Romans 5:12-19: Death through Adam and Life through Christ

Romans 5:12-19: Death through Adam and Life through Christ

            There are two points to take note of from the following scripture.

Romans 5:12-19

English Standard Version (ESV)

Death in Adam, Life in Christ

¹² Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men^[a] because all sinned— ¹³ for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. ¹⁴ Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.

¹⁵ But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.¹⁶ And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification.¹⁷ For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

¹⁸ Therefore, as one trespass^[b] led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness^[c] leads to justification and life for all men. ¹⁹ For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.

All Have Sinned and Are in Need of Christ (vv. 12-14)

            Just as Adam sinned, we also have sinned, and it is because of that very fact that we are in need of Christ. We are creatures of the fall, and without Christ, everything is hopeless.

God’s Gift Is Available because of the Sacrifice of Christ (vv. 15-19)

            There is hope though because Christ died and rose again. Just as one act of sin through Adam led to the sin of all men, one act of compassion through Christ’s death and resurrection leads to the salvation of men. It is a gift we should not take for granted.