Romans 5:12–21
Summary:
As sin and death came by Adam;
so much more righteousness and life by Jesus Christ.
Where sin abounded, grace did superabound.
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
5:13. (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
5:14. 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.
5:15. 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.
5:16. 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.
5:17. 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.)
5:18. 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.
5:19. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.
5:20. Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more,
5:21. so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Comments:
Here’s another recap of the depth of sin, and the gift of grace.
Some basics: From the first man, he sinned. Sin can only lead to death. We all inherit that sinful nature. Death was the reigning factor from Adam to Moses. The law defines what sin is. There were prophecies of a new world order.
There is a new, free gift to come, but it is different from the old burden of sin. A similarity is that through one man, many were led to death, and that by the free gift of grace, introduced by one man, many would recieve life.
All it takes is a look back at history to see all the inhumanity done to others. In the course of history there is one sure thing, everybody is dead, and those of us now living will eventually be there too. As much as that fact is evident, the new life that has been made available will not only be as abundant, but even more so. The evidence we have that sin is in control is the dath of everybody. The evidence we have of this new grace is right living that leads to an eternal life. Jesus is the door that we go through to enjoy that life.