15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.
much more have the grace of God [cause] and the free gift [result] by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many [those who believe].
Just as believers are justified for a righteousness not personally their own, so they were condemned for a sin not personally their own. The nature of the union between Adam and Christ and their people is parallel.
The “many” here indicates that God’s grace is available for everyone. People might not appropriate that privilege to themselves, but it is there for them.
“Abounded” is a word of God’s generosity. God’s grace response to Adam’s trespass not only made up for the ground lost by Adam but also brought to completion his eternal destiny. There is no balance here, but rather overbalance.
PRINCIPLE:
Grace, finally actualized in Christ, is plentifully sufficient to address our question of sin and death.
APPLICATION:
God delights much more in His grace than in issuing judgment. The “reign of life” in Christ surpasses the “reign of death.” Life with Christ is eternal, not temporal. This life is something far greater than what Adam had in the garden before he sinned. The idea of surpassing grace is that when man did his worst, God did His best. The new Representative for believers offers something much greater than Adam. In Adam, we have generation; in Christ, we possess regeneration. The victory of Christ is much greater than the defeat of Adam.
