“Just as through one transgression many became subject to condemnation”

“Just as through one transgression many became

subject to condemnation”

[Romans 5:12-21]

Romans 5:12-19 talks about the similarities and differences between Adam and Jesus Christ: verses 12-14 highlight the similarities, verses 15-17 highlight the differences, and verses 18-19 highlight both the similarities and differences. Let’s look at Romans 5:18-19: “So then, as through one transgression came condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness came justification of life to all men. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” The word “so then” (verse 18) is a conjunction that summarizes and draws a conclusion from the content of Romans 5:12-17.

First, let's think about the differences between Adam and Jesus Christ.

(1) Their actions are different.
Let’s look at Adam’s action. In Romans 5:18, it says "by one transgression," which refers to Adam’s disobedience (verse 19). Adam’s sin, that is, Adam’s disobedience, is mentioned in several places, but the "one transgression" referred to in Romans 5:18 specifically points to Adam’s disobedience to God’s command in Genesis 2:17 (3:6). What was God's command? Let’s look at Genesis 2:17: “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Adam disobeyed this command of God. Let’s look at Genesis 3:6: “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.”

Now, let’s look at the action of Jesus Christ. In Romans 5:18, it speaks of “one act of righteousness,” which refers to the obedience of Jesus Christ (verse 19). The righteous act of Jesus Christ, that is, His obedience, means that Jesus’ entire life was a life of obedience. But the "one act of righteousness" mentioned in Romans 5:18 refers to Jesus Christ’s obedience to God’s command even to the point of dying on the cross. Let’s look at Philippians 2:8: “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” This one righteous act of Jesus Christ, that is, His obedience unto death on the cross, was a one-time act. Let’s look at Hebrews 9:28: “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many...” [(Modern Bible Translation) “So Christ offered Himself once for all to take away the sins of many…”]. The "one righteous act" of Jesus Christ, the one act of obedience, that is, His death on the cross, was a single act, which is why before Jesus died on the cross, He said, "It is finished" (John 19:30).

So, Adam’s actions and Jesus Christ’s actions are different (they are completely opposite).

(2) The results of their actions are different.

First, let’s consider the result of Adam’s one transgression (one act of disobedience). Romans 5:18 says that many became subject to condemnation. Many became sinners (verse 19). The word “many” here, in the original Greek, actually means “all.” Therefore, "many people" refers to "all people," that is, all of humanity [as a side note, in verse 15, the phrase “by one man’s transgression, many died” also refers to all people, meaning all of humanity]. How can we be sure of this? Romans 5:12 says, “Therefore, just as through one man (Adam) sin entered the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned.” In other words, the result of Adam’s one transgression (one act of disobedience) is that all people sinned, so death spread to all people (verse 12). Therefore, the phrases “many became subject to condemnation” (verse 18) and “many became sinners” (verse 19) refer to “all people became subject to condemnation” and “all people became sinners.”

Now, what is the result of Jesus Christ’s one righteous act (one act of obedience)? Many were justified and received life (verse 18). Many became righteous (verse 19). Here again, “many people” refers to "all people." However, the “all people” here does not refer to all of humanity. It refers specifically to those who believe in Jesus Christ and are justified, the saved believers. In other words, it refers to “all people who believe in Jesus.” How can we be sure of this? In verses 18 and 19, the phrase “many people” translated into Korean as "많은 사람" is actually "all people" in the original Greek. However, the result of Jesus Christ’s one righteous act (one act of obedience) is not that all of humanity is justified and made righteous and receives life (eternal life). Rather, it is only those who believe in Jesus Christ who are justified and made righteous. Therefore, the “all people” here refers to all believers, not to everyone, including unbelievers.

So, are you one of those who belong to Adam, or are you one of those who belong to Jesus Christ? If you belong to Adam as an unbeliever, then you are living in disobedience to God’s command, and you are sinning (verses 18, 19). As a result, you will be condemned (you will be declared a sinner, verse 18), and death will reign over you (death will dominate you, verse 17). We cannot live a life of disobedience like Adam. We should not live in sin, following the devil’s commands and breaking God’s law. If, however, you belong to Jesus Christ as a true believer, then you will be living in obedience to God’s command, just as Jesus did, and you will live righteously, doing what is right (verses 18, 19). As a result, you will be justified (verse 18) and reign in life (verse 17). We must live a life of obedience like Jesus. We must obey the Lord and live a righteous life.

Romans 5:18-19: "… as a result of one man's offense, judgment came to all men to condemnation; even so, through one man's righteous act, the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life." (19) "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous."

Just as what Adam did, "many" (all people) received, so also what Jesus Christ did, "many" (all believers, whom God loved and chose before the foundation of the world) received. The meaning of this is imputation. The Bible speaks of three types of imputation:

Adam's sin was imputed to all people (the entire human race). Because of this, we were born as sinners into this world, and since we are sinners, we commit sin. In the case of a newborn, although the child has not committed any sin of their own, Adam's sin is imputed to them, making them a sinner as well.
Our sin was imputed to Jesus. See Isaiah 53:6: "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." Also, see Romans 8:3: "For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh." (Modern Translation: "Because of our fallen nature, the law was weak to do what it should, but God did it. He sent His Son in the likeness of sinful man, and He took our sin upon Himself to deal with the problem of sin.") And see 2 Corinthians 5:21: "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (Modern Translation: "God made Christ, who knew no sin, to be sin for us, so that we might be made righteous before God in Him.")

The righteousness of Jesus Christ was imputed to us. See Romans 5:19: "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous."

Jesus Christ, the one man, took all of our sins upon Himself (our sins were imputed to Him) and, by obeying God the Father to the point of death on the cross, the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21) was imputed to us, making us righteous (Romans 5:19). Also, see 1 Peter 2:24: "Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed."

The difference between Adam and Jesus Christ is the action and the result of the action.
The difference in the action is that Adam disobeyed God, while Jesus Christ obeyed God the Father. The result of the actions is that, through Adam's one transgression, death came to all people, but through Jesus Christ's one righteous act, many received eternal life.

The similarities between Adam and Jesus Christ are representation and imputation.
Representation means that just as Adam represented all of humanity, Jesus Christ represents those who receive grace. Imputation means that just as Adam’s sin was imputed to all people (resulting in death), Jesus Christ's righteousness has been imputed to us (resulting in eternal life).

Let us all open our hearts and believe in Jesus Christ, being justified by Him and receiving eternal life.