humanity. My point is simply that in a genealogy that names father and son it names the father of Adam as God, because he was created and had no earthly parents.
Where do you think Luke was getting his information? That said Romans 5 is indeed rooted in the doctrine of original sin inextricably linked to the Genesis account. According to Paul:
Sin came as the result of, 'many died by the trespass of the one man' (Rom. 5:15), 'judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation' (Rom. 5:16), the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man (Rom. 5:17), 'just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men' (Rom. 5:18), 'through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners' (Rom. 5:19).
The book of Romans tells us that God's invisible attributes and eternal nature have been clearly seen but we exchanged the truth of God for a lie (Rom 1:21,22). As a result the Law of Moses and the law of our own conscience bears witness against us, sometimes accusing, sometimes defending (Rom 2:15). We all sinned but now the righteousness of God has been revealed to be by faith through Christ (Rom 3:21). Abraham became the father of many nations by faith and the supernatural work of God (Rom 4:17). Through one man sin entered the world and through one man righteousness was revealed (Rom 5:12), Adams offense dragging everyone down into sin. It looks something like this:
- Exchanging the truth of God for a lie, the creature for the Creator.
- Both the Law and our conscience make our sin evident and obvious.
- All sinned, but now the righteousness of God is revealed in Christ.
- Abraham's lineage produced by a promise and a miracle through faith.
- Through one man sin entered the world and death through sin.
- Just as Christ was raised from the dead we walk in newness of life.
- The law could not save but instead empowered sin to convict.
- Freed from the law of sin and death (Adamic nature) we're saved.
The Scriptures offer an explanation for man's fallen nature, how we inherited it exactly is not important but when Adam and Eve sinned we did not fast. This is affirmed in the New Testament in no uncertain terms by Luke in his genealogy, in Paul's exposition of the Gospel in Romans and even Jesus called the marriage of Adam and Eve 'the beginning'.
The New Testament confirms in no uncertain terms original sin, the historicity of the Genesis account and the creation of Adam. These are not isolated texts but a recurring, vital theme in the gospel, we are sinners because when Adam and Eve ate we did not fast. You can no more take Adam figuratively then you can take the second Adam, Jesus Christ figuratively.
Grace and peace,
Mark