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.
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 are 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 response to Adam’s trespass not only made up the ground lost by Adam but brings 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 sin and death question.
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 life, not temporal life. This 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.
