Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come. But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. For just as through the disobedience of the one man, the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man, the many will be made righteous. The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Paul presents in today's passage a tale of two kings. The first Adam, the King of Eden, and the second Adam, who is Jesus, the King of Kings. He compares and contrasts both Kings in an interesting way. Both Adam and Jesus were completely sinless men from the beginning, and both of them acted in ways that had significant consequences for all mankind. Through the first Adam, sin entered into his kingdom and spread throughout the human race. Therefore, through one man, sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and that death spread to all men because all have sinned and fallen short of God's holy standard. The Apostle Paul regarded the events of Genesis 3 as totally historically true and regarded Adam and Eve as real people whose real actions had a lasting effect on the present day. Paul was not dealing with myth, allegory, or fable but with real human history. Each of these Kings instituted a reign or dominion. Under Adam, death reigned. Under Jesus, we can reign, but only through Jesus Christ as children of the Most High. It is staggering to think how completely death reigned under Adam. Everyone who is born dies. No one survives. When a child is born, it isn’t a question of whether the child will live or die; the only question is when. The current mortality rate stands at 100%. We think of this world as the land of the living, but in reality, it is the land of the dying, and the billions of human bodies buried under the Earth over the centuries are proof of this. Adam is responsible in his reign for the fall of the human race, not Eve. Eve was deceived when she sinned, but Adam rejected his God-given role, removed his crown, and sinned with full knowledge of his rebellious actions. Because of that abdication and failure, the principle of death was introduced into the world and has reigned on Earth ever since. Every added grave is further evidence of the spread and reign of sin since the time of Adam. Since death and sin are always connected, we know that all men are sinners because all are subject to death. A sinless person would not be subject to death, but since every person is subject to death, it proves that all humankind has sinned in Adam and fell just as he did. No one is exempt from the total, merciless reign of death, which began even before the law was given at the time of Moses. This also proves that man was under the reign of sin even before the law and our continued failure in it. The law was too late to prevent sin and death, and it was too weak to save from sin and death. Something else, besides the law, would be needed to save us from this reign of sin and death. We needed a new King to usher in a new Kingdom, and a new reign, or else death would reign for eternity.

Between these two men, they represent all of humanity, and everyone is identified in either Adam or Jesus. We are born identified with Adam, with an inherited nature of sin and death, and living under its reign. But through salvation, we may be born again into identification with Jesus, and in this way, we have transferred from one kingdom and reign to another. (Col 1:13) This idea of Adam and Jesus as two representatives of the human race is known as Federal Theology. Under a federal system of government, representatives are chosen, and the representative speaks for the people who chose him. Adam speaks for those he represents, and Jesus speaks for His people. The outcome of this election, our choosing of either Adam or Jesus, means everything and has eternal significance. If we choose Adam, we rightly receive judgment and condemnation under his reign. But if we choose Jesus, we receive the free gift of God’s grace and justification. Each of us gets to choose who we elect to represent us, and in doing so, we reject and turn away from the other. But we cannot elect both or neither; one must be chosen. We may disagree and say we never chose Adam, but when we sinned, we surely did, and we have aligned ourselves with the reign of sin and death ever since. Adam's offense had consequences for the entire human race – and as a result of Adam’s offense, many died. Jesus offers a free gift that also has consequences for the entire human race, but in a much different way. Many can live! Today's passage tells us that through the free gift of Jesus, the grace of God abounded to many through the spread of the Kingdom of Heaven. Adam’s work brought death, but Jesus’ work brings grace, which reigns only through Jesus. Jesus brings life, freedom, hope, justice, and everything that Adam's reign lacked. There is no other way to experience the Kingdom of Heaven than through the blood of Jesus. Jesus is the only gate and doorway into that Kingdom, and no other secret entrance exists, though many have tried.

There is a King in the kingdom where grace reigns, and that King is Jesus and no one else. We can also reign with Jesus through this grace. A life of grace doesn’t look to the self because it understands that this undeserved favor of God is freely given apart from any reason in self. All the reasons for favor and blessing are in Jesus; none are in me. Grace doesn’t reign through self but through Jesus, and wherever Jesus rules, grace rules. It is also a kingdom in which God’s righteous standard will be respected and held high like the banner of a King. The legalist fears that the reign of grace will provide wicked hearts with a license to sin, but Scripture doesn’t share that fear. Grace does not accommodate sin. It faces it squarely and goes above sin in order to conquer it and expand its heavenly kingdom. Grace does not wink at unrighteousness or ignore it. Grace confronts sin with the atonement at the cross and the victory won at the open tomb. One day, when every knee will bow, the reign and dominion of King Jesus will swallow up the kingdom of darkness totally and completely, and each of us will live in the choice we made in our lives if we are at Jesus' side, or if we will be the ones swallowed up.