Sin Abounding:

 •  5 min. read  •  grade level: 7
GRACE MUCH MORE ABOUNDING.
ROMANS 5:12-2112Wherefore, 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 was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 15But 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. 16And 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. 17For 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.) 18Therefore 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. 19For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 20Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:12‑21).ROM 5:12-2112Wherefore, 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 was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 15But 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. 16And 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. 17For 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.) 18Therefore 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. 19For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 20Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:12‑21)
SIN AND DEATH ENTER.
"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:" (Ver. 12.)
PARENTHESIS
The twofold abounding of grace over sin and death.
SIN AND DEATH SHOWN TO HAVE REIGNED FROM THE FIRST.
(" For until the law sin Vas in the world; but sin is not imputed where there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure him that was to some." (Ver. 13, 14.)
GRACE ABOUNDS
"But not as the offence, so also is the free gift." (Ver. 15, first clause.)
EARTH.
" 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." (Ver. 15, second clause.)
SIN.
"And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift:" (Ver. 16, first clause.)
GRACE triumphs over sin.
"For the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification." (Ver. 16, second clause.)
LIFE triumphs over death.
"For if by one man's offence death reigned by ne much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." (Ver. 17.) )
THE ABOVE SUBJECT, NAMELY, THE ENTRANCE OF SIN AND DEATH, RESUMED—THEN THE REMEDY SHOWN.
"'Therefore, as by the offense 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. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." (Ver. 18, 19.)
OBJECT OF THE LAW.
"Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But 'where sin abounded, GRACE DID MUCH MORE ABOUND: that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." (Ver. 20, 21.)
THE ABOVE PARENTHESIS EXPLAINED. SIN AND DEATH SHOWN TO HAVE REIGNED FROM THE FIRST.
The purpose of 'verses 13, 14, is to anticipate and meet an objection which might naturally arise as to what is. stated in the foregoing verse, namely, that "all have Binned."' "How can this be," an objector might urge, "as to those who lived between Adam and Moses?" "There being, during this period, no law to transgress," he might say, "there was neither sin nor transgression—hence, ail have not sinned." In answer to which; the apostle, drawing the distinction between sin and transgression, allows that during this time, there being no law, there was consequently no transgression, that is, no breach of a law which had not been published as yet; but then, he goes on to say, that sin existed, though it was not "imputed," or punished with immediate death, as in the case of Nadab and Abihu‘, Achan and others, who sinned against an especial-command. Then, in proof that sin was in the world, he says, that DEATH, the sad proof of its presence, reigned from Adam to Moses, "even over them that had not sinned. after the similitude of Adam's transgression," that is, OVER THE WHOLE HUMAN RACE, sinners as they were, though not transgressors, as Adam had been, who disobeyed an especial command.
And now as to the rest of the passage. The first clause of verse 15, "But not as the offense, so also, is the free gift," introduces the general fact of the abounding of grace, or "the free gift," over "the offence," which is afterward shown to be twofold.
Then the second clause, of verse 15, read in conjunction with verse 17, shows the future triumph of life over death it shows that in the kingdom hereafter, instead of death reigning on earth, the saints in the heavenly, places above it, will be seen REIGNING IN LIFE—that is reigning together, and in union, with Him, who is Himself essentially "the life" (John 15), and, at the same time, our life, "the life of all who trust in His name. (Col. 3:44When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4).) Observe, as soon as man fell, Satan became both the god and prince of the world, hence" death, "the fruit of Adam's offense," reigned by one," it is written. Hereafter, when Christ, (the quickening Spirit, the blessed fountain of life,) and with Him His saints, shall be in power, saving as a judgment on sin, whenever it may break out (Zech. 14:1717And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. (Zechariah 14:17)), there will be no death in the world.
Then as to the first clause of verse 16, this, read in conjunction with the rest of the verse, shows the triumph of grace over sin; it shows that the atonement of Christ meets both original and actual sin; that is, not only Adam's offense imputed to himself, and likewise to all his posterity; but also the "many offenses" resulting from thence; faith, in this case, being needed on the part of the sinner.