5:16
The nature of the effect of the two actions are radically different. Judgement followed the sin and so brought condemnation. We are all declared guilty, we are condemned (John 3:18). The free gift of God brought justification, we are no longer condemned. All of man’s efforts are geared towards removing condemnation, either by trying to prove that we are good, or by denying that our sinful actions are actually sinful. Through the gospel there is no longer any need for that, for through the blood of Jesus we are justified.
5:17
Death reigned through the one man, Adam. Adam’s sin affected all of humanity. Death reigned over us. But under the gospel we reign in life, through the one man Jesus Christ. We all know that death is an unavoidable reality. The effects of the gospel are just as real and sure. We receive “the abundance of grace”. God did not give us just a little bit of grace, but poured out an abundance of grace, He lavished it upon us. We receive the free gift of righteousness. Righteousness is not something that we need to earn, indeed we cannot earn it, but it is given to us as a free gift. We do not earn it, but we are to live in it. And all this is achieved through the one man Jesus Christ.
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