Romans 5:12-21 Part 2

Romans 5:12-21 Part Two

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.

We see here in verse 15-17, Paul regressing a little in his statements so that he can go a little deeper in to the explanation of how much greater Christ’s work on the cross is over that of the sin and death that was brought through the sin of Adam. He wants to make sure that we are fully aware of this fact. He doesn’t want us in any way to miss the importance of Christ and His work on the cross as being the primary focus here.

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.

It took one human person Adam to bring sin and death in to this world for all people by one sin. Just one person to mess everything up for everybody because of one sin.

It then took by Gods grace the gift of His Son to make payment for this death and sin for all those who would have faith in Christ by His work on the cross. Not payment for one sin but payment for thousands upon thousands of sins over thousands of years.

But that wasn’t all it did, it did so much more, it also reestablished our relationship with God, it brought us peace, it brought us hope in the future, it brought us eternal life and so much more.

How much greater then is the work of Christ than the death that Adam brought us?

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.

Condemnation - For all humanity

Justification – For all those who would believe in Jesus Christ

A Gift – What is a gift? Is a gift something you have to buy or pay for? Is a gift something that you have to do some sort of work for? If you have to do either of theses then it is not much of a gift is it.

A gift is something that is given to you without anything given in return. It is given to you freely. We do not have to do anything for it.

So what is the gift? The gift is our righteousness given to us by the work of Christ on the cross.