Following his words on God’s love, Paul goes into greater detail about how the death of one Man, Jesus Christ, could possibly result in the salvation of many. In essence, Paul contrasts the sin of Adam, which brought death, with the work of Jesus Christ on the cross, which brings life. Paul writes, “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned…” (5:12). Although Adam and Eve were created perfect, the possibility to sin was present. I’m not sure I have all the answers as to why God would allow that possibility, but I think He did not want Adam and Eve to love Him based on His control, but based on their own choice. Scripture is very clear that when Adam chose to live independently of God and sinned, the entire human race inherited his sinful nature also sentencing them to death. When God speaks of the punishment for sin being death, He has three aspects in mind: physical death (the body dies), spiritual death (separation from God), and eternal death (eternity in the lake of fire). So through Adam’s sin, death is certain for all human beings.
Even though there was no specific law from Adam to Moses, all people were still subject to death because they had inherited this sinful nature from Adam (5:13-14); however, Paul begins to reveal the flip side of this whole teaching. “For if by the one man’s [Adam'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” (5:15). Paul was revealing to his readers that Adam’s sin brought death to all, but the grace of God through Jesus Christ would provide the righteousness needed by many. Adam’s sin resulted in condemnation, but God’s free gift (sending Jesus to die for sin) resulted in justification (being declared righteous). In the next few verses Paul repeats this fact over and over using different words:
” 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.) 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. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous” (5:17-19).
Dear God, I realize I am under condemnation because I am a sinner, but I thank You for sending Jesus Christ to provide the righteousness I needed in order to be saved from sin and death.
