The Conclusion – Grace Reigns
The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:20,21
Paul has sketched the religious history of the world in the broadest possible strokes. Adam sealed the fate of all people; Christ, the second Adam, enables people to escape that fate and to be right with God as never before. But Jews might object: what about all God has done for Israel? How can 2,000 years of revelation-history be left out? Paul of course believes in the enduring value of the Old Testament. But he is equally convinced that its law does not fundamentally alter the situation described here.
What was the purpose of the law then? ‘The law was added so that the trespass might increase’ (5:20). Paul has already explained previously at least part of what he means by this. The law reveals sin (3:20; c.f. 7:7,13), defining and displaying it. The law turns sin into transgression because ‘where there is no law there is no transgression’ (4:15; c.f. 5:13). In 7:8 Paul will add that the law even provokes sin. These statements would have shocked Jews who saw the Mosaic law as increasing righteousness and definitely not increasing sin. But Paul says the law increased sin rather than diminishing it, and provoked sin rather than preventing it.
God has however made provision for the increase in sin by the increase in grace, for ‘where sin increased, grace increased all the more’ (5:20). Sin’s increase is its spread and intensification through history reaching its climax in the rejection of Christ on the cross. Grace’s increase ‘all the more’ must also be the cross where God freely met humanity’s hopeless failing.
This allusion to grace introduces a third comparison between Adam and Christ which takes up the ultimate issues of life and death, ‘just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord’ (5:21). Adam is not mentioned but is assumed as the one who introduced ‘sin’ and ‘death’ into the world. ‘Grace’ and ‘life’ are set against ‘sin’ and ‘death.’ But the emphasis is again on the parallel that compares two kinds of ‘reign.’ God’s purpose is that ‘just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord’ (5:21).
The reign of grace is an extraordinary concept. Grace forgives sins through the cross and bestows on the sinner both righteousness and eternal life. Grace sanctifies sinners, shaping them into the image of Christ. Grace perseveres with us, determined to complete what it began. One day grace will destroy death.
God’s throne is a ‘throne of grace’ that we can now approach boldly to receive mercy and grace for every need (Hebrews 4:16). This reign of grace is ‘through Jesus Christ our Lord,’ through His death and resurrection. Paul will conclude the next three chapters (6,7 and 8) with the same kind of reference to the mediation of Christ.
How do you see your world? Some people can only see sin and death. Before Christ came death reigned supreme (5:14,17). But since He came the throne has been occupied by grace and by those who have received that grace. This final verse sums up God’s purposes that ‘just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord’ (5:21). Christ reigns, exalted to the Father’s right hand, with all things under His feet, welcoming the nations and waiting for His remaining enemies to be made His footstool (Ephesians 1:20f). This is how God sees it. This is His reality. Make it yours.