"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. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord."
Today's quote contains Paul's assurances of the blessed promise that God made through Abraham to all mankind.
Herein, Paul explains that through the sin of Adam, all mankind was condemned, and likewise, Paul explains that through the righteousness of Jesus Christ, all who will believe in Him are made "righteous", or are "justified".
We should make note that Paul again clearly states that, through Jesus Christ, those who accept His grace are "made righteous". That does NOT mean that one is made righteous until he/she sins again, it means that the spirit of the believer is squeaky clean and can no longer be tarnished by sin by any means.
After one has accepted God's grace through Jesus Christ, that one is not merely a soul who's past sins have been forgiven, upon salvation, that one is a soul who's sins have been made righteous, or justified, and are no longer seen as sin in the sight of God.
It's obvious that Paul, when preaching, faced the same dilemma as true Christians today. The people to whom he preached the gospel of Christ, wanted to make salvation all about their own selfish actions. In this past series of lessons Paul made special effort to clarify that salvation has nothing to do with what we do or do not do in the flesh after our spirit has been redeemed. It's all about whether or not we will accept the fact that we have NO righteousness without that righteousness that is imputed into us through faith in Jesus Christ crucified.
Jesus did not die simply to give us a second chance to live above sin, He died so that there would NEVER be sin charged against ours souls if we believe in Him.
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and SHALL NOT COME INTO CONDEMNATION; but IS PASSED from death unto life." (John 5:24)~
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