Death in Adam, Life in Christ
Scripture Reading: Romans 5:12–21 (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—
13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law.
14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.
15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.
16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification.
17 For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
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.
20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,
21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Paul draws a clear comparison between Adam and Christ. Through Adam’s sin, death entered the world and spread to everyone. But through Jesus’ obedience, grace and life overflow to all who believe. The effects of Christ’s righteousness are far greater than the damage caused by Adam’s sin.
This passage reminds us that our hope does not rest in our ability to undo the curse of sin. We cannot. Our hope rests in the One who conquered death and gives us His righteousness as a gift. Where sin increased, grace increased all the more.
As we reflect today, we are called to live in that grace—not as people still bound by death, but as those who reign in life through Jesus Christ.
Prayer Points:
Thank God for the abundance of grace in Jesus Christ.
Ask Him to help you live as someone set free from the reign of death.
Pray for boldness to share the hope of life in Christ with others.