The Greatness Of Grace

Now Paul presents a contrast between Adam and Christ.

1. There is a contrast between sin and grace.

"But 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" (5:15).

The sin of Adam affects all; while grace has been extended to all through Christ.

2. There is a contrast between condemnation and justification.

"And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgement was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification" (5:16).

Condemnation is the product of one man’s sin, but justification is possible despite all of our many sins. In Adam we got what we deserved, condemnation. In Christ we have received much more of what we do not deserve, grace.

3. There is a contrast between death and life.

"For 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.). Therefore as by the offence of one judgement 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" (5:17-19).

On one hand, death is seen reigning over all mankind by Adam’s sin. On the other hand, those who receive grace and gift of righteousness, shall reign in life by Jesus Christ. Notice that we can not only have life, but we can also reign in life.

What does all of this have to do with us? God sees us as in one of two persons. We have either in Adam or in Christ. In Adam, God sees us as sinners. But in Christ, God sees as righteous. What do we have to do to be in Adam? Nothing. What do we have to do to be in Christ? Only trust Him.

There was a criminal in a state penitentiary who was soon to be executed for murder. His story received an uncommon amount of publicity because he had willed that the cornea of one of his eyes should be used in what was then the very new procedure of corneal transplant. Further, the recipient was designated prior to the criminal’s execution, and indeed the two men met before the execution was carried out.

In due time the murder was put to death. His cornea was taken from his body, and by the miracle of medicine transplanted into the eye of a blind man who then could see. Now suppose if some policeman had tried to arrest that man who received the cornea and have him executed because he had the cornea of a murderer. Any judge would say, “But that cornea which formerly was in the body of a murderer is now in the body of a man who is righteous before the law. Therefore, the cornea is as righteous as the man is.” And that illustrates how I was in Adam and just condemned to die because I sinned when he sinned. But by a miracle greater than any surgical procedure, I was placed in Jesus Christ. And now I am righteous because He is righteous and can stand before a holy God uncondemned. From being in Adam to being in Christ—that’s my story by the miracle of God’s grace.