This is a good question, one that most, if not all, human beings have entertained at one time in their life. Sadly, many people don’t turn to the only Source to find the answer, for the Bible alone tells us “why humans have to die.” Let’s look at three passages from the NKJV for the answer.

*Genesis 2:15-17 says, “Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for IN THE DAY THAT YOU EAT OF IT YOU SHALL SURE DIE.’”

*Genesis 3:6 reads, “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and HE ATE.”

*Romans 5:12 declares, “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and DEATH THROUGH SIN, and thus DEATH SPREAD TO ALL MEN, because all sinned.”

There you have it, dear friend. Death began in the Garden of Eden with “one man” (Adam) and it “spread to all men.” What we need to see (and believe) is that when Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden he was acting as the REPRESENTATIVE or FEDERAL HEAD of the whole human race. This means that every one of us is looked upon as having sinned in Adam’s one act of sin. People often ask, “Why do babies die when they have never sinned?” The answer is found in what we just saw, for even babies are seen as having sinned when Adam sinned, for all are identified with him.

You might be thinking, “That’s not fair! I wasn’t even there when it happened.” Yet this principle of “one acting for others” is still with us today. Those of us who live in the United States have a President who is our “federal head” and he sometimes “acts for all of us.” For example, if he signs a bill into law “he is acting for all the citizens of the United States.” You may not like the bill, but it affects you no matter what you think.

Are you ready for some good news? If so, let’s read on in Romans 5 where we see “another Man acting for others.” Listen to these wonderful words, “For if by 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. 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 man offenses resulted in justification. For if by 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. Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so THROUGH ONE MAN’S RIGHTEOUSS ACT THE FREE GIFT CAME TO ALL MEN, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also BY ONE MAN’S OBEDIENCE MANY WILL BE MADE RIGHTEOUS” (verses 15-19).

I’ll let my reader meditate on those verses. You will see the marked CONTRAST between Adam and Jesus Christ, for you will see that “one man brought death, condemnation and judgment to all” but “One brought life, justification and righteousness to all who will receive His gift.” The only thing that is SIMILAR is that in both cases “one acted for others.” Have you seen, by faith, that Jesus Christ “acted for you” when He took your place in death and judgment on the cross of Calvary? (300.3) (DO)