Romans 5:21

so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.   Romans 5:21 ESV


Verse 21 is a continuation of Paul of verse 20, and parallels verse 20. First we see Paul jumping back to sin and it's power over the lost:

as sin reigned in death

It is so important to recognize the power that sin has over those who are slaves to it. The direct effect of sinfulness is a physical and spiritual death. As long as we are condemned because of our sinfulness, in light of God's holiness, we are subject to death - death rules over us and controls us, we have no power to free ourselves from it. Death will ultimately catch up to us, no matter what. Paul laid out in several other verses this same power that sin has over it's slaves:

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  Romans 5:12

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.  Romans 5:14

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.  Romans 5:17


Since spiritual death, brought on by sinfulness that God cannot tolerate, is the lack of a restored relationship with God, we can also know that, for those who are currently physically alive but in bondage to sin, death is a daily experience - an active, ongoing existence without the perfect peace that comes from knowing God, resulting in a chasing after the wind.

I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.

Ecclesiastes 1:14

Separating us from God, sin also has the power to cloud the minds and hearts of those who are slaves to it, giving sin the power to reign over it's subjects -  so that they are powerless to recognize or even desire their only way to true freedom. Sin does this by appealing to the fleshly lusts and desires of the lost, thus causing the Light and the Way to appear foolish and unwanted:

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  1 Cor. 1:18

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Cor. 2:14

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. John 3:19

For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.  John 3:20

Those verses describe very clearly the power of sin that Paul is talking about, the power to cause spiritual and physical death to the lost, to reign over them by causing them to want the very thing that is killing them and reject the only thing that can save them!


But, Paul then lays out God's answer to our situation:

grace also might reign through righteousness 

Grace, being the unmerited, or unearned, favor of God on someone, has the power to reign - to overcome sin and death! What is the channel, or path, through which this grace destroys sin and death? Righteousness! Only perfect righteousness can overthrow the sinfulness that condemns the lost.

God's act of grace in releasing prisoners from their bondage to sinfulness and death is powered by perfect righteousness!

For those who have been saved, and have entered into a relationship with God, being credited with perfect righteousness by the grace of God, that grace now reigns - and we are now obedient slaves to the grace and righteousness of our holy and perfect God!

But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.  Romans 6:17,18

  

Paul told us in verse 17 who made this perfect righteousness available to a group of lost sinners: 

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.

One man made forgiveness, and perfect righteousness, available to us...Jesus Christ...alone. Paul restates this crucial truth in verse 21:

leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord

The grace and righteousness that lead to eternal life are offered through Jesus Christ...never because of anything we have done and always in spite of all that we have done. We cannot miss this truth:

If we ever think that something we have done, or are doing, has any bearing on our salvation whatsoever, we have sinfully and tragically destroyed the perfect, finished work of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

Romans 5:20

Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more
Romans 5:20 ESV

In Romans 5:1-5, Paul talked about the peace we experience through faith - even in the midst of harsh trials. He encourages us to realize this peace with the truth about God's love for us, and in that light makes a subtle transition in verse 6, explaining how God revealed His love for us through Christ and all that He did.

Verses 8-11 talk about God reconciling us while we were yet His enemies (our choice), in the depths of sinfulness. Paul then expands on the depths of our sinfulness, and the power of our sinfulness to reign over us and condemn us in verses 12-19.

Now, in verse 20, Paul brings up the law - which He has discussed previously in Romans, and touched on briefly in verse 13:

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

In verse 13, Paul tells us that a written law is not needed in order for people to be regarded as sinful. Paul revealed to us in Romans 1:19,20 that God has been visible since creation:

For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

So, what is the purpose of the law? Was the purpose of the law to give people the opportunity to save themselves from their sinfulness? No, as Paul tells us in verse 20 of chapter 3 that no human being will be justified in God's sight by the works of the law. In verse 28 Paul says that we are justified by faith apart from the works of the law.

If, as Paul says, sin and death reigned before the law, and we cannot be justified by the law - is the law something that was put in place for a short while, that we can now make void? Paul answers that question in verses 30 and 31 of chapter 3, telling us that we do not make void the law because we are justified by faith...on the contrary we uphold the law.


So, what is the purpose of the law? Paul tells us in verse 20 of chapter 5:

Now the law came in to increase the trespass

This line very closely parallels the end of verse 20 in chapter 3:

through the law comes knowledge of sin

In Romans 7:7, Paul brings this point to light again, saying:

if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, "You shall not covet."

