Romans 5 - NIV

1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Wouldn’t you say that the peace we get is due to the fact that we are no longer enemies to God? We were previously nowhere near just. Now that relationship is friendly.

6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.

I think it is crazy to think that Jesus went all in when there was no sign of us getting better. It’s like buying into the stock market at the very bottom. Sure you are smart after the market goes up but you are so risky at that time. Jesus saw promise in us when we didn’t even give him the inkling that we would become better. He took a big chance on us.

10 For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Reconciliation is a big deal. Think of how many family members won’t talk to each other anymore due to disagreements or mistreatments. For them to reconcile would seem like a miracle at times. Well, God used Jesus’ sacrifice to reconcile what never before could be brought together, God and sinful man.

12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned—

Do you think “death” here is also meaning spiritual death which is “separation from God”?

13 for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.

Do y’all agree that this is reflecting back to Romans 2?

16 Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. 18 Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. 19 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.

“The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation” & “Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men” – I think some people use this to prove Original Sin. I disagree. Adam’s sin did not condemn someone who had not sinned yet. If so, babies would be sinful. Adam’s sin opened the door for sin to REIGN. With sin being in existence, each man then chose to fall prey to temptation and sin. The nature of man is to satisfy his desires. These desires play into temptation and therefore each man decides to continue the influence of sin. I have to “do something” in order for sin to condemn me.

“The judgment followed one sin” vs ” but the gift followed many trespasses” – The one initial sin was powerful because it began a cycle that would permeate mankind to condemn them. Jesus’ sacrifice was so powerful that it trumped countless of those same condemning sins to provide justification.

18 Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. 19 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.

We all know that Jesus saved the world through his sacrifice even though in reality many of the world will not be saved. Why? Because in the same manner that sin leaves the door open for death to reign, Jesus’ sacrifice leaves the door open for life to reign. How does death reign? By me choosing to sin and acting on it. How does life reign? By me choosing Christ and acting on it (Steps of Salvation & Christian living). Sin & Jesus each created a destiny for me; I had to choose which I would align with.

20 The law was added so that the trespass might increase.

If you have no law, you have no trespasses. The law was added so man could clearly see they were evil. The law identified evil.

But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

I think this just states that grace trumps sin of any amount. Grace can always one-up sin. Not that we should test the effectiveness of grace but that we realize that even if we are the worst sinners that ever stepped on Earth, God’s grace reaches us!