Romans 5:12-19  ^{RO 5:12} 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-- 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.  ^{RO 5:15} But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 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.  ^{RO 5:18} 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.

In this passage we see a comparison being made between the weight of sin and the weight of God’s abundant provision of grace.

The key or pivotal phrase to understanding this passage is found in verse 15: But the gift is not like the trespass.

At first glance this passage may seem a little confusing because the writer goes on to describe the two topics in very similar terms yet concludes they are not similar at all.  A much closer look however reveals to us that there is indeed a profound difference between the gift and the trespass, between the weight of sin and the grace of God.

First let’s consider the weight of Sin.

^{RO 5:12} 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…

The writer begins by discussing the first sin that was ever committed, by Adam.  Prior to this time, life and the world were extremely different than what we experience today.

In the paradise that Adam lived in, death was non-existent, it was not even possible for death to occur.  Imagine that scenario and the implications.  Adam could have had no understanding of death whatsoever, at least as it pertains to human beings.  In the beginning it was not possible for him to die of any kind of natural cause.  There were no diseases or illnesses of any kind.  God’s protection over him prevented him from ever being in accidental danger as well.  The idea of him dying could not have ever entered his mind the concept had to have been completely unknown to Adam and Eve.  It was impossible for them to say, trip on a tree root in the garden and fatally hit their head on a rock, they couldn’t be mauled by a ferocious animal or stumble off a cliff.  They couldn’t drown while swimming in a lake or catch pneumonia by not drying their hair afterwards.

All of that changed the moment Adam committed that one sin.

Because of Adam’s one sin, the entire world coming after him was now subjected to death.  Suddenly everyone forever more would have an awareness that their lives on earth would one day come to an end, that they would not go on living forever on earth.  Everything they knew would some day at some unknown time come to an end.

In addition to the knowledge of death and the concept of dying being introduced to the mindset of mankind, there is the added burden of each individual now being born with a nature that is drawn towards sinful choices.  Gone was the innocence towards sin and the ignorance of doing things that displease God.

Suddenly, because of this one single sin, all mankind would mortally die and begin life struggling against rightful relationship with God, a struggle that each of us will internally fight with all the days of our lives.

But it doesn’t end there.

“…and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned…”

The first sin placed all of this unbearable weight on everyone in existence and everyone that would be born after Adam even down to you and me.  What do you think happened with the second occurrence of sin?  What did that add to the weight already weighing on mankind?

An additional unbearable weight is added to the first, than another and another and another.

The nature of God’s holiness is so profound that any single sin would cause the separation described here.

Imagine the crushing weight of sin pressing down on mankind now some many generations of sinful individuals later.  It is a seemingly hopeless scenario.

But the gift is not like the trespass…

The writer says Adam with his first sin bringing the weight of condemnation and death to all of mankind was a pattern of Jesus who would come after him.

But the gift is not like the trespass…

The sacrifice of the one man has the power or strength to remove the burden of that first crushing weight of sin, plus the added crushing weight of the second sin and the third and every other sin that has been added to that and every sin that will be added for all of time.

You would expect that at best the sacrifice of one man would only have the power to pay for the debt of one of the sins of one man, since it was one sin that brought death to the world and the punishment for the one sin is death.  A life for a life…

But the gift is not like the trespass…

Imagine the power then that exists in the gift of grace extended to mankind because of the one act of righteousness performed by Christ?

but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification.

The timing of the coming of Christ is no accident.  Christ came to bring salvation through the abundant gift of grace, at a time when an abundant gift of grace was necessary, to show just how powerful this gift of grace is, after many generations had brought the weight of sin to a crushing burdensome level.

The timing was perfect, as Romans 5:6 confirms for us: ^{RO 5:6} You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.

Romans 5:18  “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.”

Notice the results of this “one act of righteousness”.

The results were that it brought… “justification that brings life for all men.””

All men, past, present and future.

The conclusion of these facts then is that no man can sin so much that the grace of Christ is not powerful enough to bring justification, forgiveness, salvation and restoration.

No one then is beyond the reach of Christ and the Abundant Gift of Grace that God has granted to mankind.

If the sacrifice of Christ has been able to pay the price and remove the weight of sin bearing down on the creation from a lifetime of sins from countless generations of peoples, it certainly has the power to cover the sins that any one single individual could commit in their relatively short span of life.

Thank God that the gift is not like the trespass!