The law does not make us more sinful, it serves to reveal how sinful we are in light of how perfect God is. God's laws and commands reveal who He is, and at the same time should reveal our inability to live up to God's standards.

As we come to know more about God through His laws and commands, our awareness of our trespasses against Him increases.

We ought to then realize, even more all the time, our desperate need for our Savior who perfectly satisfied the requirements of the law. 

It's interesting how Paul organizes verse 20. In the last several verses, he has laid out first man's condemnation in Adam, and secondly man's justification in Christ. I think it's no accident that this verse starts out with a negative - the trespasses being increased by the law, followed by the positive - God's grace. The law is not about salvation, but about revealing man's condemnation. Paul says chapter 7 verse 1 that the law is binding on those who are living in the flesh.

The law cannot save - rather it serves to reveal all the more the condemnation of those whose justification is not found in Christ.

Paul then reveals God's grace and mercy:

but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more

No matter how sinful we are, God's grace abounds all the more! It is impossible for sinfulness, revealed by the perfect character of God, to overpower God's grace. Paul uses similar wording here as he did in verse 17 when he said much more will God's children reign in life. These words are so powerful, because they mean to a greater degree, exceedingly - and they are inserted as Paul talks about God's grace, after talking about sin and condemnation, so that these two points remain true forever:

1. No matter what we have done - no matter how evil, no matter how dark, no matter how sick - God's grace exceedingly overcomes our sinfulness, to a greater degree. Always.

2. No matter how much sin God reveals to us as His children through sanctification, it is never powerful enough to condemn us. God's grace exceedingly overcomes our sinfulness, to a greater degree. Always.

In the beginning of chapter 7, Paul talks about those who are lost being bound by the law - being condemned in the sinfulness in light of who God is. He then says in verse 6 of chapter 7 that we are now released from the law - as God's children. Even though our sinfulness is continuously revealed the more we know who God is, we are no longer condemned because our justification rests in Christ, who satisfied the requirements of the law for us! We are no longer slaves to sin, but slaves to righteousness (Romans 6:18), set free by God's grace - sin no longer has dominion over us (Romans 6:14). Thank you Father!

Romans 5:12-19 recap

I thought it might be a good idea to go back through the last several verses and look at the different points that Paul made concerning Adam and Jesus Christ.

Sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned
     - our sinfulness is genetic, passed down to us, affecting each and every one of us. Adam was the path through which sinfulness came to affect man, yet he was a perfect representation of what each one of us would have chosen. Death (spiritual and physical) affects all men, because all men are sinners - all men choose to sin, willfully, in accordance with their nature.

Many died through one man's trespass
     - a result one man's single trespass was death for many - meaning all those affected. We know that this is speaking of all that came after Adam. One man's single trespass was enough to be sentenced to death - a physical death when life leaves the body, and a spiritual death - eternal separation from God both now and forever.

The judgment following one trespass brought condemnation
     - God's just judgement for one trespass was condemnation for all who are affected. The judgement of a perfect God means that all who are condemned are condemned justly. This means that each person is accountable, there is no one to blame but ourselves for our willful sinning. 

Because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man
     -  The one man's single trespass allowed death to enter. However, death not only entered, but it now reigns over lost man, as a result of a single trespass. Death controls us, it affects what we do, it affects how we think, and it dictates where we will spend eternity.

One trespass led to condemnation for all men
     - Restating the point of condemnation, the emphasis here is that one single trespass was enough for all men to be condemned. This proves that keeping the law to the best of our ability has no power over the death that reigns over us, one small trespass is enough to be justly condemned.

By the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners
     -  We see here the trespass that caused the fall of man: disobedience. Of all the sins that we are guilty of, the one that caused our separation from God from the very beginning was disobedience - not perfectly obeying God. None of us is able to perfectly obey God, thus we are all as guilty as Adam, we are all sinners.

Paul lays out in detail the great problem that every person who has ever lived has to face: we are in a dire situation. As sinners, death reigns over us, physically and spiritually. We stand perfectly and justly condemned for our sinfulness. This is a situation that cannot be remedied by trying to live a 'better' life. There is only one solution, and Paul reveals it to us:


Much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many
     -  I love how Paul uses the words much more -  meaning surpassing/to a greater degree. Man is lost and sinful - but the grace of God and the free gift of eternal life are effective and powerful - surpassing the power of sin and death, able to save us to a greater degree than sin can bring death!

