The following is the fourteenth week’s lesson. For a brief interlude, we considered the Christian life according to St. Paul in Romans chapters 6-8. Luther famously coined the phrase simul justus et peccator to describe our life as the Baptized. We are “simultaneously justified and sinner.” This will set the conversation as we move into the chapter 6 and following. Apologies for the audio quality. It should improve in the future.

Here is a brief definition:

“Simultaneously” is a crucial word in Christian theology; it describes life and reality in “the time between”—between Jesus’ first and second coming; the time after the announcement that “the kingdom of God is at hand” (Mark 1:15) and yet the time during which we pray “thy kingdom come” (Matthew 6:10); the time after Jesus’ bodily resurrection yet before our bodily resurrection; the time after God’s judgment against sin on the cross and yet the time when we confess that Christ “will come again to judge the living and the dead.” “Simultaneously” points to this time between the times—the co-existence of two “times” at the same time: the old age and the new creation are both present realities. This means that the Christian lives in two times: in themselves, they remain the old Adam in the old age; in Christ, they share the status of the second Adam (Jesus) in the age to come. Simul iustus et peccator is a way of identifying this double existence. It means, literally, “simultaneously just and sinner.” The point is not that everyone’s a little of each—that the line between good and evil runs through all people as the saying has it. “Just” and “sinner” are total rather than partial realities. The Christian, in him or herself, is totally a sinner while at the same time being, in Christ, totally righteous before God. In other words, Christians are fully human—real people with real problems and real pain. But Christians, at the same time they’re sinners, are fully and savingly loved (Rom 5:6-10).

 

The following is the thirteenth week’s lesson. Adam was a type of Christ. His sin is credited against all people in the same way that Jesus’ holiness is credited to all people.

Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—^13 (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. ^14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. ^15 But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. ^16 And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. ^17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. ^18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. ^19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. ^20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, ^21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.