Death from One to All, Life to All through One

Props: strand of light bulbs (the old-fashioned kind where if one goes out and they all go out) 

 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned—

Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men.  For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.  

Romans 5:12, 18-19 (NIV)      

            This is such a beautiful strand of lights.  It’s connected to the power source and all the bulbs are brightly shining.  It reminds me of God’s plan for people.  He planned to create us to live connected to Him and shining in His light.  But look at what happens when I remove this one bulb.  (Remove first bulb).  It became disconnected and so every light on the strand went out. 

When God created Adam, he was perfect and without sin.  But the moment he sinned, that sin was brought into the world.  And everyone after him was born into sin.  Even you and I were born into sin, meaning we weren’t perfect even when we were little babies.  Adam’s sin brought sin to us all, and sin brings death and separation from God.  It’s like all the bulbs in this strand going out because this one bulb was disconnected. 

This strand of light bulbs needs a new bulb so all the bulbs can be connected again.  It needs a bulb that’s not burned out, a perfect bulb.  In the same way, we needed some way to be connected to God again.  We needed someone without sin to take our punishment.  But if everyone has sinned and is separated from God, how could we ever be connected to Him again?  That’s where Jesus came in.  He was the perfect One who gave His life for us, to pay for our sins.  (Place new bulb into the empty socket).  This new bulb re-connected all the others to the power source.  Now they are all doing what they were created to do: shine.  Jesus, through His death and resurrection, re-connected us with God so we could do what we were created to do: love and serve Him. 

We’re alive because Jesus is alive!  His death and resurrection gives us life.