Romans 5:12-21 Part Three
12Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned— 13for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. 14Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.
15But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
18Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. 19For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
20The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Let’s look first at two of theses verses 18 & 19
18Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men.
19For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
All, many, which one is it? There are some that follow the theology that everyone goes to heaven, or that Christ died for everyone’s sins. And yet others would say that only some will go to heaven or that Christ only died for those who would have faith in Him. So I think it is important to take a look at what God says about this.
18Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men.
19For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners.
We have been declared sinners from birth. We know this because sin brings death God tells us and we know everyone dies both young and old.
18The result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men.
19The obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
The gift of righteousness (Christ’s work on the cross for sins) is given (by grace) freely to those who have faith in Christ. Not to those who do not have faith.
Christ’s work on the cross covered sin for all those who have and will have faith in Him. Christ’s work on the cross can only be for all those who have or will come to Christ in Faith, and it cannot be for all people or everyone would be saved. Also salvation is not something you loose once gained. Christ tells us that no one can take you from Him once His Father has given you to Him.
Being Justified means to be made in right standing before God. Only believers are given this by the righteousness of Christ and His payment for the sins of those God called.
John 17:8-10 - 8For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.
9I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them.
So when we see words like all when it comes to salvation God is telling us that it is all those who will come to faith.
Remember the Bible does not contradict itself. God is perfect. If it appears that way it is that we just have not completely understood it yet. Maybe we never will. That’s ok also. We are not to question Gods way of doing things. God tells us, who is the clay to tell the potter what to make of it. We are just the clay, and God is for sure God.
Romans 5:20The law was added so that the trespass might increase.
Remember why the Law was given. It was not to bring condemnation upon us. We already had been condemned by Adams sin that had been imputed to us.
Romans 3:20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.
The law was established to make us conscious of sin. To make us aware of sin. Aware of our sin. This way we could more clearly see that we are sinners and that Christ is the only way to righteousness and salvation.
How does the law make us conscious of sin?
1) The law defines sin for us – It gives us something that we can read and then asses our lives by it.
2) The law reveals sins nature – The true nature of sin is that it is rebellion against God.
3) The law exposes sins power – It shows us no matter how hard we try that at times that sin has a firm grip on us.
4) The law unveils sin’s deceit – Until we are directly exposed to Gods law we excuse sin or deny it.
Martyn Loyd-Jones said this:
One of the greatest troubles in the church today, as well as in the world, is that people do not have a knowledge of sin as they should have. Sin is regarded very lightly and loosely….People are prepared to admit that they need a little help, and that they are weak in this or that respect; but the Scripture teaches the depth and the foulness, and the exceeding sinfulness of sin. Our fathers, our grandfathers, and especially those who preceded them, knew all about this, and it was in such times that great spiritual revivals occurred.
It is when men and woman realize the depth of their iniquity and sin that is in them that they begin to cry out to God. But if people have no real knowledge of sin, if the are lacking in the knowledge of sin which is given only by the law, then they will be content with a superficial evangelism.
Content with superficial evangelism – Unless we truly understand sin, and understand our sin, and put it in priority to deal with it, we can not truly do Gods work by preaching the gospel in an effective way. We must understand the damage our sin causes in our relationship with God and deal with it.
Exodus 20:1-17 - The Ten Commandments – Gods Law
1 And God spoke all these words:
2 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
3 "You shall have no other gods before me.
4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7 "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
8 "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
12 "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
13 "You shall not murder.
14 "You shall not commit adultery.
15 "You shall not steal.
16 "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
17 "You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."
All of these commandments from God still apply to us today. Christ also restated these in Mathew 22:37-39 by simplifying them a little, He said, 37"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: ’Love your neighbor as yourself.”
That is how simple it is. Love your God and Love others.
