Sin, Law, and Grace. Those three are the centerpieces of life, whether we understand it or not. In Romans 5:12-21, Paul describes the power of each and how one of them is greater than the others.
The advent of sin and death began with Adam. “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned.” (Romans 5:12, CSB) While we are all sinners due to Adam’s sin, we all stand condemned through our own sins and trespasses. Through Adam, the whole of humanity stands condemned.
Paul also points out in verse 14 that death reigned from Adam to Moses. What changed? Why didn’t Paul write “from Adam to Jesus”? The Law of Moses, with all its rules, feasts, and sacrifices, began to deal with sin. There were annual sacrifices for the sins of the people on the Day of Atonement. But, as we’ll see, Moses was not like Adam. For with the Law came atonement, but also a multiplication of sin (vs 20).
But Jesus is like Adam. “If by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:17, CSB) Adam changed the whole of humanity towards sin; Jesus also changed the whole of humanity towards righteousness. Between Moses and Christ, only a relatively small number of folks would see anything approaching grace and righteousness. And even then, it was a shadow of what was to come. Through Christ, all may receive grace and enter righteousness with God.
Paul concludes, “The law came along to multiply the trespass. But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness, resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 5:20–21, CSB)
What are the truths to be applied in our walk with Christ? No matter how good a person we think we are, we are still sinners in desperate need of God’s grace. And, no matter how grievous our sins, God’s grace is always enough. Not just barely enough, but abundantly enough.
Many look at their past and present and believe that God would never accept them, could never forgive them. They may have said something like the roof would collapse if they set foot inside a church. That is a lie of Satan, second only to the lie he told Adam and Eve in the garden. There is no pit so deep that God’s love and grace are not deeper still.
- Romans Applied – Prevailing Grace - June 3, 2026
- Proverbs – Grandkids - June 1, 2026
- Romans Applied – Abundant Grace - May 27, 2026
