Have you ever been with friends at the edge of a cliff, looking down at the water below? Someone always has to go first. There’s always that friend who jumps before everyone else—the first to skydive, first on the dance floor, first to take bold steps while others watch.
In Romans 5:12-21, Paul tells us about someone who “went first” in a much more significant way—and how another person came to undo what the first had done.
The House of Adam: Where Sin and Death Reign
It seems universally acknowledged that our world isn’t perfect and neither are the people in it. Many in the Western world assume that despite our flaws, people are basically good at heart. But Paul challenges this assumption head-on.
“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” (Romans 5:12)
This passage introduces what many theologians call “original sin”—one of history’s most controversial ideas. People often resist Paul’s explanation, but it addresses fundamental questions: Why is the world corrupted? Why do people commit evil not just in one era but throughout history? Why is our century morally no better than previous ones?
Paul takes us back to Adam, whose very name means “humanity.” When Adam sinned, he essentially opened the door to sin. But sin wasn’t alone—death came along uninvited. Think of it like teenagers having a party while their parents are away. They might willingly invite in trouble (sin), but they don’t realize death is trailing behind.
Now imagine sin and death making themselves at home, raiding the fridge, trashing the place, and refusing to leave. The law—like an honest friend walking around saying “don’t touch that” and “stop it”—can only point out what’s wrong but lacks the power to fix it.
“The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more” (Romans 5:20)
The residents of this house face a painful dilemma. They can’t remove sin and death themselves, but the only authority powerful enough to help will also bring judgment. They’re trapped—helpless to solve their current problem and hopeless about the future.
The House of Jesus: Where Grace and Life Reign
But Paul doesn’t leave us in despair. There’s another man, another house, another representative:
“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!” (Romans 5:17)
While sin reigns in Adam’s house, grace reigns in Christ’s. While death dominates Adam’s domain, life flourishes in Jesus’. No matter how numerous our sins, there’s more than enough room for forgiveness in this house.
Paul repeatedly calls it a “gift”—one powerful enough to undo all the damage Adam did:
“Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people” (Romans 5:18)
How Do We Change Houses?
We’re all born into “House Adam” where sin and death rule. But how do we move to “House Jesus” where grace and life reign? Paul’s answer echoes what he wrote about Abraham in Romans 4:
✨ Through faith.
We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. God offers each of us this gift freely and abundantly. Those with faith receive it.
“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” (Romans 5:19)
This understanding lays the groundwork for the Christian life Paul will describe in Romans 6. He wants us to understand three things about sin:
- Its penalty (death)
- Its power (we can’t overcome it alone)
- Its presence (it won’t disappear without intervention)
And three things Jesus does:
- Takes away sin’s penalty
- Breaks sin’s power
- Will one day remove sin’s presence entirely
The Way Forward
If you recognize you’re still in House Adam—if you’ve never had that moment of asking Jesus to forgive your sins and trusting Him with your life—today could be that day. The path is simple yet profound: repentance and faith. “Forgive me, and I trust you.”
If you’ve already taken that step, rejoice! Thank God for what He’s done through Christ. Ask Him to show you how His grace enables you to “reign in life” (Romans 5:17). Let grace bring joy to your heart, wisdom to your life, and hope to your soul.
Remember, no matter how badly you’ve messed up or how many times you’ve fallen short, the grace of Christ is enough to forgive it all. And no matter how many sinners there are in the world, there’s grace enough for everyone who trusts in Him.
“Who breaks the power of sin and darkness…” Indeed, He has, and He does.