the power to influence others based on recognized knowledge or expertise.

All men: This truth may make us uncomfortable, but it is still the truth. The smallest baby is a sinner, subject to death. David understood this when he wrote, Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me (Psalm 51:5).

i. We can also know that we are born sinners for other reasons. First, think of how selfish and angry the smallest baby can be. Second, think of how we never have to teach our children to be bad—they learn that quite on their own, with old Adam teaching the lessons.

ii. If babies are sinners, does that mean that they go to hell? Not necessarily. First, we know that the children of believers are sanctified by the presence of a believing parent (1 Corinthians 7:14). Secondly, David had the assurance that his baby would meet him in heaven (2 Samuel 12:23). Finally, we know that at the end of it all, God, the judge of the entire world, will do right (Genesis 18:25).

iii. If there are the children of unbelieving parents in heaven, it is important to understand that it is not because they are innocent. As sons and daughters of guilty Adam, we are each born guilty as well. If such children do go to heaven, it is not because they are innocents who deserve heaven, but because the rich mercy of God has been extended to them as well.

An objection answered: “I thought we were sinners because we broke the Law” (13–14)

a. Until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law: We know that at the root of it all we are made sinners because of Adam and not because we break the law ourselves. We know this because sin and death were in the world before the Law was ever given.

i. The law was too late to prevent sin and death and it is too weak to save from sin and death.

b. Nevertheless death reigned: The total, merciless reign of death—even before the law was given at the time of Moses—proves that man was under sin before the law. Death reigned … even over those who had not sinned in the exact way Adam did, showing that the principle of sin was at work in every human.

c. Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come: Paul presents Adam as a type—a picture, a representation—of Jesus. Both Adam and Jesus were completely sinless men from the beginning, and both of them did things that had consequences for all mankind.

2. An objection answered: “I thought we were sinners because we broke the Law” (13–14)

a. Until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law: We know that at the root of it all we are made sinners because of Adam and not because we break the law ourselves. We know this because sin and death were in the world before the Law was ever given.

i. The law was too late to prevent sin and death and it is too weak to save from sin and death.

b. Nevertheless death reigned: The total, merciless reign of death—even before the law was given at the time of Moses—proves that man was under sin before the law. Death reigned … even over those who had not sinned in the exact way Adam did, showing that the principle of sin was at work in every human.

c. Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come: Paul presents Adam as a type—a picture, a representation—of Jesus. Both Adam and Jesus were completely sinless men from the beginning, and both of them did things that had consequences for all mankind.

Contrasts between Adam’s work and Jesus’ work (15–17)

a. But the free gift is not like the offense: Adam gave an offense that had consequences for the entire human race—as a result of Adam’s offense, many died. Jesus gives a free gift that has consequences for the entire human race, but in a different way. Through the free gift of Jesus, the grace of God … abounded to many. Adam’s work brought death but Jesus’ work brings grace.

b. Many died: This begins to describe the result of Adam’s offense. More came: judgment, resulting in condemnation, and death reigned over men. But there are also the results of Jesus’ free gift: grace abounded to many, justification (because many offenses were laid on Jesus), abundant grace, the gift of righteousness, and reigning in life.

i. “He is not saying that death reigned over us all because we all sinned; he is saying that death reigned over us all because Adam sinned.” (Morris)

c. Death reigned … righteousness will reign: We could say that both Adam and Jesus are kings, each instituting a reign. Under Adam, death reigned. Under Jesus, we can reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ

Is it therefore true that every person, apart from their personal choice, will receive the benefits of Jesus’ obedience? Not at all. First, Paul makes it clear that the free gift is not like the offense—they are not identical in their result or in their application. Second, over three verses Paul calls the work of Jesus a free gift, and he never uses those words to apply to the work of Adam. It is simply the nature of a gift that it must be received by faith. Finally, Paul clearly teaches throughout the New Testament that all are not saved.

i. In what sense then did the free gift come to all men? It came in the sense that the gift is presented, but not necessarily received.

The law makes man’s sin clearer and greater by clearly contrasting it with God’s holy standard.