“17 If by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. 18 So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is justification leading to life for everyone. 19 For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. 20 The law came along to multiply the trespass. But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness, resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
In Romans Chapter 5, Paul has been illuminating the vast differences between the way of Adam (worldliness, sin, and condemnation) and the way of Jesus (kingdom of God, justification, salvation). This is the last set of verses in this section, and it serves as a summary of those thoughts. The main theme of this section is: Where sin increases, grace increases more.
There is one important thing to note, which is that this does not give anyone permission or reason to sin (often called license). Paul will cover this more deeply in the next chapter when he defines what it means to be saved by Christ Jesus. (See Romans 6:1-2) We’ll cover this section in the next devotional.
Paul previously described that there was sin and death in the world prior to the law of God being handed down to Moses. “In fact, sin was in the world before the law, but sin is not charged to a person’s account when there is no law.” (v. 13) Paul said that the sin of those people alive before the existence of the written law was not charged to their account, but now in verse 20, he says, “The law came along to multiply the trespass. But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more…”. (v. 20) So even now, for all of those who have been condemned in their sin by the law of God, even where there is insurmountable trespass and sin, grace abounds even more. How can that be? The final phrase of verse 21 is key to understanding this principle: “…through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (v. 21b) No reconciliation, no life, no grace is possible if not through Christ Jesus our Lord. Only Christ and His sacrifice provide any opportunity for fallen sinners to be redeemed and made right before God. Thank you Father for the Son Jesus Christ! For it truly is just as the Apostle John said:
“Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness, for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” — John 1:16-17