Dial Daily Bread

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread":

Someone writes asking that we make clear what Young’s LITERAL
TRANSLATION of Romans 5:15-19 means, especially his use of the word
“constitutes.” It’s in verses 18, 19, instead of the word
“made” as in the King James Version. Here’s what Young renders Paul as saying:
“So, then, as through one offense to all men it is to condemnation, so also
through one declaration of ‘Righteous’ it is to all men to
justification of life; for as through the disobedience of the one man
[Adam], the many [all men] were CONSTITUTED sinners: so also through
the obedience of the One [Christ], shall the many [the same all men] be

CONSTITUTED righteous” (Young’s LITERAL, vss 18, 19).

The sin of Adam did not MAKE “all men” to be actual sinners--that
would be “original sin.” Adam’s fatherhood has not forced anyone to
sin! (It could be that the KJV rendering as “made” has led some to think the
Bible does teach original sin; but Young’s “Literal” makes clear
that we still have freedom of choice. Thank God!)

But it is true that “all have sinned” (Rom. 3:10), except Christ.
But He took upon Himself the DNA descent from Adam, yet He proves that
inheriting a sinful nature does not force one necessarily to be a
sinner in character. Christ was tempted like as we are tempted, but He
said “No!” to every temptation (Heb. 4:15; Titus 2:11, NIV).
Adam’s sin CONSTITUTED “all men” under the legal condemnation of sin. Jesus
“took” it upon Himself, so He could die.

Likewise, according to Young’s “Literal,” the cross of Christ did
not MAKE the same “all men” to be experientially “righteous.” It
CONSTITUTED them “righteous” in a legal sense so the Father could
send His rain on the just and the unjust alike--so He could treat every
person as though he had not sinned. Some call this a “second
probation.” But God means what He says: no one can keep you out of
heaven, except your own perverse choice.

Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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