Romans 5:15-21:"Grace Abounds Over Sin"

In this section we will see Paul contrast the one sin in Adam that spread to all mankind, and Christ's one work on the cross that justifies all who believes. In the last section Paul explained how the one act of Adam led to universal sin. He quickly contrasts this one time act, and explains how the one time act of Christ is far more powerful. He begins the section by stating, "But the free gift is not like the transgression." He then explains that one of the differences between the two acts is the effectiveness. "For if by the transgression of the on the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many." We see that the transgression, or sin, of Adam caused death to enter the world and affect all man. It was not the specific sin that Adam and Eve committed, but rather, any sin that would have been committed would have led to the same result. Sin is missing the mark. Anything that was less than God's standard would have resulted in the same outcome. He then lifts up the work of Christ to show its far superior effect over mankind. For all who believe in Christ they receive the "gift of the one Man, Jesus Christ." This gift is superior in not only restoring believer's to their original state but clothing them in the very righteousness of God. MacArthur explains, "The gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, did more than simply provide the way for fallen mankind to be restored to the state of Adam's original innocence. Jesus Christ not only reversed the curse of death by forgiving and cleansing from sin but provided the way for redeemed men to share in the full righteousness and glory of God." John Calvin said, "Christ is much more powerful to save, than Adam was to destroy." Death can be reversed, but the righteousness of Christ can never be reversed.

Paul continues the contrast between the two and explains that God's grace extends further than Adam's sin. "And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned, for on the one hand the judgment arose form one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification." John Murray helps us understand by stating, "The one trespass demanded nothing less than condemnation of all. But the free gift unto justification is of such a character that it must take the many trespasses into its reckoning; it could not be the free gift of justification unless it blotted out the many trespasses. Consequently, the free gift is conditioned as to its nature and effect by the many trespasses just as the judgment was conditioned as to its nature and effect by the on trespass alone." It could be thought of in terms of the difference between how quickly and easily we can make a mess in our rooms, and how long that mess takes to then clean up. There is a huge difference in the extent of the two.

Paul will now explain that the outcome of the two acts are in opposition. "For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ." With sin comes the awful reign of death, but with the gift of Christ and the outpouring of His grace we are able to receive eternal life. Adam's sin resulted in something that was not desired by him. It was clearly not in Adam's mind to cause death to come to himself and the rest of mankind through his act, however, this was the outcome. Christ clearly had us and our sin in mind when he put himself on the cross. MacArthur writes, "The divine intent of Jesus' sacrifice of Himself on the cross was that those who receive the abundance of that unmatched act of grace and of the gift of righteousness would reign in life through the One who died for them..."

We now will see the contrast of the two acts in their essence. Paul writes, "So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous." The essence of Adam's act was knowing disobedience to God, resulting in the death of man. The essence of Christ's act was knowing obedience to God, resulting in the opportunity for eternal life. Adam's sin lead to the imputation of condemnation and damnation to all of mankind. Christ's work on the cross provided the way to justification, where we are deemed righteous before a holy God. Adam's sin lead to our being made sinners, Christ's work lead to our being called righteous. MacArthur writes, "Made translates kathislemi and here carries the idea of constituting, or establishing. The guilt of Adam's disobedience was imputed to all his descendants. They were thus made sinners - in the sense that they became legally guilty in God's sight. In the same way, but with the exact opposite effect, Christ's obedience causes those who believe in Him to be made righteous in God's sight."

Lastly, Paul shows the contrast between the two acts in their energy. He says, "And the Law came in that the transgression might increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." When the Law was given it opened people's eyes to what sin truly was. It set God's standard for His people. When people were shown this Law, sin then increased, because God's standards were made known and willfully being transgressed. MacArthur writes, "The law identifies particular transgressions, so that those acts can more easily be seen as sinful and thereby cause men to see themselves more easily as sinners. For that reason the Law also has power to incite men to unrighteousness, not because the Law is evil but because men are evil." Although the Law had that effect and man's sinfulness increased from generation to generation as sin upon sin accumulated, God's grace abounded even more than that sin. Not only does God's grace have the power to cover over every sin, but to give the Christian a new righteous heart. In every way we can see how Paul desired to show that what sin tried to do to bring destruction to all, Christ did all the more to bring redemption and reconciliation to all.