Romans 5:12-21

                                                             Romans 5:12-21

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.

But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 There are some theological ideas in this passage that can easily cause questions about the judgment of God.  However, Paul is careful to demonstrate that God is consistent in His judgment of sin and His application of Christ’s righteousness.  The theological truths of this passage are important to grasp and understand as we seek to comprehend the grace of God in our lives and live accordingly.

 

ADAM’S SIN BROUGHT DEATH TO ALL MEN: The first theological truth we need to understand is that all men are condemned in the sin of Adam.  God warned Adam that the consequence of eating the fruit was death.  This consequence was not only experienced by Adam, but by all men.  Generation after generation of men and even infants have died.  This demonstrates the truth that all are condemned in Adam.  Even when there was no law, people were died.  This further proves that we were all in Adam when he sinned and therefor are all condemned by his sin.  Just as Adam is representative in sin, Jesus is our representative in righteousness. 

 

CHRIST’S FREE GIFT OFFERS LIFE TO ALL MEN: The same logic of representation that permits all men to be condemned in Adam allows God to justly provide righteousness to many through the sacrifice of Jesus.  Since all were condemned by one; many can be justified by one.  One sin brought condemnation to the many.  Many sinners are justified by the righteousness of one man.  The free gift of salvation brings about a change in who reigns over us.  We were under the reign of sin but in Christ we are now under the reign of righteousness.

 

JESUS’S RIGHTEOUSNESS IS AVAILABLE TO ALL MEN: Since one sin brought condemnation to all it is only just that one act of complete righteousness justifies and makes life available to all.  The law was given, not as a means of justification, but as a means of demonstrating the depths of our sin so we would recognize the need we have of a Savior.  No matter the amount of sin man accumulates, the grace of God is sufficient to overcome sin and its consequences.  We can have eternal life in Christ Jesus as a result of faith in Jesus.

 

APPLICATION: Recognize the gravity of the truth that all men everywhere are under the condemnation of sin. Be eternally grateful for the gift of righteousness available to us by the death of Christ and His amazing grace. Help others understand their lost condition and the eternal life that is available through faith in Christ.