In moments of reflection, we often find the threads of history woven intricately across the tapestry of our faith, guiding us to the profound truths nestled in Scripture. The Reformation, a pivotal chapter in this sacred narrative, beckons us through the voices of its stalwart champions. Among them, Lazarus Spengler stands out, his life and works echoing the transformative reverberations of Martin Luther’s clarion call. One such testament to his faith and conviction is the hymn, “All Mankind Fell in Adam’s Fall.”

This hymn is not merely a relic of Reformation fervor; it is a profound theological statement, an echo of the proto-Evangel found in Genesis 3:15. Here, Spengler encapsulates the essence of humanity’s fallen nature and the redemptive power of Christ, the second Adam. As Romans 5:18 eloquently asserts, “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.”

“All mankind fell in Adam’s fall,
One common sin infects them all;
From sire to son the bane descends,
And over all the curse impends.”

Spengler begins with a stark portrayal of our universal plight. This is not a mere historical recount; it is the theological truth that echoes in the core of every soul. We inherit this fallen state, much like children who unknowingly walk in the shadows of their ancestors’ missteps. Here, every breath drawn is under the weight of inherited sin—an existential reality that binds each generation to the curse of woe and death.

“Through all man’s pow’rs corruption creeps
And him in dreadful bondage keeps;
In guilt, he draws his infant breath
And reaps its fruits of woe and death.”

The hymn’s mournful cadence resonates with Ecclesiastes 7:20, “For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.” Corruption seeps into every facet of our existence, chaining us to our transgressions. Even an infant’s innocent breath cannot escape the shadow of this primal curse, harvesting sorrow even before it comprehends joy.

“From hearts depraved, to evil prone,
Flow thoughts and deeds of sin alone;
God’s image lost, the darkened soul
Nor seeks nor finds its heav’nly goal.”

The condition of the human heart, as succinctly described by Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” exudes the gravity of our separation from the divine. The darkened soul, estranged from its heavenly origin, fumbles in the shadows, unable to reclaim the lost image of God.

However, in these depths of despair, Spengler’s hymn shifts, heralding the dawn of redemption through the figure of Christ.

“But Christ, the second Adam, came
To bear our sin and woe and shame,
To be our Life, our Light, our Way,
Our only Hope, our only Stay.”

In this luminous stanza, Christ is portrayed as the antithesis to Adam’s fall. In Him, we find not only a beacon of hope but the very embodiment of life and light. He bears our burdens, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah 53:5, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Christ’s arrival reorients our destiny, paving the way from condemnation to grace.

“As by one man all mankind fell
And, born in sin, was doomed to hell,
So by one Man, who took our place,
We all received the gift of grace.”

Spengler echoes the profound juxtaposition of the first Adam and the second, reinforcing Paul’s declaration in 1 Corinthians 15:22, “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” The hymn steadily builds from the depths of our collective fall to the zenith of grace offered through Christ’s atoning sacrifice.

“We thank Thee, Christ; new life is ours,
New light, new hope, new strength, new pow’rs:
May grace our ev’ry way attend
Until we reach our journey’s end!”

Gratitude fills the final stanza, a reflection of the transformative power of grace in our lives. With renewed strength and resurrected hope, we embark on this divine journey, mindful of Ephesians 2:8, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” Spengler’s words remind us that our pilgrimage is guided by grace, nourishing us until we stand in the presence of our Creator.

Thus, the hymn “All Mankind Fell in Adam’s Fall” becomes more than a song—it is a theological meditation prompting us to reevaluate our fallen state and embrace the redemptive power of Christ. Spengler’s commitment to the tenets of the Reformation, and his courageous stand against the excommunication of the church, underscore a faith that transcends mere doctrine, urging us towards a deeper, more reflective Christianity.

May we, like Spengler, find the courage to stand firm in our faith, drawing upon the eternal truths of Scripture and the transformative power of Christ, the second Adam.

Christmas devotion: The Promise

The LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all the wild beasts and all the living creatures of the field! On your belly you will crawl and dust you will eat all the days of your life. And I will put hostility between you and the woman and between your offspring and her offspring; her offspring will crush your head, and you will attack her offspring’s heel.”

The very first Christmas promise in the Bible is found in the sober description of the consequence of Adam and Eve’s disobedience. The promise is that one day a woman would have a child who would attack the root of our pain, expose the cause of our sin and defeat the enemy of our soul. The first Christmas promise was not wrapped in beautiful bows or heralded by the angels, it was given in response to a dire situation. It was spoken in the context of the devastation that sin brought about.

All the potential of mankind had turned to dirt. The glory of God’s greatest creation was corrupted. The very image of God had been marred. It was in this dirt, this corruption, this ruin that Jesus was promised. It was in the dirt of a manger, under the corruption of the Roman government, in the ruin of an oppressed people that the promise was fulfilled.

Our hope for you today is that you realize that you don’t have to live in the ruin of sin that you can live in the light of God’s promise.