In Romans 5:12 – 21 Paul contrasts the impacts of the actions of Adam and of Christ.
The results of Adam’s action in Genesis 3 have been passed on to everyone, because we are all descended from the one man, Adam. Through the one man, Adam:
Sin entered the world, and death through that sin – Romans 5:12.
Death came to all men – Romans 5:12 (see also 1Corinthians 15:21,22).
Death reigned – Romans 5:14, 17.
Many died because of the trespass of the one man – Romans 5:15.
Judgement followed the one sin and brought condemnation – Romans 5:16, 18.
Many were made sinners – Romans 5:19.
Sin reigned in death – Romans 5:21.
For all who have received Jesus Christ, all that he accomplished through his sin-bearing death has been credited to them, so that through the one man, Jesus Christ:
God’s grace, and the gift that came by the grace of Christ, overflows – Romans 5:15.
The gift brought justification – Romans 5:16.
Those who receive God’s abundant grace and the gift of righteousness, reign in life – Romans 5:17.
Justification that brings life – Romans 5:18.
Many made righteous – Romans 5:19.
Grace increased, even more than sin, so that grace reigns through righteousness to bring eternal life – Romans 5:20, 21.
Both of these contrasting lists are focused on our standing in the presence of the holy God who is the Judge of all the earth and to whom all are legally accountable. Paul takes us right back to Genesis 3, where sin, guilt, condemnation, and death (separation from God) began. The introduction of Law (with Moses, in Exodus 20) was never intended to fix the problem, but rather to identify the problem by clarifying what sin was, and thereby increasing human awareness of their sinfulness, guilt and condemnation (see Romans 3:19, 20; 7:7 – 11).
Left to ourselves, without God’s gift, without God’s grace, without Christ, we all stand in the same place as Adam – with our sin and guilt separating us from God and from life. But God has not left us to ourselves: he sent Jesus Christ to redeem us from this otherwise inescapable position. United to Christ by faith, recipients of his gift, recipients of his abounding grace, we stand in God’s presence set free forever from the burden of our sin and our guilt. Grace, not the law of sin and death, reigns, and we reign in life in the presence of God. Grace, not our sin and guilt, is the definitive thing. God’s grace, not our great guilt, determines our acquittal and acceptance by him.
To live unsure of our on-going salvation is to believe that our sin, not God’s grace, reigns – to believe that it is our sin that is the deciding factor in our continuing relationship with God. It is the mindset of death, and it puts death and condemnation back on the throne.
Notice how Paul assures us, encouraging us to be utterly confident: if one man’s sin caused death, how much more did God’s grace and God’s gift overflow (verse 15); if one man’s sin can cause death to reign, how much more will those who receive God’s grace and abundant provision reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ (verse 17). And, even though sin increased, grace increased all the more (verse 20).
Our sin will never surpass God’s grace; our sin will never undo God’s gift. The salvation that God gives us in and through Jesus Christ our Lord will always outdo and outlast the impact of sin.
© Rosemary Bardsley 2025