Romans 5:12-21 NKJV[12] Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, “because” all sinned—

Many have heard this verse in the context that Augustine of Hippo translated this verse from a poor Latin version of this text. He translated “because” as “in him” all have sinned. This makes a big difference since “because” puts the fault on those who individually sinned whereas “in Him” makes everyone guilty of Adam’s sin(him).

[13] (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Note these statements, “sin was not imputed when there was no law”. Everyone was not guilty of Adam’s sin, instead it says simply sin was in the world.[14] Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.

Wait what!? Everyone did not sin like Adam! But death still got them though.

[15] But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. [16] And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification.

So these two were like opposites, one resulted in condemnation and the other in justification.

[17] For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)

So regarding death, all got caught in it. But those who receive grace and righteousness will reign in life through Jesus.

[18] Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.

So far it would not be consistent to read this as causal or an effectual process as if Adams decision to sin automatically made those after him sinful. Instead it would be more accurate to see it as an opportunity that presented itself.

[19] For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

Remembering that not all sinned like Adam & “because all sinned” we know what it means to be “made a sinner”. For example without Adam sinning we could not be made a sinner since there would be no sin to partake in(unless someone after Adam sinned first). This is a way of speaking of opportunity. Abraham was counted as righteous before Jesus was incarnated. That is why Abraham gets used as an example for righteousness as well.

[20] Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more,

So law made sin abound, so we can understand grace. Paul talks about the law being like our tutor to bring us to Christ. The law made everyone guilty, that is what Romans 3:9-20 is about.

[21] so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We have this before us, an opportunity for condemnation or justification. The justification and grace is free to receive. You can’t work for it, that is why it is grace, but you can reject it or receive it.