Romans

Consequences of the New Righteousness

By faith, we have received true righteousness, and we are at peace with God through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Through him, we receive this favor in which we abide, and we even boast to expect the glory of God.

Not only that, but we also even boast of our afflictions, knowing that afflictions produce endurance,

from which comes character, and character produces hope.

Hope does not disappoint us because the Holy Spirit has been given to us, pouring into our hearts the love of God.

Consider, furthermore, the time when Christ died for us: when we were still helpless and unable to do anything.

Few would agree to die for an upright person; although for a very good person, perhaps someone would dare to die.

But see how God demonstrated his love for us: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us;

and we have been made righteous through his blood. Therefore, even more, we are justified now and will be saved from any condemnation.

Once enemies, we have been reconciled with God through the death of his Son; with even more reason, now we can be saved through his life.

Not only that, but we also boast in God because of Christ Jesus our Lord, through whom we have been reconciled.

Comparison Between Adam and Christ

Therefore, sin entered the world through one man; and through sin, death. Later on, death spread to all humankind because all sinned.

As long as there was no law, they could not speak of disobedience, but sin was already present in the world.

This is why, from Adam to Moses, death ruled among them, even though their sin was not disobedience like in Adam’s case—this was not the real Adam, but a foreshadowing of the one who was to come.

This has been the fall, but God’s gift extends far beyond it. Everyone died because of one man’s fault, but how much greater is God’s grace when the gift he gave reaches everyone, through this unique man, Jesus Christ.

Again, there is no comparison between the gift and the offense of one man. One sinner committed the disobedience that brought condemnation, whereas the grace of God offers forgiveness to a world of sinners.

If death ruled because of the disobedience of one person, how much more will there be a reign of life for those who receive grace and the gift of true righteousness through Jesus Christ!

Just as one transgression brought sentence of death to all, so too, one man’s good act has brought justification and light to all;

and, as the disobedience of only one made all sinners, so the obedience of one person allowed all to be made just and holy.

The law, introduced later, led to an increase in sin; but where sin grew, grace abounded even more.

Just as sin caused death to rule, grace will reign in its own time. After making us just and friends of God, it will lead us to eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord.