“Wherefore, as by one man – sin entered into the world – and death by sin – and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned…”
“For, if by one man’s offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace – and of the gift of righteousness – shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. (18) Therefore, as by the offense of one, judgment came upon all men to condemnation – even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life! (19) For as one man’s disobedience, many were made sinners – so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. (20) Moreover, the law entered that the offense might abound. But, where sin abounded – grace did much more abound: (21) that as sin hath reigned unto death – even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” [Ro.5:12;17-20]
What a wonderful passage of scripture this truly is! Herein is declared – in this fallen-in-sin world – the right now realities of the pure truth of the gospel of the glory, only, of the Lord Jesus Christ! It declares two great spiritual realities that, in fact, contrast one another. There’s a dreaded eternal death being contrasted over against a glorious eternal life. Both of which have become inescapable realities in this fallen world – each brought to pass by one man respectfully.
When it says, “by one man’s offense – death reigned by one” – it’s referring to Adam when he fell into sin in the Garden. His deadly offense made him sinner, as well as, all those who have been conceived as his progeny in this world (both physically and spiritually). Then this scripture declares — to ever so greatly contrast Adam’s fall into failure and deadly ruin – “much more” [which means: to a much greater degree] “they which receive abundance of grace – and of the gift of righteousness – shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ!” Adam – before we were even born – threw us under the bus of reigning sin — and the curse of the absolute perfection demanding law of God. In other words, he threw us all under the dreaded reality of sin and death. But, praise God for His incarnated eternal Son, the Lord Jesus Christ! He is the indisputable Savior of all of the sheepfold – all the friends and family – of God! They are the ones that the text refers to when it says, “they which receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness”. And, it is “they” that “shall reign in life by one Jesus Christ”! What are we to conclude from this? Well, it plainly tells us! On the one hand, we are to conclude that through one man, Adam — God’s condemning judgment came upon all mankind. And, on the other hand, through the righteousness – lit. the one eternally accomplished righteousness – of one man, Christ Jesus – there came upon all who have received His grace, eternal justification of life! Wow! Praise His Most Wonderful Name!
The spiritual principle is explicitly explained from vs.19. It lit. says: “For as by the disobedience of the one man – the many were constituted sinners – so also in this same way – through the obedience of one [Christ Jesus] the many shall be constituted righteous.” Vs.20 then goes on to further gloriously explain: “Moreover – the law entered that the offense might abound.” In other words, the law substantiates the fact that all of mankind (or, all of Adam-kind) are condemned sinners! Nevertheless, scripture goes on to say, “But, where sin abounded – grace did much more (or, grace exceedingly) abounded!” Again, this is true for all those that vs.17 has descriptively declared as having received an abundance of God’s saving grace. All of this to lead us to the pure truth of vs.21: “That as sin hath reigned lit. in death, lit. so also grace might reign through righteousness to life eternal – through Jesus Christ our Lord.” How Wonderful!! Let us praise Him for all that He has done!
For Christ’s Glory Only!
John Carpenter
