How does Romans 5:15 highlight the contrast between Adam's sin and Christ's gift? Setting the verse in context Paul sets two representative men before us—Adam, whose single trespass unleashed sin and death, and Christ, whose single gracious act overflows with life and righteousness (Romans 5:12-21). Romans 5:15 “But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did the grace of God and the gift that came by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many!” A tale of two men: Adam vs. Christ - Adam’s action: one trespass - Christ’s action: one gracious gift - Result of Adam: death spread to “the many” - Result of Christ: grace “abounded to the many” - Emphasis: “how much more” signals the superior, overflowing power of Christ’s gift What Adam’s trespass brought - Sin entered and infected all humanity (Romans 5:12) - Death reigned universally (1 Corinthians 15:22a) - Condemnation before a holy God (Romans 5:18a) - The wages of sin—death (Romans 6:23a) - Ongoing bondage and separation from fellowship with God (Genesis 3:6-8) What Christ’s gift brings - Super-abundant grace (Romans 5:17) - Justification—declared righteous (Romans 5:18b) - Eternal life in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:23b) - Fullness of life now and forever (John 10:10) - The believer’s reign in life through union with Christ (Romans 5:17) - Salvation by grace through faith, not works (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-6) “How much more” — the overflowing superiority of grace - Grace doesn’t merely balance the scales; it surpasses them (Romans 5:20) - Death is powerful, yet grace overpowers and outlasts it - Christ not only cancels Adam’s debt but bestows adoption, inheritance, and resurrection life (Romans 8:15-17; 1 Peter 1:3-4) Key takeaways for the believer - All share Adam’s guilt and mortality, yet Christ’s act offers a greater, superabundant remedy - The gift is truly free—received by faith alone, grounded in grace alone, accomplished by Christ alone - Life in Christ means freedom from condemnation now (Romans 8:1-2) and secure hope of glorification later (Romans 8:30) - Grace that abounds “much more” invites continual confidence, gratitude, and holiness in daily walk with the Savior |
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