Romans 5:12, 18-21 (ESV)
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin,
and so death spread to all men because all sinned …
18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men,
so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.
19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners,
so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
To further emphasize the importance of biblical harmony, let’s look deeper into the modifying context of Romans 5:12.
- “because all sinned” – Notice that the spreading of death came “because all sinned.” Death (separation from God) occurs when we sin, not simply because there are dueling natures.
- “one trespass led to condemnation for all men” – Notice that Adam’s sin “led to condemnation for all men.” Catholicism and Calvinism would conclude this represents “TOTAL Depravity” and ALL men are condemned without sinning. However, we must remember that whatever conclusion applies to the first Adam, must also apply to the second Adam (Jesus).
- “one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men” – Notice that Jesus does the same thing as Adam only He does it in reverse – “one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.”
Q: Are “all” men righteous because of Jesus?
A: Yes, but only in potentiality. If they choose the God nature over the fallen nature, they become righteous. See Acts 17:26-27.
If that is so, then the opposite must also be true.
Q: Are “all” men condemned because of Adam?
A: Yes, but only in potentiality. If they choose the fallen nature over the God nature, they become condemned. See Romans 5:12.
Conclusion: If you believe in the doctrine of “original sin,” you must ask yourself this question – Was the sin of the first Adam more powerful than the righteousness of the second? The comparison within this passage is quite vivid. Whatever occurred through the act of one man (Adam) was undone through the act of another (Jesus Christ). Even if the taint of “original sin” had been passed down through the generations, the Messiah came to break that bondage to sin.