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.
Context: Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, wea have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. Romans 5:20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, Romans 1:21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
From the lexicon: Disobedience=refusing to listen properly, unwilling to take heed. Sinners=those that forfeit by missing the mark. Obedience=submission to what is heard. Righteous=approved by God.
Pulling it together: As one man’s (Adam’s) refusal to take heed of God’s warning resulted in that many (the whole human race) miss the mark–forfeit standing with God, so by one man’s (Jesus’s) submission to God’s word (by going to the Cross), the many can gain approval of God. The context is Adam’s rebellion in the garden of Eden as described in Genesis 3. There we read how the serpent offered Eve that she could become like God knowing good and evil. Ever since that day the whole human race has followed the same track. Sin is setting God’s word aside and doing what is right in one’s own eyes. It is replacing the God of Creation with the god of self. Romans 5:18 reminds us that this is sin leading to condemnation–destruction. Romans 6:23 tells us that sin leads to death.
But the rest of our verse gives us hope. Jesus went to the cross and bore our sins there to bring grace to all who will believe. Sin brings death, but grace abounds bringing eternal life. All God asks is that we receive Him (Jesus) and He gives the power to become His child (John 1:12)
Lord, I pray for grace to receive Your Word: You are God, and I am not. I pray for grace to receive You into my life now and for eternity.