Romans 5:14

Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the likeness of Adam's transgression, who is a figure of him that was to come.

Both Adam and Moses are types of Christ, but here the focus is upon Adam, a figure also developed by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:45-49. Adam was the great progenitor of the human race; Christ is the spiritual head and father of all that are saved. Adam brought shame and death to all mankind; Christ has made possible the salvation of all mankind. Adam's bride, Eve, was taken from his side while a great sleep was upon him. Christ's bride, the church (in a figure) was taken from the side of Christ while the sleep of death was upon our Lord, as evidenced by the blood and water that came forth from the thrust of the Roman soldier's spear. As the Scriptures say:

This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood (1 John 5:6).

Satan seduced and deceived the bride of Adam; and in the long, wretched story of the historical church, it is evident that Paul's fear of the same fate for the bride of Christ was more than justified (2 Corinthians 11:3). It is clear, therefore, that Adam is to be considered as a type of Christ, more in the instance of contrasts than in similarities. Adam's one sin contrasts with Christ's entire life of perfect holiness. Death for all which followed Adam's disobedience contrasts with life for all which followed as the consequence of Christ's obedience.

In this verse Paul took account of the alleged injustice of God in permitting death to fall even upon them that had not sinned as did Adam (infants, for example); and, in keeping with what is construed in this commentary as Paul's great theme of vindicating God's righteousness, the following words of Godet are appropriate:

This imputation of Adam's sin, as the cause of death to every individual man, would be absolutely incomprehensible, and incompatible with the justice of God, if it passed beyond the domain of natural life marked off by the mysterious relation between the individual and the species. The sequel will show that as soon as we rise to the domain of spiritual life, the individual is no longer dependent upon the solidarity of the species, but that he holds his eternal destiny in his own hands.[29]

Thus the great and eternal righteousness of God appears in the fact of the Remedy provided, a remedy in which the reverse consequences of Adam's fall may be received in Christ Jesus, and wherein all who apply it may find everlasting life through him.