Romans 5:18, 19 Therefore as by the offense of one judgment came on all men to condemnation… The equal solidarity with Christ as with Adam reaffirmed, from the implication of vers. 12-14, in the strength of the arguments of vers. 15-17. Affirmed in two antitheses, the one pointing in either case more to historical events, the other to moral causes. I. THE HISTORICAL ANTITHESIS. 1. One trespass unto condemnation - the condemnation that is marked by death. 2. One act of righteousness (i.e. one decree of righteousness) unto justification - the justification that brings life. II. THE MORAL ANTITHESIS. 1. One man's disobedience making the many sinners: it being imputed to them for sin. The sinfulness of perverted will also bound up in the same sad heritage. 2. One Man's obedience - obedience "unto death" (Philippians 2:8) - making the many righteous: it being imputed to them for righteousness. The power of a holy will also involved in the restored heritage. We see here the immense importance of moral acts; the immense influence also of moral factors. Never to be repeated on such a scale: but not on a lesser scale? "If one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honoured, all the members rejoice with it" - T.F.L. Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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