Romans 5:12-21

Romans 5:12-21

[12] Wherefore,  as  by  one  man  sin  entered  into  the world,  and  death  by  sin;  and  so  death  passed  upon  all  men,  for  that  all  have sinned:  [13] (For  until  the law  sin  in  the world:  but  sin  not  imputed  no  law.  [14] Nevertheless  death  reigned  from  Adam  to  Moses,  even  over  not  sinned  after  the similitude  of Adam's  transgression,  who  the figure  of him that was to come.  [15] But  not  as  the offence,  so  also  is the free gift.  For  if  through the offence  of one  many  be dead,  much  more  the grace  of God,  and  the gift  by  grace,  which is  by one  man,  Jesus  Christ,  hath abounded  unto  many.  [16] And  not  as  it was by  one  that sinned,  so is the gift:  for  the judgment  was by  one  to  condemnation,  but  the free gift  is of  many  offences  unto  justification.  [17] For  if  by one man's  offence  death  reigned  by  one;  much  more  they which receive  abundance  of grace  and  of the gift  of righteousness  shall reign  in  life  by  one,  Jesus  Christ.)  [18] Therefore  as  by  the offence  of one  judgment came upon  all  men  to  condemnation;  even  so  by  the righteousness  of one  the free gift came upon  all  men  unto  justification  of life.  [19] For  as  by  one  man's  disobedience  many  were made  sinners,  so  by  the obedience  of one  many  be made  righteous.  [20] Moreover  the law  entered,  that  the offence  might abound.  But  where  sin  abounded,  grace  did much more abound:  [21] That  as  sin  hath reigned  unto  death,  even  so  grace  reign  through  righteousness  unto  eternal  life  by  Jesus  Christ  Lord. 

What does Romans 5:12-21 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Justification by faith not only carries with it many benefits ( Romans 5:1-11), but it also overcomes the effects of the Fall. Paul"s final argument in support of justification by faith involves a development of his previous emphasis on the solidarity that the saved experience with their Savior ( Romans 5:1-2; Romans 5:9-10). In this section ( Romans 5:12-21) he expanded that idea by showing that just as Adam"s sin has affected all people, so Jesus Christ"s obedience has affected all believers.
"As Adam"s one sin never fails to bring death, so Christ"s one righteous act in behalf of sinners never fails to bring the opposite award to those who are in Him." [1]
The apostle viewed Adam and Christ as federal heads of two groups of people. A federal head is a person who acts as the representative of many others and whose actions result in consequences that the individuals he represents inevitably experience. Some interpreters believe Paul viewed Adam as the natural head of the human race, rather than as the federal head. [2] Examples of federal heads include a king, a president, a member of congress, and a parent, among others.
In this section Paul was not looking primarily at what individual sinners have done, which had been his interest previously. Rather he looked at what Adam did in the Fall and what Jesus Christ did at the Cross and the consequences of their actions for humanity. Adam"s act resulted in his descendants sinning and dying. We inherit Adam"s nature that was sinful, and this accounts for the fact that we all sin and die. We are sinners not only because we commit acts of sin but also because Adam"s sin corrupted the human race and made sin and punishment inevitable for his descendants as well as for himself. However, Christ"s act of dying made all who trust in Him righteous apart from their own works.
"When one man fails in the accomplishment of God"s purpose (as, in measure, all did), God raises up another to take his place-Joshua to replace Moses, David to replace Saul, Elisha to replace Elijah [3]." [4]
"The power of Christ"s act of obedience to overcome Adam"s act of disobedience is the great theme of this paragraph....
"The main connection is with the teaching of assurance of final salvation in the immediately preceding paragraph ( Romans 5:2 b, 9-10). The passage shows why those who have been justified and reconciled can be so certain that they will be saved from wrath and share in "the glory of God": it is because Christ"s act of obedience ensures eternal life for all those who are "in Christ."" [5]