The free gift following many trespasses brought justification
     - While one trespass against God was all it took for man fall, one free gift is able to overcome many trespasses, and allow us to be judged by a perfect God as justified instead of condemned. Not because of anything we have done whatsoever - our justification rests solely on the free gift, through the perfect sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ!

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
     - Again, though death reigns over us, the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness are able, much more so, to defeat this curse, allowing those who receive to no longer be reigned over by death, but to reign in life. Who made this possible? Not us, only one man, the Son of God Jesus Christ. 

One act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men
     - In our sinfulness, we are guilty of many sins, many trespasses against our God. Yet, it took only one act of pure righteousness to set us free, to allow us to stand justified before our Holy Father. Nothing we do is capable of producing this result, only Christ was/is able. All men who find themselves justified must recognize their freedom rests on the act of One. 

By the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous
     - One man's disobedience led to the fall of man. That one act of disobedience led to acts of disobedience too many to count...millions upon millions upon millions. We inherit the sinfulness, and add to the many acts of disobedience through our willful sinning. How many rights does it take to correct all of these wrongs? Paul gives us the answer - it took one man's obedience, perfect obedience. All who find themselves righteous can be sure that this is not because of their obedience to God, but because of the obedience of the one man Jesus Christ!


Father, thank you so much that we are not left to die in our sinful state as we deserve! Thank You for having mercy on us while we were yet sinners! Thank You for offering the solution to our desire situation, a solution that is effective to a greater degree than the condemnation! Thank You for not leaving us to die, physically and spiritually, but instead offering us the gift of eternal life through Your Son...Thank You! In His Name, Amen.

Romans 5:18,19

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

In verse 18, Paul very closely parallels what he wrote in verse 16.

Verse 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.

Verse 16 emphasized the judgement that is taking/will take place -  condemnation for those who are under the trespass of one man, and justification for those who have received the free gift.


In verse 18, Paul uses the same words condemnation and justification, but with a slightly different angle or emphasis. Here, I believe Paul is really focusing in on how one man affected many through the fall, and how one man in responsible for justification and life of many.


Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men

One trespass by one man led to, or resulted in, the separation of all men from God. This is very important to understand because it shows that our condemnation is not based on our multitude of sins - even though any one of them would be more than enough to separate us from God forever. Our condemnation runs deeper than this -

our condemnation is rooted not in our individual sins but in our sinfulness itself...a sinfulness that we are born with.

 “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” Psalm 51:5

“Even from birth the wicked go astray; from the womb they are wayward, spreading lies.”
Psalm 58:3



so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.

Just like the one trespass leading to condemnation for all men, one act of justification leads to life justification and life for all men.  We must be careful not to take this verse out of context. When Paul talks about 'all men' being condemned, he is saying this:

all men who find themselves condemned can find the origin of their condemnation in the initial trespass of one man.

On a side note: 

The fact that every one of us has willfully sinned proves that, had we been in the garden of Eden, we would have sinned like Adam did - proving that while Adam was the path through which sin and death entered this world (a part of God's sovereign plan), he was a perfect representation of us.

Now, when Paul talks about 'all men' being justified and given life, he is saying this:

all men who find themselves justified can find the origin of their justification and gift of life in the righteous act of one man.

Paul is very clear that we are not justified based on anything that we have done or will do. If we are justified, if we have been given the gift of eternal life - all of that is based solely on the righteous act of Jesus Christ alone. 

We can be sure that salvation is not about addressing individual sins in our lives...salvation (a restored relationship with God) is about our sinfulness that affects our heart and mind being addressed through regeneration. Once regeneration occurs, the individual sins will be addressed.

Therefore, we can also be sure that our ability to be good is not a part of the salvation equation. First of all, we don't have the ability to be good enough, and secondly - Paul laid out for us that our righteousness and eternal life is based on what Jesus Christ has done - not us.

When we start to understand this, we can stop trying to 'be good' and start loving Jesus for what He has done. The more we understand what Jesus accomplished for us through His act of righteousness, the more in love we will fall with Him, the more we will want to serve Him, and the more our lives will reveal God - the purpose of our restoration!


Now, to verse 19:

For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners

This sheds more light on our sinfulness being the problem over our individual sins, which are a product of our sinfulness. One man - Adam - disobeyed God, and because of that, all who came from him were, by nature, sinners.

