Romans 5:15-17 - The Justice of God's Choice

Romans 5:15-17 - 15 But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression 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 to the many. 16 The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification. 17 For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

Message: Adam sinned once for all. Christ died for sin, once for all. Adam took on one sin. Christ took on all sins.

Time: The Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans from the Greek city of Corinth in AD 57, just three years after the 16 year old Nero had ascended to the throne as Emperor of Rome. Persecution of Christians wouldn't begin until AD 64. The church was experiencing times of relative peace. From where he wrote, Corinth, was a hotbed of sexual immorality and idol worship.

What the Lord is Saying: 

We continue a discussion on sin and sin entering the world, contrasting the imputation of righteousness (in Christ) with the imputation of sin (in Adam). Yesterday, we ended with the statement that Adam is a type of Him (Christ) was was to come. There are similarities in Adam and Christ. But, Paul will now show how what Christ did was far greater than what Adam did.

Grace is greater than sin
It is true, Adam sinned once and sin was manifested to all people. He took on one sin and all people are now known as sinners. Sin entered the world.

"Much more," though, did the grace of God abound to the many. Sin results in death. Grace results in life. Grace restores life in the person. It is not about returning to life as it was before in the garden, but rather the life we have in Chris is far greater.

Grace is a free gift. But, we can't really call receiving sin a gift. Gifts should not result in death. Plus, a gift must be received.

Verse 15 uses the word transgression rather than sin. Sin is missing a mark. Transgression is crossing the line. In sin, there is a standard and sin is missing it. In transgression, there is a line, like a shoulder line when driving a car and crossing that line or boundary. Adam crossed the line. God drew the line and said, "Don't cross it."

We deserve what we got in Adam. Adam sinned, we all sin. We don't deserve grace, yet we can receive it. 

Judgment through one sin, righteousness through many
Adam carried on his back one sin. Christ carried on His back many sins. There is similarity, but what Christ did was far more significant. We are condemned because of Adam's sin. We are made righteous because of Christ justifying man. 

One man brought death. One Man brought life. 
There is one notable difference between the imputations that occurred because of the result of Adam and Christ. In Adam, sin fell on all men. Death resulted from all sinning. In Christ, people are made righteous, but this righteousness is not automatic for all people. It is through receiving the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness. All people are in Adam, but they must receive Jesus to be in Christ.

Promise: We deserve what we received in Adam. Adam sinned, we all sin. We don't deserve grace, yet we can receive it.