Romans 5:19 - Printer Friendly

ESV: 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.

NIV: For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

NASB: For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.

CSB: For just as through one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.

NLT: Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.

KJV: For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

NKJV: For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

Paul continues to contrast the powerful actions of Adam and Jesus. Adam's action was one of disobedience. He and Eve disobeyed God's direct and clear command to them. The result of that disobedience, as Paul has shown repeatedly, was that many were made sinners. Adam introduced sin into the world and every last person born, other than Christ (Hebrews 4:15), was born into that sin.

Jesus's action, on the other hand, His death on the cross, was an act of obedience. This is true in two senses. One, mysteriously, Jesus' life and mission on earth were characterized by His obedience to His Father, who is God, as Christ is also. Jesus spoke and acted in obedience to the direction of the Father (John 12:49; 8:28). That obedience included His own death: "And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross" (Philippians 2:8).

Jesus' act of obedience, then, ensured that many would be made righteous through their faith in Him and by God's abundant grace.

Romans 5:12–21 compares the work of Adam with the work of Christ to show how sin and death came into the world, and how God made a way to escape them. Adam, specially created by God, became the first lawbreaker when he ate from the restricted tree. He brought sin and death to all who came after him. Jesus, hung on a tree—a phrase implying crucifixion—paid for our sin, making it possible for all who believe to reign with Him in eternal life.

Romans 5 begins by describing some of the benefits that come with being declared righteous by God because of our faith in Christ. We have peace with God, and we stand in His grace. We rejoice both in the hope of God's glory and in our temporary suffering. We have hope that will not disappoint, because God has already proved His love for us. Paul then compares the work of Adam in bringing sin and death into the world with the work of Christ in dying for sin in order to offer God's free gift of grace to all who believe.

After proving that all men are guilty of sin and incapable of earning salvation, Paul explained how faith—not works—is the means by which God declares us righteous. Romans 5 begins with a powerful, joyful revelation of all that comes with being justified in God's eyes by our faith in Christ. We have peace with God. We stand in God's grace. We have hope for eternal glory and meaning in our current suffering. God has proven His love for us in the death of Christ for our sin while we were still sinners. Adam introduced sin and death to the world, and they continue. Christ, though, by dying for our sin brought God's grace to all who believe. The next chapter begins by refuting a common misconception about salvation by grace through faith.

The book of Romans is the New Testament's longest, most structured, and most detailed description of Christian theology. Paul lays out the core of the gospel message: salvation by grace alone through faith alone. His intent is to explain the good news of Jesus Christ in accurate and clear terms. As part of this effort, Paul addresses the conflicts between law and grace, between Jews and Gentiles, and between sin and righteousness. As is common in his writing, Paul closes out his letter with a series of practical applications.

Accessed 4/29/2024 5:01:14 AM