Keeping in mind the fact that Adam was a perfect representation of us - we have all sinned willfully and would have done the same thing in the garden - look at what Paul wrote in verse 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

Sin originated with Adam, he was the channel through which sin entered God's creation - sin that brought with it physical and spiritual death. Death then spread to all men because all sinned.  If we look at verse 12 and verse 19 together, we see that sin was passed down from Adam, we are all sinful because of the sin that originated with Adam, yet we are all accountable and condemned based on our own sinfulness because we have all sinned.

Bottom line: man is a sinful creature that is in desperate need of regeneration and restoration!

It's also important to see the emphasis in verse 19 that Paul puts on disobedience/obedience. Adam perfectly represented all mankind when he disobeyed God. This one act of disobedience was enough to cause the fall. The only remedy, the only hope that we have is for someone to live out a life of perfect obedience to God. 

so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous

Jesus Christ is the one man who lived a life of perfect obedience, a righteous life. It's very important to note that righteous means equitable deed, statute, or decision. Not only did Jesus do nothing wrong His entire life, He did everything right. This is the definition of righteous - not only abstaining from sin, but making the active, God-glorifying decision in every situation. This is perfect obedience! 

Since Jesus lived a perfectly obedient life, many will be made righteous - meaning all those who will be dressed in righteousness before God can only attribute their righteousness to Jesus Christ alone.

We are unable to obey God to the degree that Jesus did - and therefore are unable to be counted as righteous based on our own actions. Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, has made us righteous by transferring His righteousness - based on His obedience -  to us! 

It's also important to note that Paul says - because of His obedience alone, many are made righteous.  He doesn't say that Christ made it possible for us to become righteous, and all we need to do is quit sinning and live as 'good' as we can. No, Paul says that because of Christ's obedience, many will be made righteous.

The word made in the Greek means to place down (permanently), that is, (figuratively) to designate, constitute, convoy: - appoint, be, conduct, make, ordain, set. This indicates something happening to somebody outside of their ability. Because of Christ's perfect obedience, many will be designated, appointed, ordained as righteous! I believe this reveals a perfectly sovereign God! 

Lord, thank You for Your Word that reveals to us our sinfulness and condemnation, and then Your amazing gift of righteousness and eternal life through Your Son's perfect obedience! I pray that we would every day grasp a little more of who You are, what You have done for us, and how much You love us! Thank You Father - in Your Son's holy name, Amen. 

Romans 5:17

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.  Romans 5:17 ESV

Paul continues in verse 17 to contrast the affects of Adams trespass and Christ's sacrifice.

For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man

Paul has said many times in this passage that death came through Adam. I wanted to take a minute and look a little at the word through. In the Greek, the word through, or by, means the channel of an act. Adam was the channel, or the path, through which sin entered the world. As a result of this path, sin was passed down through Adam to anyone who was born from him - which Paul has been explaining. In this verse, we see that death (a result of sinfulness) has reigned through Adam as well.

The word reigned is Paul's emphasis in verse 17. In the Greek, reigned means to rule, as a king over his kingdom. So often we like to think that, while we are sinful, we have the power to choose right or wrong, to choose good or bad - this allow us to feel better about our situation. However, Paul says that death reigns over us - death is our ruler.

But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed  Romans 6:17

 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.  Romans 6:20

The word slaves is also translated servants, and means:  a slave (literally or figuratively, involuntarily or voluntarily; frequently therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency): - bond (-man), servant.

In our lost state, death is our master, and we are subject to it, we have no power over it. Death reigns over us, and no matter how 'good' we try to be, we ultimately experience both physical and spiritual death leading to the eternal death - complete separation from God, torture for the soul.

It's also important to note that this is all the result of one man's trespass...not many trespasses by that one man, and not many trespasses by many men...one man's single trespass. 

Was it a terrible trespass that was committed? Was someone murdered, did someone commit adultery? Spiritually yes, but from a human perspective, the terrible trespass was disobedience to God - an unacceptable sin in light of God's perfect character, with deadly results.



As Paul has been doing throughout this passage, he moves from the condemnation to the hope:

much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man

He begins this contrast with a phrase he has used previously: much more  much meaning a lot, or in abundance, and more meaning better, to a greater degree. So we can be confident in what Paul says here. While death has the power to reign over us, to be our ruler, in our condemned state - there is something that contains power - in more abundance and to a greater degree - over death and sin.

