A Study of The Book of Romans

Lesson 36 Chapter 5:18 – 21

 

  1. Romans 5:18-19 “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 shall many be made righteous.”
    1. These two scriptures are and extension of Verse 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:” Remember verses 13 – 17 is a more detailed explanation of verse 12 now verse 18 – 19 is a continuation of verse 12.
    2. Verse 18a “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation…”

1.      Paul said in verse 12a “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men…” Here in verse 18 Paul allows another thought “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation…”

2.      It is because of this ONE single sin that Adam did that brought to the entire human race eternal death, and eternal damnation in hell. Not just to the non-elect but to the entire human race.

3.      Let us remember in verse 15 Paul said “…For if through the offence of one many be dead…” The word many means – altogether – while it has several different meanings here it means the entire human race which Paul explains in verse 18.

4.      It is only by the grace of God that He chose to pardon this damnation to His elect.

5.      The judgment of mankind is just because Adam sinned and therefore all of his children shall suffer eternal damnation.    

    1. Verse 18 “…even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.”

1.      Here the proper wording is “…the free gift came upon all men…” all that belong to Christ as given to Him before the world was created also known as the elect of God. John 17:6 “I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.”

2.      Just as death came upon all mankind by one sin, not just that it was by one sinner but also one sin; the free gift of God came by “…by the righteousness of one…” by His righteousness alone. That is by His the holiness, obedience, purity, as our Redeemer.

3.      It also involved His obedience unto death, Philippians 2:8 “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” 

  1.  Verse 20 “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:”
    1. “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound…”

1.      As Paul had made abundantly clear in the pervious chapters, works was not ever meant to save the sinner; but rather to show us how great of sinner we are.

2.      Remember the word “abound” means to grow exceed, so here Paul says where there is law (that is the law of God) sin grows exceedingly, that is bigger and bigger and bigger and etc.

3.       Romans 7:7-13 “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. (8.) But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. (9.) For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. (10.) And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. (11.) For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. (12.) Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. (13.) Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.” 

    1. “…But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:”

1.      No matter how much people sin, God's grace is greater. Grace will always override sin. 2 Corinthians 12:9 “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee…”

2.      1 Timothy 1:14 “And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.”

3.      To the lost sinner there is nothing more powerful than his sin and to the saved man nothing is greater than God’s grace. Sin will never exceed grace, the more one sins the more grace God has.

  1. Verse 21 “That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”

1.      Let’s notice a particular word here in verse 21 “reign” it means to rule as a king would rule, that is to take over and control.

a.       Sin totally takes over one so that it shows in man there is no righteousness, no good, no seeking God, and no seeking to do good, it totally rule everyone’s being.

b.      “unto death” the final results of sin is death and the final punishment is eternal damnation.

2.      “…even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”

a.       The same fashion is grace, it overtakes the sin and it’s punishment.

b.      John 1:17 “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”