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18 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. 20 The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. ~ Romans 5:18-21
Today, we conclude our study of Romans 5. These last four verses in Romans 5 bring to a conclusion this massive section on justification by faith alone. Over and over and over the Apostle Paul has been making this comparison between Adam and the Lord Jesus Christ. Whereas Adam made a very bad choice and rendered the worst news ever to mankind, the Lord Jesus chose to come to earth to be the satisfying sacrifice so that all could be redeemed from death.
In v.18 of today's passage we read, "Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people."
In this verse the Apostle Paul is drawing to a close his argument in this section on justification by faith. The Greek word translated "trespass" means "a false step, departing from the path, to go astray." This refers to when Adam first sinned in the Garden of Eden. God had commanded Adam not to eat from from this one tree, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam had the entire world at his disposal, except for this one tree. But, Adam chose the way opposite of God. He saw it with his eyes, he desired it in his heart, and as an act of flagrant, defiant disobedience to God, with his eyes wide open, Adam took the fruit of which God had said, “You shall not eat of this fruit.” As a result, through Adam's "trespass" sin and death contaminated the world and its inhabitants.
But, the story does not end there. God saves us through Christ because it corresponds to the way we were condemned through Adam. Justification unto life corresponds with condemnation unto death. And our condemnation, at its deepest root, comes not from what we did individually but from what Adam did as our representative. And so our justification, at its deepest root, comes not from what we do but from what Christ did. The reason Paul developed this comparison between Adam and Christ is to make clear that the root cause of our justification is the righteousness of Christ which came to us through the obedience of Christ.
In v.19 of today's passage we read, "For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous."
Once again Paul reinforces the contrast between the first man, Adam, and the God-Man. In this verse hope, yet again, abounds and gains the upper hand for anyone willing enough to receive it. The result through Christ is quite different than the result that happened through Adam. Righteousness is the gift given to the believer in Christ.
"The obedience of One" is a reference to the generosity of the Lord Jesus when He willingly chose to leave the perfection of heaven to come to earth eventually going to the cross and being made a sacrifice for sin. Just as Adam's sin was imputed to all men, Christ's obedience was imputed to the willing of heart to believe in this wonderful promise from the One who fashioned us in our mother's womb. The Greek word translated "righteous" means "the justified ones." These are not justified by their actions, they are justified because God has declared them justified through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ.
In v.20-21 of today's passage we read, "20 The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
The Law of Moses has never produced righteousness in man. It was actually given to accentuate to man his inability to be good enough. The more sinful man gets, the more he has to, out of desperation, throw himself into the grace of God that is found in Christ Jesus. In this context, man's desperation makes him cry out to God. All of this is a means of God's grace. And, it happens when we have come to an end of ourselves.
Five times in the greater context of today's passage, we see the phrase, "all the more." The Apostle used this phrase in order to communicate how efficacious is the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. And, the efficacy of Christ's gift is not understood properly unless we gain a biblical understanding of sin. This explains why Paul has spent so much time making this comparison. Under sin and death, we were rendered dead to all that is good. And, the only answer to man's damned condition is the grace of God.
The grace of God is always one-sided. It has to be, otherwise, it would not be grace. God's grace is much greater than sin and death which was poised to render incalculable pain into our existence. That is until the grace of God showed up on the scene. The law put our depravity and utter hopelessness on display. God's grace put the Lord Jesus Christ on display. This is why once sinners have come to know the Lord Jesus, they begin a journey at learning to adoring the one who laid down His life for His friends. In fact, as believers in the Lord Jesus, we will forever be learning the amazing nature of God's grace which is so powerful, it is slowly changing our hearts. I can only imagine what eternity will bring.
