Romans 5:16-18 “And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.”
There is a vast difference between what was wrought by the first man Adam in the garden and what was wrought by the last man Adam, the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:45). This might seem like a “no-brainer,” but the vastness of this difference deserves our consideration. The first Adam committed one sin that is reckoned to him (because he was only given one law). Yet, by this one sin condemnation was passed upon all of the first Adam’s children.
The second Adam (Jesus) committed no sin in His life. However, He became sin for all His children (2 Corinthians 5:21). He shouldered the burden, not just of one sin, but of all the sins of all His children for all time. By this one man’s righteous act justification came upon all His children in spite of all their sins.
The work of Jesus Christ is a free gift. It is not given as the world so often gives “free” gifts. We are all aware of the misuse of the word free today. We have all been exposed to the advertisement that says if you purchase this item we will send you a free gift. It is not a gift, and it is certainly not free. Anything that requires us to fulfill an obligation in order to receive it is ours by our works.
The first Adam’s transgression brought death into the world. By this single transgression, death began to rule over the life of men. How glorious to consider that, by the free gift, we no longer live in fear of death! Instead, through the second Adam, life becomes our rule.
It should amaze us how liberally God gives to His children. We have not just received grace, but an abundance of grace. The gift of righteousness is an abundant gift. This great abundance has only one source; Jesus Christ. It is not a bargain like men would make who would say if you do this, you will get that free.
The first Adam’s offense brought judgment upon all His children. Judgment pronounced all of the first Adam’s children guilty of sin and worthy of death. In a similar manner, the righteousness of the second Adam brought deliverance to all His children. Whereas there was only condemnation in the first, the righteousness of the second brought to His children the free gift of a justified (acquitted) life.
May we glorify God for the heartfelt understanding, revealed to us by His Holy Spirit, that in taking our sins upon Him, our Lord Jesus Christ received a verdict for us of “not guilty on all charges!”