Romans Chapter 5:12-21
Romans 5:12 “Therefore, as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin; and so death passed unto all men, for that all sinned”: “Therefore”: The section which now follows, summarizes the situation facing all people. Paul is setting us up for a comparison. Adam becomes one way for the race and Jesus another. In Adam there is only condemnation and spiritual death, and in Christ there is acquittal and life eternal. Notice how the argument in this section depends upon Adam being a real historical person. “There cannot be a proper parallel between a mythical Adam and an historical Christ. Any theory which tends, as the common form of evolution does, to eliminate Adam as a real historical person, is destructive to Christianity” (Reese p. 198). If Jesus is called the second Adam or the last Adam and He came to undo the harm done by the first Adam, then obviously the first Adam was the real person and the fall in Genesis 3 was a real event. “As through one man sin entered”: Paul will later state that the woman (Eve) was deceived, and fell into transgression (1 Tim. 2:14). Some speculate that Adam may have indeed sinned first, by standing idly by and allowing his wife to be deceived (Genesis 3:6 “she gave also to her husband with her” 3:16-17). Other writers add that the term “Adam” was indeed applied to both Adam and Eve (Genesis 5:1-2), and that the sin of the woman was not complete in its effects without the concurrence of the man. Here is one place where we see that Paul was not prejudiced against women (as some claim), for in this section he places the entrance of sin on the shoulders of the man. “Sin entered”: Which infers that sin already existed somewhere else before it entered this earth. The Bible notes that prior to sin entering this world, rebellion or sin had already taken place in the heavenly realm (Jude 6). “Death through sin”: It appears that the death under consideration in these verses is spiritual death, even though many commentators argue that the death under consideration is physical death (5:15,17,21). Besides, this death passed on to all men because all sinned. I believe that one mistake that most denominational commentators make in this section is that they assume that the consequences of Adam’s choice and the sacrifice of Jesus in this section are both unconditional. The truth of the matter is that the spiritual consequences of both actions are very conditional. We do not automatically become sinners; rather we become sinners like Adam became a sinner—when we sin. Neither do we automatically receive the benefits of Jesus’ death (John 8:24). In addition, the thrust of the book of Romans up to this point has been centered upon our need for
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salvation, rather than our need for a bodily resurrection. Yes, Jesus will raise all the dead one-day but being raised from the dead is not the same as being saved, for even the wicked will be raised (John 5:28-29). “Besides, this death passed on all men because all sinned. Babies die physically, and it has nothing to do with their morals” (McGuiggan p. 173). In addition, the death that immediately takes place in Genesis 3 after the fall is not physical death, for Adam lived long after his sin, but the primary death under consideration is spiritual death. Remember, it was a death that took place in the day they would eat of the fruit (Genesis 2:17). One of the by-products of Jesus’ death is the resurrection of all the dead but the Christian does not receive this benefit in this life, the immediate benefit that we need is the forgiveness of our sins! Unfortunately this verse is often used in the attempt to prove the doctrine of original sin, that we are all unconditionally born sinners because of Adam’s sin. Clearly the verse teaches just the opposite (see the next statement). In addition, if we interpret this section as meaning that we all unconditionally sinned with Adam, then the section would teach that we equally and unconditionally contributed to our own salvation in Christ. Therefore we did not sin in Adam (representively) any more than we died for our sins representively in Christ. “For that all sinned”-“because all sinned” (NASV). Adam's descendants died spiritually, because, like their ancestor, they also sinned. Calvinists believe that all sinned, because all have inherited the guilt of Adam's sin. It would seem unnecessary for Paul to quote all those texts in Romans 3:9-18 to prove the Jew was dead in sin if he (and they) believed that they were all born dead because they had sinned in Adam's sin. We have all followed Adam's ways; we all made the kind of choice he made. In placing Adam as the first man, the Bible contradicts the claims of the New Age Movement that teaches that there were seven races that originated on Atlantis. The New Testament plainly teaches that all the nations that dwell on the face of the earth came