When we examine Rom. 5: 12 - 8: 39, it is evident that we are pursuing a very

different phase of truth from that which occupies Rom. 1: - 5: 11. In the opening section

the words "faith" and "believe" occur 35 times, whereas there is but one reference to

them in the whole inner section 5: 12 - 8: 39, and that in quite a different sense from

the doctrinal use in 1:-4: "We believe that we shall live with Him" (Rom. 6: 8). This is

because we are dealing, not with faith, but with headship, representation, and

identification. Adam's sin and death cover me with all their hopeless misery, whether I

"believe" it or not, and Christ is the new Head of all the true seed, quite irrespective of

their faith. Faith lays hold of added blessings; it has to do with sins committed, not the

one sin of Adam, and with reigning in life. But of all this we shall see more presently.

Some find a place of blessing in the millennial kingdom, corresponding to those who

"reign in life". Some are not raised from the dead until the thousand years are finished,

yet it is evident from Rev. 20: that some of these have their names in the book of life,

even though they have missed the reign.  Personal overcoming is connected with

reigning, whether in Rev. 20: or in Rom. 6:-8:, and we need to distinguish things

that differ if we are fully to understand the great work of the Lord.

Let us not allow doctrine belonging to other aspects of our need to intrude into

Rom. 5: There we are prepared to learn the truth concerning the "one man", whether of

Adam, and his legacy of sin and death, or of Christ, and His blessed legacy of

righteousness and life. Let us be glad and rejoice that "because of this,"--the great

principle of reconciliation--God shut up all the seed in Adam's guilt that He might just

as surely shut them all up in Christ's righteousness.