Where Sin Increased, Grace Ruled
Romans 5:18-21 NLT
18 Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. 19 Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous. 20 God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. 21 So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Message
I. Adam’s Sin and Christ’s Righteousness (18-19)
Last week, we studied the superiority of Christ’s grace in comparison to Adam’s sin (Romans 5:15-17).
In verse 18, Paul contrasts Adam’s one sin and Christ’s one act of righteousness.
| Actor | Action | Consequences |
| Adam | One sin | Condemnation for everyone |
| Christ | One act of righteousness | A right relationship with God and new life for everyone |
In verse 19, Paul contrasts one person’s disobedience to God and one other person’s obedience to God.
| One actor’s action toward God’s word | Consequences |
| One person’s disobedience to God | Many became sinners |
| One other person’s obedience to God | Many will be made righteous |
II. The Law Revealed Sin (20a)
See verse 20a.
20a God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were.
The law revealed their sin so that they could see how sinful they were (20a).
The law didn’t solve their sin. Instead, it exposed their sin, made their guilt clearer, and showed how much they needed God’s greater grace in Christ (20a, Romans 4:15, 7:5, 7-8, 13).
III. God’s Grace Became More Abundant and Rules Through Christ (20b–21)
See verses 20b and 21.
20b But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. 21 So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Verses 20b and 21 contrast sin and God’s wonderful grace:
| Compared objects | Verse 20b | Verse 21 |
| Sin | Committed by people more and more | Ruled over all people and brought them to death |
| God’s wonderful grace | Became more abundant | Rules instead of sin, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord |
It is God’s wonderful and abundant grace that solves our sin (20b). It gives us right standing with God and results in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (21b).
