In Romans 5:1-11, Paul established that believers whom Christ has
justified and reconciled to God are freed from the wrath of God. Hence they
could live jubilantly and triumphantly. This could happen because Christ had completely
reversed the effects of Adam’s sin. In this new section, Paul introduces us to
the origin of sin as well as the means of grace. It was through Adam that
mankind had inherited sin, death, judgment and condemnation. But now through God’s
grace in Christ, believers receive the gift of righteousness, justification and
shall reign in life.
Verses 12-21 divide itself neatly into three divisions. Firstly, in verses
12-14 Paul compares Adam and Christ. In these three verses we detect the similarity
of both their acts. They both made a major impact on the lives of all men. Secondly
in verses 15-17, we are told that while both of their actions impacted mankind
in a major way, the results of each one is different. Adam’s act of
disobedience brought curse upon the human race, whereas Christ’s obedience
brought cure to humanity. He gave righteousness, justification and triumphant
life to all who believe. Thirdly, in verses 18-21, Paul explains the work of
Christ. While talking about the sin of man, he includes the role that the Law
played, in relation to man’s sin and God’s grace.
To have a clearer understanding of this passage, we a need to know Paul’s
usage of the term “sin.” Here he was not defining “the wrongful acts that man commits,”
he was defining the principle of sin that operates in the life of everyone.
Since Adam was the first man, the lineage of every human would be traced to
him. Even before the Law was given through Moses, man since Adam had an
inherent sinful nature. Everyone that had been born and ever will be born
inherits that sinful condition and a natural drive toward evil.
Up till the Law given by Moses, man’s sin was only in his nature
received from Adam. Sin was not imputed on them, for without the Law, every man
was oblivious to his sin nature. But when God gave the Law through Moses, man’s
glaring sinful nature became blatantly obvious. However, the purpose of the Law
was not to solve the problem of man’s sinful nature. The giving of the Law had magnified
man’s sinfulness. And it is in the magnification of man’s sinfulness that grace
can be shown to surpass sin, and abound to men in righteousness and salvation.
We know now that while the Law magnifies sin, Jesus Christ our Lord paid the
penalty of that sin, and made available the grace of God generously to all who
would trust Him. Hence, the Law was not given to deliver men from sin. It was
given to declare men sinners so that Christ could deal with man’s sin, which was
inherited from Adam. Believers who receive the more than sufficient grace of
God and His gift of righteousness, shall reign in life through Christ.
Christ’s
act was so supreme that it not only erased Adam’s transgression, but the sins
that were ever committed by everyone who ever lived. If only we can understand
how greatly Christ had rescued us, we will be restored to our reign. As we
receive and dwell in God’s love through Christ, we will be enabled to live a
reigning life. We must allow God’s affection to permeate every area of our life
so that He can enable us to live and reign in life for His glory
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