In Romans 5, Adam and Christ are presented as two heads of the human race. It shows how Christ triumphed over Adam’s sin and the reign of judgment and death. Through Adam, sin entered the whole human race and death as a result of sin. Through Christ’s righteousness, justification, and life is provided for all who believe. We are instructed that the blessing of Christ is far greater than the curse, misery, and loss brought on by Adam. Christ’s blessing and victory is so great that it has the power to nullify the curse and condemnation that was brought on by Adam’s sin. This text reveals how the power of sin and death entered the world and how Jesus Christ counteracted sin and death.

Through Adam, sin entered the world.

Romans 5:12-14 NKJV Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—(For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.

God gave Adam and Eve this warning.

Genesis 2:17 NIV84 You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.

When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, pleasant to look upon, and desirable to make one wise, she took, ate, and gave some to her husband, and he ate. As a result of Adam’s sin, spiritual and physical death entered and became the normal experience of the whole human race. Adam’s nature of sin and death reigns in all humanity. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” does not just apply to personal actions that we take from time to time. It refers to the corruptible sinful nature and depravity that is passed down to all humanity from Adam.

Romans 5:12 AMP Therefore, as sin came into the world through one man, and death as the result of sin, so death spread to all men, [no one being able to stop it or to escape its power] because all men sinned.

Not only have we inherited the sin nature, everyone is personally responsible to God because everyone sins. The penalty of death comes upon everyone because of their own sins, not our father’s sins. 2 Chronicles 25:4 instructs us that “a person shall die for his own sin.”

Galatians 3:22 NIV84 But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.

This message is repeated throughout the Bible, (1 John 1:8; 1 John 5:19; 1 Kings 8:46; Psalm 14:3; Psalm 53:3; etc). This is the power of sin that is prevalent over the whole world.

Romans 5:13, shows us that Adam’s sinful nature and death existed before the introduction of the law.

Romans 5:13 NIV84 For before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law.

Before the Law defined it people practiced sin even though there were no prohibitions similar to Moses’ law. We know that they were sinful because death reigned. When the law of God was given, it charged people with their own sin and showed them how sinful they were.

If people sinned before the Law was given to Moses, something caused them to sin and die. What caused sin and death between Adam and Moses? 

Adam’s  sinful and corruptible nature processed through all humanity and everyone has been impacted by the curse and power of sin.

Genesis 3:19 NKJV In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return.

The curse and power of sin fell upon the whole world. Everyone is impacted and cannot escape the curse and death.

Romans 5:14 NIV84 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the One to come.

1 Corinthians 15:21-22 NIV84 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 

Adam and Christ are representatives for all humanity. 

Watch the tremendous impact Christ has on believers to bring life instead of death.

1 Corinthians 15:45-49 NKJV And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven.  As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.

Sin and death entered by Adam, but we have life because Christ conquered death.

Adam was the cause of sin in the very same way in which Christ is the cause of righteousness and life.

Take note of the fact that before the Law identified and defined sin, it was already present in humanity.

When the law entered, humanity became exceedingly sinful. The law revealed our sin and indicated how far we were from God. The proof that sin was present is death.

Why did man die if he was not charged with personal sin?

When Adam sinned, he was the representative for humanity. Everyone inherits his corruptible nature and has received the death sentence because of sin. In Adam, we all die.

Romans 5:15 NIV84 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!

God’s free gift is not at all to be compared to the trespass. His grace is far greater than the fall of man. For if many died as a result of one man’s sin or offense, much more God’s grace and free gift that comes from the undeserved favor of Jesus Christ abounds for the benefit of many.

Follow the logic here.

The only way to have the privilege of human life is by being born to corruptible human beings. Unless we are born, we do not have the privilege of life. Once we have been born into this corruptible world, we have the possibility to experience the love of God and eternal life. Jesus Christ counteracted and reversed what Adam did.

Romans 5:16-18 NIV84 Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men.

Christ has made it possible for us to be made righteous and to conquer death. 

Adam’s sin brought death, but God’s abundant provision of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life. 

What God has done is “much more” than what Adam did.

Adam sinned and brought sin and death to all humanity, but God has counteracted and reversed what Adam did. God has showered His grace, favor, care, and love upon us.

Ephesians 2:4-9 NKJV But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

God has made the gift of His righteousness available to us.

2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

God’s gift is completely different from what Adam did. 

Adam’s sin doomed humanity to death, but God’s gift justifies the human race and gives life. Through Christ, God’s grace and righteousness abound and overflow to many.  God’s gift not only dealt with Adam’s sin and judgment, it dealt with all of the offenses of humanity. The scope of God’s gift is much greater than Adam’s offense. God’s gift of righteousness justifies us from all our offenses and justifies us from all the corruption we inherited, and from all the sins we personally committed.

The person who truly trusts Christ is justified from all sin, corruption, and condemnation.

God’s justification takes into account what we inherited from our fathers (Adam), and also the sins we commit by our own sinful behavior.

Romans 5:1 NKJV Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

There are two areas that Christ has given us life.

Romans 5:17 NKJV For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)

First, believers “reign in life” and receive abundant grace NOW. 

This abundant life is full of God’s blessing and favor.

• We have the blessing of abundant life. John 10:10, “I have come that they may have life… more abundantly.”
• We are blessed with sufficiency in all things. 2 Corinthians 9:8, “God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.”
• We are blessed with great power. Ephesians 3:20,“…according to the power that works in us.”
• We are blessed with the supply of all our needs. Philippians 4:19, “…God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
• We have a bold entrance to the throne of grace. Hebrews 4:16, “…come boldly to the throne of grace, …obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” 2 Peter 1:11, “…an entrance will be supplied to youabundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Second, believers shall “reign in life” throughout all ETERNITY.

John 3:16 NKJV For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 5:24 NKJV Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

Revelation 20:4 They lived and reigned with Christ.

Revelation 22:5 They shall reign forever and ever.

God’s blessing and favor that comes to us through Christ is not just for the here and now, it is for all eternity.

Grace conquers sin.

Romans 5:19-21 NKJV For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Through Adam’s disobedience, everyone was made sinners, but Christ’s obedience has made many righteous. When anyone believes in Jesus Christ, God takes their faith and counts it as righteousness. 

The Law entered to show and magnify sin, but God’s grace was so much greater. 

God gave the Law to increase awareness of sin and make us responsible and accountable for sin.

Galatians 3:24 KJV 1900 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Sin reigned to death, but God’s grace reigns to eternal life. By God, grace reigns, triumphs, holds authority, and leads to eternal life.