Romans 5:12-21

This weeks section has been rightfully defined as one of the hardest sections in the book of Romans to grasp, fully-understand and explain. The ideas are fundamental, but the wording and how the message is poured out to us can be hard to comprehend in one fell swoop. We will do our best to break this down, apply them and grow in our understanding of the scriptures.

¹² 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— ¹³ for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. ¹⁴ 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.

¹⁵ 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. ¹⁶ 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. ¹⁷ 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.

¹⁸ Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. ¹⁹ 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. ²⁰ Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, ²¹ so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. – Romans 5:12-21

Just as sin came into the world…

It was through Adam that sin entered the world. When Adam sinned, he immediately died spiritually, his relationship with God was broken. He also began dying physically, his body began the process of growing old and dying. From that point on, every person born has inherited Adam’s sin nature and suffered the same consequences of spiritual and physical death.

Sin was in the world before the law…

Can you share an example where your conscious let you know something is not appropriate, but the actions didn’t break any worldly laws?

Sin is not counted where there is no law…

This section is describing the behavior of the people, much like what we described above. Have you ever noticed that we have really strange warnings and laws in our American government? Here are just a few to give you a chuckle:

“Do not allow children to play in the dishwasher.”

A label on a baby stroller warns: “Remove child before folding”

A brass fishing lure with a three-pronged hook on the end warns: “Harmful if swallowed”

A household iron warns users: “Never iron clothes while they are being worn”

A cardboard car sunshield that keeps sun off the dashboard warns, “Do not drive with sunshield in place”

These are funny, but why do we think that someone spent the time and energy to warn people of such things? Most likely because some one has not used common sense and actually complained about a bad consequence experienced.

Can you share of a time when your own common sense has let you down and you just laugh at yourself and jokingly state, “I didn’t know”?

Free gift not like the trespass

By studying something directly we can learn about it. To really get the specifics on something you compare it. That is exactly what Paul does next. He compares Adam and Jesus. There are so many ties between the two scripturally that we tend to just take it for granted.

¹⁵ 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. ¹⁶ 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. ¹⁷ 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. ¹⁸ Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. ¹⁹ 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. – Romans 5:15-19

⁵⁴When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” ⁵⁵ “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” ⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. – 1 Corinthians 15:54-57

²¹For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. – 2 Corinthians 5:21

The result of Adam’s sin makes everyone guilty. The result of Christ’s righteous act is that everyone can become righteous. God offers righteousness to everyone who will invite him into their lives. Many people became sinners because Adam did not obey God. Many people became friends with God because Christ obeyed him.

Grace, even more

²⁰ Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, ²¹ so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. – Romans 5:20-21

As we close chapter 5, a table is provided to give us an illustration of the vast differences of Adam compared to Jesus. We know we are born into Adam’s linage, but when we accept Jesus Christ as our savior, we become adopted into God’s family. We get his inheritance.

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