“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—…Nevertheless, 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 is a pattern of the one to come.

“But 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! Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For 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!”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭12‬, ‭14‬-‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Paul continues his theme of God’s righteousness by contrasting what Adam’s sin did with what God’s grace through Jesus does…the first and the last Adam. 

“So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭45‬ ‭NIV‬‬

God breathed His Spirit into the first Adam…a clay mould of Himself…and Adam became a living person but… he fell into sin…and his sin was passed on to the entire human race. 

Jesus came to earth in the form of a human baby, in the image of the first Adam, sinless, but able to sin. He never sinned. He died as a sinner… and rose from the dead.  He has passed on to everyone who receives, by faith, the gift of His righteousness, the fullness of His life that never ends. 

Two Adams…Adam and Jesus.  Two outcomes…sin and righteousness.

Two ways…law and grace. 

Two destinies…death and life. 

These are not two opposites. They can never be because what grace did for sinners goes far beyond what sin did to people. 

Death is the inevitable result of sin. Sin is what humans do because they are sinners. God can never live with sin. Since humans are all sinners, they are forever cut off from God but…God made people for fellowship with Himself. We can do nothing by ourselves to bridge the gap, but God did something out of Himself that only He could do…He showed mercy. 

So, wrote Paul…

Adam’s sin brought death to all…Grace brings life. 

“But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Adam’s sin brought condemnation   on the many…God’s grace brings forgiveness and righteousness to many. 

“And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

And…through Adam, death rules over all. Through Jesus, all who receive God’s grace live victoriously over sin and death. 

“For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬ NLT

Although Adam’s one sin brought devastation to the whole human race, God’s grace brought forgiveness, reconciliation, restoration, and new life to all who receive Jesus by faith. Jesus overcame death, cancelled the debt of sin, broke sin’s power over us, and gave us His righteousness and His life in union with Him. There is nothing more He needs to do to complete what He has completed. 

To be continued