Romans 5:12-14
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— 13 (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 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.
Sin began with Adam
Paul goes back to the time when sin entered the world, which then resulted in death coming to all humans. This happened on account of the disobedience of Adam. He says that one man was responsible for sin entering the world and thereby causing all men who were born thereafter, to be born sinful, and to be enslaved to sin as well. As a result, all humans have had to experience the consequence of death as well.
Death came to all
He goes on to say that despite the fact that the law (which made men aware of how sinful they were), was not yet given to man until it was given through Moses, sin already existed inside of us, and as a result, death came upon all people who lived from Adam to Moses. Death affected all people, even though they had not sinned the sin that Adam committed of disobeying a direct command of God. The sinful nature that entered Adam, was passed on to all those who were born after him.
Paul goes on to say that Adam was, in a sense, comparable to Jesus who was to come into the world a long time later. In the verses below, he goes on to make that comparison with Jesus.
Romans 5:15-19
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. 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. 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.) 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. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.
Let’s look at this comparison Paul is making between Adam and Jesus
Comparison # 1
He begins by saying that the free gift of the righteousness of God, is not like the offense committed by Adam. Here’s how – if one man’s offense against God caused many to die, how much more would God’s grace, and the gift of righteousness that came freely by one Man Jesus Christ, be available to many people.
Comparison # 2
The gift of God’s righteousness is not like the consequence which came through the one man, Adam, who sinned. The judgment that was given on account of Adam’s sin was condemnation on all men, but the free gift of God’s righteousness was a result of many sins of men, resulting in Justification - i.e., man being made righteous by God.
Comparison # 3
If by one man’s sin, death ruled the world, much more, those who receive God’s grace and the gift of His righteousness, will rule over sin in life through the One – Jesus Christ.
Comparison # 4
Because of one man’s sin, all men were judged as condemned, so also, through one man’s act of righteousness, the free gift of God’s righteousness is now available to all men, which will result in them being justified (made righteous by God).
Comparison # 5
One man’s disobedience made many sinners, but one man’s obedience can many become righteous.
Romans 5:20-21
20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The Law increased Sin
Until the law arrived, sin wasn’t seen so much as sin in the eyes of people, though it was seen as such by God, but when the Law was given by God to man, it was only then that people began to realise how holy God was and how sinful they were.
Sin increased Grace
But when sin increased in the world, God demonstrated His grace through Jesus all the more, so that just as sin ruled men’s lives, resulting in their death, so also God’s grace is now ruling in the lives of those who’ve been made righteous, resulting in eternal life.
Grace available only through Faith in Jesus
Jesus’ work on the cross was on behalf of the entire world, and though all can benefit from it, it’s only those who put their faith and trust in Jesus who will actually benefit from it. We should not get confused and believe that just as sin and death came on all people because of Adam, God’s Grace and Eternal Life comes upon all people in the world automatically – it’s only available through faith in Jesus’ work on the cross on our behalf.