How do we experience the power over this death that rules over us? By receiving the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness. Any who receive the abundance (meaning surplus, or superabundance in the Greek) of God's never ending grace, and are clothed in His perfect righteousness, will have been released from the chains of bondage that have enslaved us from birth.

If we are released from the power of sin and death that has condemned us from birth, what are we released to? We are released from bondage to freedom, from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light, from eternal death to eternal life!

Death is the absence of life, and through Adam, sin and death entered the world - meaning that we were separated from true, eternal life. Now, Paul is telling us that, by receiving God's never ending, free gift of grace and righteousness, we can be re-united with eternal life - that being a personal relationship with an all loving, all powerful, eternal God!

We must also notice that, while once death reigned over us, those who receive the free gift will reign in life! God's children are no longer slaves to sin, but slaves to righteousness. We are no longer ruled by death, but we are co-heirs with Christ, who has conquered death and rules over it.

having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.  Romans 6:18

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.  Romans 8:16,17

Being adopted into God's family, we now reign in life - no longer condemned by anything but sustained by the power of God's grace and counted as righteous by His free gift!

Paul told us that through Adam (he was the path or channel through which) death and sinfulness entered the world. Now, this amazing truth: through the one man we are able to now reign in life - the one man being Jesus Christ. This is a comparison Paul makes between Adam and Christ. While the results of their actions were very different, it was through one man that death entered, and through another man that life is now offered.

We can never move away from the fact that it is through Jesus Christ, God's Son, that eternal life through reconciliation with God is made possible. Jesus Christ is our Savior because He is the path, or channel, through which we can experience the free gift - He is the only way. As Paul said, through one man, has the abundance of God's grace, the free gift of righteousness, and the possibility of reigning with Christ in life, been made possible!



Being ruled over and subject to eternal death, or reigning with Christ in eternal life - Paul has laid out the two options - there is no middle ground. Where do you stand? Have you accepted Christ and been adopted as His co-heir, or do you remain a slave to evil one?

Romans 5:16

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.  Romans 5:16 ESV

Keep in mind Paul told us in verse 14 that Adam was a type of the one to come - Jesus Christ - and is working his way toward explaining that comparison. In verse 15, Paul alluded to the fact that both Adam and Christ affected many people - however the bulk of Paul's point so far has been that though Adam was a 'type' or 'imitation' of Jesus Christ who was to come, the results of their acts on those affected were polar opposites.

In verse 15: But the free gift is not like the trespass. Paul goes on to say that the result of one trespass is death, and the result of the free gift is eternal life, by God's grace.

Paul starts verse 16 in a similar way:
And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin - 
It seems that Paul is almost repeating himself here, but I think that he is shifting his point slightly. In verse 15, Paul was talking about the power of the trespass to condemn all of those affected - which is all of humanity - (if we go back to verse 12), and the greater power of the free gift, given by the grace of God, to destroy the condemnation of the trespass.

Now, Paul focuses a little more on the different affects of the two acts (trespass and free gift) in the context of judgement, viewed in terms of legality.  


For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation

There are two very important points Paul makes here. 
1. condemnation is the result of God's judgement, which we know is always perfectly just
2. this condemnation was the result of 1 initial trespass, which we know gave birth to many trespasses

condemnation: (Greek) -  an adverse sentence (the verdict) - comes from the Greek word that means to judge against, to condemn or damn
     - I think we could take from this that Paul is saying anyone under the condemnation of even one trespass against our perfect and holy God will be ruled against, given an adverse sentence - or to put it bluntly will be damned - when they stand before Him. I would argue that this condemnation is experienced to a certain degree even in this physical life by all who are not walking in a relationship with Him here and now.



but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification.

In contrast to the one trespass that brought condemnation, the free gift follows many trespasses.

Paul explains the opposite affect that the free gift has on all of those who receive it: justification.

justification: (Greek) - an equitable deed; by implication a statute or decision: - judgment, justification, ordinance, righteousness - comes from the Greek word that means just, innocent, or free.
      -  I think it's interesting that this word has to do with judgement as well, but from a different perspective, one that gives way to rejoicing and praise to the One who has made this justification possible!


We see the legal terms judged, condemnation, and justification here. We know that God is perfectly righteous, which means He cannot rule against what is right. God cannot justify one who is guilty, nor can He condemn one who is innocent.