from “one” (Acts 17:26; Romans 5:12; 1 Corinthians 15:22). Romans 5:13 “For until the law sin was in the world; but sin is not imputed when there is no law”. “The law”: That is the Law of Moses (5:14). Paul is speaking of the time period between Adam and Moses; those who lived under this period of time were not under the Ten Commandment covenant (Nehemiah 9:14; Deuteronomy 5:1-3). “Sin was in the world: Which means that laws existed prior to Mount Sinai. We can see some of these laws in Genesis 15:16; 20:9; 39:9; Leviticus 18:3, 24-25. “But sin is not imputed when there is no law”: “But sin cannot be charged against a man where no Law exists” (TCNT) (1 John 3:4). “Imputed”: This term means to put to account so as to bring penalty (Vincent p. 62). “To impute sin against a person is to credit or debit his account, to hold him responsible for it, to hold him liable to punishment” (Reese pp. 202-203). Equal to the statement that would say, “where there is no law there is no transgression” (Romans 4:15). Before Moses came along there was sin in the world. People were breaking laws that were different from the law Adam violated (5:14), that is laws which condemned things besides eating of the fruit 2
of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. You only have to read the book of Genesis to know that there were laws in the world before Moses, see Genesis chapter 9. Sodom and Gomorrah were buried for breaking some (Genesis 13:13; 18:20). Noah's flood was sent because people were breaking laws. Man has never been without law! All men have been under law to God since the beginning, for seeing that sin is universal (Romans 3:23), so are the laws of God. Romans 5:14 “Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the likeness of Adam's transgression, who is a figure of him that was to come”. “Death reigned: Ungodliness gripped the world. “Held sway over mankind (Phi) see 1 Peter 3:19-20. A mere reading of Genesis provides many examples of spiritual death reigning in the world prior to the Law of Moses (Cain, his descendants, the flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, Joseph's brothers). “After the likeness of Adam's transgression: Spiritual death reigned, even though men didn't sin exactly like Adam had sinned. The point is that sin, in any of its manifestations, brings death. Sins of omission kill as well as sins of commission. Violation of one law of God kills, as well as violation of another law. We can never adopt the attitude that says that God does not care about some sins (James 2:10-11; Acts 5:1ff; Leviticus 10:1-3; 1 Samuel 15:22-23). Since these people died as a result of their own sin and it was not like Adam's, then they surely did not die from Adam's sin. The distinction between theirs and Adam's would be non-existent if they had died because of Adam's sin. People die because of their own sins. (Colossians 2:13; Eph. 2:1). “Who is a figure of him that was to come”: Adam is the “who” in this verse and Jesus is “of him that was to come” (1 Corinthians 15:22,45). The term “figure” means: “Type, counter-part”. Adam was the father of the race as it fell under bondage to sin. Christ is the father of the race as it finds salvation from God by grace. Romans 5:15 “But not as the trespass, so also {is} the free gift. For if by the trespass of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God, and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound unto the many”. “But not as the trespass, so also is the free gift”: “But the free gift is not like the transgression” (NASV) It is more contrast than parallel (Robertson p. 359). The gift through Christ was not merely, as some have said, "coextensive in application with the ruin wrought through Adam," (Whiteside p. 122). “The free gift”: Is connected to our salvation, God’s attitude of grace made provision for our salvation in Christ (3:24). This gift in Romans is connected to our justification. “Much more: The contrast does not exist in the number saved by grace as opposed to those dead through sin (Matthew 7:13-14). The expression much more stresses the superiority of grace over law; faith and righteousness over sin and death. However, the superiority does not exist in the number saved as opposed to the number lost. It lies in things like these: Life is better than death and grace brings life while sin brings death. Sin can kill with a single-sting (transgression) but grace can give life even after sin has "stung" again and again and again (assuming repentance follows each sin, 1 3
