Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men 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 led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness 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. ²⁰ Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, ²¹ so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

1) What is the therefore, there for? What transition is Paul making in this passage?
It is important when studying Scripture to keep in mind most of the New Testament books are letters written to churches and there were no chapter breaks or verses attached to them, so when we jump into the middle of an argument we must go back a little to understand what argument is being made. In this particular case, you only need to venture back to the beginning of chapter 5 to understand what Paul is saying in verses 12-21. He has just told the Romans about their reconciliation to God and how, even in our sin, God made right the relation between Himself and His creation. We have been reconciled and not left in the Kingdom of Death but rather been given new life. When Paul transitions to verse 12 he begins to reiterate what he has already said making the point even more emphatically.

2) What two men, a bringer of death and a bringer of life, does Paul refer to in this passage?
There are two major players that Paul describes in this passage: a man who brought death and destruction on all of creation and a man who brought life and reconciliation. Adam was the man through whom sin entered the world and through him death and broken fellowship with God entered for all creation as a consequence of that sin. With the death and resurrection of Christ, the free gift of reconciliation and grace was made available for all creation. Through one man, Adam destruction and through another man, Christ restoration.

3) What are the results of the trespass and the free gift? (v. 16)
As we read this passage, we need to understand the nature and consequence of sin. There is judgement and condemnation for those apart from Christ. Just one trespass (sin) lead to condemnation for all men (v. 18). Through one man’s disobedience all men were made sinners, separated for all eternity, and sin reigned. There are only two positions before God – His Kingdom of life and reconciliation or the Kingdom of Death full of sin and destruction. Spiritually speaking, Paul is helping the Roman Church to understand there is no gray area between these two Kingdoms. With sin and trespass comes death. When we accept the free gift of a relationship with Christ, we have been given a new life and are new creatures with a citizenship in Heaven.

4) What is the only solution for the Kingdom of Death described in Paul?
There is only one answer to be given to the Kingdom of Death…grace! Where sin abounds, grace all the more. Yes, one man brought sin into the world yet with Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross, life and reconciliation became available for all of creation!

1) How can studying the previous part of Paul’s sermon affect my everyday life?
As we read this passage in Romans, we must question spiritually where we find ourselves. Paul clearly describes two very different kingdoms. It is important that we remember we have a choice….every day we have a choice to which kingdom we will belong.

2) What two men, a bringer of death and a bringer of life, does Paul refer to in this passage?
The death and sin brought by Adam forever changed the face of humanity and the relationship between God and His creation. God was neither unaware of the rift nor unprepared to mend it, and from the very beginning of time, He set a plan in motion. With the gift of His Son, He would make right what Adam and Eve did in the Garden. Through His Son, Jesus’s death on the Cross we can cry out with victory because we can have assurance that through this one man all was made right. “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” (2 Corinthians 15:55)

3) What are the results of the trespass and the free gift? (v. 16)
When we accept the free gift given to us in the person of Jesus Christ, there is life abundant. (John 10:10) There is peace in the midst of a crazy chaotic world and Jesus has the power to overcome it all. (John 16:33) The free gift of Christ redeems the sin in our life, the past we run from, and the present we struggle in. Christ restores!

4) What is the only solution for the Kingdom of Death described in Paul?
The Kingdom of Death is indeed alluring at times and seems like a good place to be until you recognize that you were never meant to be there. In our sin, even when it feels good in the moment, God whispers (sometimes louder than others) this is not what I want for you, this is not who I created you to be. The only escape from the Kingdom of Death is to run with full abandon into the Kingdom of Life where there is a Savior waiting with open arms to wipe clean the slate of sin!

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