• Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned- (13) (For until the law sin was in the world but Sin is not imputed when there is no law. (14) Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. (15) But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.

Romans was written by the apostle Paul and in our verses today we study the reality of salvation of man by Jesus Christ by His one work; his death and resurrection effected salvation for all who believe. Man has always believed they will be forgiven for sin and will enter into a right relationship with God because of something they do. This is man made religion – the religion of human achievement. The message of Romans from beginning to end says this is not possible from man to God; salvation is provided for by one person for all. Two men, one in particular, have made the greatest impact on human life by a single act – Adam and Christ Jesus. Adam brought death and Christ brought life. With Adam’s one act sin entered the world; sin was imputed ever after him; we were born sinners and the proof of Adams sin affecting all is universal death

Paul’s point was that sin was in the world but not imputed when there is no law but there is still death. So even though there was no law until Moses and people weren’t willfully breaking the commandments of God, sin and death reigned. Men died because they were sinners – and they were sinners because they were from Adam. Sin doesn’t need the law to exist. All human history before and after the law, ALL HISTORY, reveals man is a sinner because everybody dies.

Paul now looks at the benefit of what Christ did, not because of anything man does or did. We are no more responsible for what produced our death than we are responsible for that act of Christ which provides our life and salvation. These two acts are different in their essence in every way and in their effect. In Christ we have infinite effects of blessedness. So, we have nothing to do with our salvation – can’t earn it, can do nothing to contribute to it. Salvation is only and Always of the Lord.

Outside of Christ the human race is still under the reign of death. Christ’s gift is by far greater than Adams sin – the many imputed to Christ are those who receive, in Christ, in faith, the gift of eternal life