John 1:8-10). Grace has more than enough power and adequacy to offset all that sin is able to do. No matter how sin triumphed over men, grace had the antidote for it. Sin couldn't work so much havoc as grace couldn't set right” (McGuiggan pp. 172-173). “Abound to the many”: The benefits of Christ's death are available to all mankind (2 Peter 3:9; Mark 16:1516; 1 Timothy 2:4), yet man must choose to accept this salvation (Acts 13:46; Acts 2:40-41). This verse certainly contradicts the idea of limited atonement that Jesus only died for the elect. Carefully note this section is not teaching that the sacrifice of Jesus removes all the earthly consequences of sin, for the Christian is still a victim of disease, sickness and death, the Christian must still work and earn his bread by the sweat of his brow (Genesis 3:16ff), and the Christian still lives in a world where he or she is surrounded by sinners. Romans 5:16 “And not as through one that sinned, {so} is the gift: for the judgment {came} of one unto condemnation, but the free gift {came} of many trespasses unto justification” Paul gives another contrast: “For the judgment came of one unto condemnation”: “The judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation” (NASV). Notice that the effect of sin in this section is not physical death, but rather it is condemnation, which is the opposite of justification. Justification is not the opposite of physical death. Sin's horror is seen in that one sin is enough to bring on a man or woman condemnation. “But the free gift came of many trespasses unto justification”: Grace's wonder and beauty is seen in the fact that even after many sins, a person can receive justification. It just takes one sin to condemn, and yet the benefits of Christ's death can justify one of many sins. Is there any good reason for not becoming a Christian (1 Timothy 1:15-16)? In addition, there is no good reason why anyone should remain enslaved to sin or end up eternally lost because of their sins. Romans 5:17 “For if, by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; much more shall they that receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, {even} Jesus Christ”. “Trespass of the one: Is of course Adam’s sin, again note that condemnation came because of just one trespass. Let us resist the temptation to downplay sin or certain sins. For all practical purposes Adam and Eve sinned because they believed a lie (false doctrine) instead of the truth (Genesis 3:1ff), and being deceived or misguided does not make sin any less sinful or harmful (1 Timothy 2:14). “Death reigned through the one”: The Calvinists assume that spiritual death reigned through Adam, because we all inherited the guilt of his sins. But if this is the case, then how are we to interpret the rest of the verse? If all have inherited Adam's guilt, why don't we all inherit the gift of righteousness through Christ? If all are unconditionally sinners in Adam, then all must be unconditionally saved in Christ. Death reigned through Adam, because all men made the choice to follow in his steps (5:12 “because all sinned”). Likewise those who receive the abundance of grace, gift of 4
righteousness and spiritual life through Christ, are those that choose it (Acts 2:41; Romans 1:16). “Receive”: Do not overlook this very important word. Romans chapter 5 is speaking of a grace that people “receive”. The word indicates a choice and personal decision. “Abundance of grace”: “The root word in ‘abound’ expresses superabundance, overflowing riches” (Reese p. 210). God did not express just a little bit of unmerited favor for me when Jesus died on the cross, rather the cross is a manifestation of a wealth of grace. We so often fail to realize how much forgiveness we needed! We did not merely need some grace to be forgiven, we needed an abundance of it. “Gift of righteousness”: Forgiveness of sins is not something that God owes sinners, it is not a debt, it is rather an undeserved gift from God that must be accepted (Romans 5:1; Mark 16:16). God’s way of making men “righteous” is a gift and it is lavishly given to those who obey Him. “Will reign in life”: Earlier Paul had talked about “death reigning” now he speaks of Christians reigning in life. Again, physical death is not the issue, for even faithful Christians die. The forgiven person is no longer in bondage to sin, he or she is spiritually alive (John 5:25), and thus reigns with Christ over sin, instead of being under its domination. Romans 5:18 “So then as through one trespass {the judgment came} unto all men to condemnation; even so through one act of righteousness {the free gift came} unto all men to justification of life”. “Unto all men to justification of life”: The whole race is on the receiving end of both guilt and grace (Titus 2:11). “Unto all men”: Do not make the mistake of interpreting all men as of all men unconditionally. The benefits of Christ's death are available to the whole race (which infers that the whole race is in need of a Savior). but Paul has already mentioned that conditions are attached to this justification (Romans 5:1; 4:6-8). Calvinism is wrong when it claims that Jesus only died for the elect, that is, He only died for those God had predestined for salvation, apart of their own personal choices. Paul asserts that the benefits of the death of Christ are available