Reading: Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 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.
Commentary: Over time man has invented many silly theories as to why people die (Natural selection, room must be made for more, etc.), but the simple reason all men die is because all men are sinners and God's punishment for sin is death. In this reading we note especially that through the one man Adam, sin entered into the world and death at the same time passed upon all men. However, "if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many." By offering up His body and soul as a ransom and payment in the place of all men, Christ really undoes (or overthrows) all the ruin Adam did. We thus treasure and notice the word "gift" in this text and we do not notice at all the word "work". "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." Believers receive "abundance of grace" by one Jesus Christ.
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