Romans 5:12-21 is one of the most difficult passages of the book, mostly because of the false doctrine of Calvinism which teaches we inherit the sins of Adam.  I would admit that it sounds, at first, like that is what Paul is teaching in this text.  We know he is not, however, because that would contradict other passages that teach we are born upright, not as sinners (Ecclesiastes 7:29; Matthew 18:1-3; Romans 7:9).

So, what is Paul teaching us in this portion of Romans 5?  His only concern is to show that while death was introduced by Adam, life has been introduced by Christ.

The introduction of sin into the world had terrible consequences.  It brought death, both physical and spiritual, upon mankind.  Physical death came as a result of man losing access to the tree of life (Genesis 3:22-24).  From that time forward all would experience physical death regardless of how they lived.  It was now appointed to man once to die (Hebrews 9:27).

The greater consequence of the sin of Adam and Eve was spiritual death because it carried eternal ramifications, affecting the eternal destination of the soul.  This consequence, however, is not automatic. It is only experienced by those who sin.

Romans 5:12 (ESV)
¹²  Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—

Adam (technically, it was Eve, but Paul is using Adam as a representative of mankind in this passage), opened the door for sin, and sin, like an extremely contagious disease, spread throughout mankind.  Why?  Paul tells us specifically why this happened, that is, “because all sinned.”

Fortunately, God set forth a vaccination that not only slows the disease of sin down, but it eradicates it altogether when it is properly applied.  That vaccination is the blood of Christ made available when Jesus came into this world and became our propitiation on Calvary’s cross.  That is what Paul pictures for us in this difficult passage.

Romans 5:18-19 (ESV)
¹⁸  Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. ¹⁹  For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.

This is great news.  Everything that was introduced by Adam in the Garden of Eden (death, fear, hopelessness, etc.), is taken away in Christ.  Why? Because the grace that can be discovered in Christ is greater than the sin that was introduced by Adam.  That is the basic teaching of this difficult passage—grace is greater than sin.

Keep in mind when reading the verses above that both condemnation and righteousness come upon man conditionally.  It is only when ignoring this fact that one would conclude that we inherit Adam’s sin.  Many were made sinners on the condition that they sin.  Many are made righteous on the condition that they believe in Jesus with an obedient faith.  If it is argued that we are made sinners unconditionally, it must be concluded that we are made righteous unconditionally as well, something that no one believes.

So, back to the great news.  In Christ, we are brought back to life (Ephesians 2:1).  If you have not experienced this spiritual resurrection, you can by obeying the gospel.  It does not matter how terrible your sins may be.  It does not matter how many sins you have committed or how long you have been committing them.  You can be saved by the grace of God.  Why?  Because God’s grace is greater than any and all sin.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things