to as many who are also affected by the fact that sin was introduced into the world. One becomes a sinner or walks in the footsteps of Adam in the same basic way that one becomes a Christian and walks in the footsteps of Christ, that is, both are the result of human freewill. We choose to go into sin and we can choose to come out of it. Romans 5:19 “For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one shall the many be made righteous”. “Were made”: They were made sinners by their own choice (5:12). As Adam's disobedience did not make the many sinners without their choice, so neither does the obedience of Christ make the many righteous without their choice. Calvinists claim that these verses teach that all are born automatically and unconditionally inheriting Adam's sin, yet such would have the remainder of the verse teaching that all have unconditionally 5
inherited Christ's righteousness, which would be universal and unconditional salvation. “One point must be kept in mind, namely, that whatever nuance we give to ‘made sinners’, it must be parallel to the meaning we give to ‘made righteous’” (Cottrell p. 363). Romans 5:20 “And the law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly”. “The law”: The Law under consideration is the Law of Moses, Paul is now talking about the period of time from Mount Sinai to the cross of Christ. We must remember that it was God Himself who added the Law (Galatians 3:19). “That the trespass might abound”: Paul makes it clear that "Law" is not or was not the answer to man's problem. The Jew might claim that, “Well, the problem was that they did not have the right kind of law”. But even with the introduction of the Law of Moses, sin did not cease, rather it only multiplied (Galatians 3:21)! One of the purposes of the Law of Moses was to teach the Jewish people that more law was not the answer to their problems. God allowed or purposed such to happen that men might realize the need for grace and forgiveness that is the need for a Savior. “This would help them to realize more and more their need of some other means of deliverance” (Whiteside p. 127). “Certainly sins were already in abundance, because law in other forms was already present. Certainly the giving of the Law of Moses added to the already-present ocean of sins. It did do by increasing the very number of laws that could be broken (7:7-8)” (Cottrell p. 366). Of course the Law did not make people sin, but its presence does give sin an opportunity to try to extend its dominion. The Law also helped men to be far more aware of exactly what things God calls sin. In addition, the Law (with its penalties) greatly assisted men to realize how bad their sins really are. For example, the true sinfulness of disobedience to parents is seen much clearer in the light of the fact that the death penalty was attached to such in the Old Testament. The Law served to increase man’s awareness of the power and seriousness of sin. “The Law served to magnify the reality of sin and to intensify man’s sense of hopelessness as he struggles against it---Thus the Law itself had a large part in Israel’s purpose of preparation for the coming of the Savior. By increasing the consciousness of sin, it increased the sense of need for grace, and thereby caused at least some Israelites to welcome the Messiah all the more” (Cottrell pp. 366,367). “Where sin abounded”: Sadly, many people did not appreciate God’s law and rebelled against it. The circle of sin kept expanding as man after man followed in the steps of Adam. “Grace did abound more exceedingly”: “All the more” (NASV); “surpassed it by far'” (Mof). Grace was more than a match for sin, because grace can give life even after many transgressions. But remember, the verse is not teaching that grace removes all the earthly consequences of our sins, the former sinner may continue to pay a high price for their former life of folly. “God’s love abounds where men recognize and acknowledge their sin. The Devil has never been able to out-perform God. The Bible everywhere presents God as 6
greatly superior to the Devil. Whatever the Devil may do to ruin man, God’s provision for man’s forgiveness and reclamation always greatly surpasses it” (Reese p. 214). Romans 5:21 “that, as sin reigned in death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” “That”: “In order that” (TCNT). “As sin reigned in death”: Sin is the reigning monarch in every man who is dead in his sins (John 8:34; Ephesians 2:1-3). Sin reigns when one is separated from God (5:14 “even over those”, 5:17). “Grace reign through righteousness”: Grace is given the chance to reign when one seeks God's method of making men righteous (Romans 5:1,17 “Those who receive”). This reign will continue into eternal life (2 Timothy 2:12; Revelation 22:5). “Through Jesus Christ our Lord”: This triumph over sin is only possible for those in Jesus Christ.
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