I would add that the reason God cannot justify the guilty or condemn the innocent is not because He is held to some legal order, or law, that is above Him. God rules justly based on His own character which is the essence of perfect righteousness. In sovereignty, God always acts in accordance with who He is.

It's so important that we understand the perfect righteousness of God's judgement - it is always right in every way. In this verse, Paul is saying that, because of the sin of Adam passed down to all men, the judgement will be condemnation. The sinfulness that we are all guilty of cannot be overlooked...no sin can be overlooked. We are condemned before a perfect God, according to His righteous judgement.

However, there is hope, because Paul also speaks of justification...some people will, according to God's righteous judgement, be determined to be justified, set free. In order for God to maintain His perfect standards, this has to mean that He has not overlooked their sin, but that every single sin of these people has been 100% paid for. How does this happen? The free gift - Christ's sacrifice that is utterly sufficient to pay for every sin we have, and ever will commit!

Thank You Father, for providing the free gift, that we might have hope of knowing what it means to be justified, to be found innocent in spite of all that we have done. Thank You Jesus for being willing to take on our sin, that we might be completely forgiven...please reveal the darkness of our sin to us, that we might appreciate more every day what we have been saved out of and and saved into. 

Romans 5:15

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.
Romans 5:15 ESV

I want to keep in mind this line from the previous verse:
who was a type of the one who was to come.
Paul is now going to explain how Adam was a type of the one who was to come, that being Jesus Christ.


But the free gift is not like the trespass

He starts by immediately showing that, while Adam was a type of the one to come, the result of what the two (Adam and Jesus) did was different. So, what two things is Paul comparing in order to reveal contrast here?

a free gift: we know Paul is talking about eternal life when he speaks of the free gift available through Jesus Christ.

the trespass: here, Paul is specifically talking about the initial sin in the garden. We can, however, apply this to our lives and realize that any affects that stem from this initial trespass are also the result of our many trespasses. What sin took place in the garden that resulted in the fall of man? Was eating fruit a sin, or was it the fact that God's command was ignored? Eating fruit wasn't the issue, disobeying God was the terrible trespass - so we can be sure that any and all disobedience to God on our part, on any level, has the same result as Adam's initial trespass - separation from God.

We hear these commands and, on the surface, they seem easy enough to obey:
"You shall not murder" Exodus 20:13
"You shall not commit adultery" Exodus 20:14
"You shall not steal" Exodus 20:15

But what about commands like these:
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  Philippians 4:6
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds  James 1:2

These commands are much, much more difficult, if not seemingly impossible, to obey perfectly - yet our disobedience to these commands are the trespasses that hinder our relationship with God.



For if many died through one man's trespass

Paul now explains how, though Adam was a type of the one to come, the trespass and the free gift are very different. Through this explanation, we get more information about the ugliness of the trespass and the beauty of the free gift.

Paul reinforces what he stated in verse 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 -
This trespass of Adam spread to all men, and affected the relationship of all men with God. We are all accountable because we have all sinned, and so overwhelming is the curse of this sin that we are powerless against it. We are are born into it (spiritual death) and it always finds us (physical death).



much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.

Paul is saying here - if the trespass was powerful enough to separate all men from God, how much more powerful is the free gift to break those chains of condemnation and separation. Paul explains some of the characteristics of this free gift, eternal life, that reveal it's absolute beauty:

It is free (we cannot earn it or pay for it - nor are we expected to try), it is by grace (God's unmerited favor and not of us), and it is through our Lord Jesus Christ (it has nothing to do with our limited abilities but everything to do with His limitlessness and perfection)! 

How can we not respond in awe of this amazing Truth!

Let's look at the power of this free gift of eternal life - this eternal life that can release us from the condemnation of the spiritual death -
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.  Col. 1:13,14

We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 1 John 3:14

Eternal life does not eliminate physical death, but has the power to remove its sting -
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell.  I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.  Philippians 1:21-23

This free gift of eternal life, with all of its power, is not something we are waiting for - something that will be presented to us on the last day. It is available now, empowering the saints as we press forward, as God reveals Himself continuously through us. Eternal life begins the moment the soul is transferred from death to life, the moment our relationship with God begins. On the last day, those who have eternal life will rejoice as they are raised up!

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.  John 3:36

but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."  John 4:14

For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day." John 6:40

 And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, 

and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. John 17:3