God’s righteousness arose from many transgressions.

Romans 5:16 The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification. In these verses of Romans 5 we should be awestruck by Paul’s comparison of Adam’s one act of sin and its result and Jesus’ one act of righteousness and its result. Verse 16 is incredibly encouraging and stunning. Notice that he compared what came through Adam and Jesus. The idea Paul wanted his readers to understand was that what arose from each one’s deed couldn’t be more different. With Adam’s deed came judgment which resulted in condemnation. All of mankind fell under God’s condemnation. What a tragic and horrible outcome! However, Paul wrote literally “out of many transgressions” the free gift of righteousness arose. What did he mean? God’s grace can only be understood against the backdrop of many transgressions. Listen to Psalms 112:4. “Light arises in the darkness for the upright; He is gracious and compassionate and righteous.” Jesus’ one act of righteousness on the cross when He obeyed His Father and justified the ungodly arose from the many transgressions that resulted from Adam’s sin. That righteousness is God’s gift of grace to sinners upon whom He has set His favor. Be stunned by our magnificent God who reveals His glorious grace. He took the many transgressions of mankind as the opportunity to display His righteousness in His Son, Jesus Christ, and give it as a gift to all who believe in Jesus. Paul earlier in this chapter wrote in vs. 10, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” It is the sins of others that becomes the opportunity for Jesus to love through us. His love rises in us out of the transgressions of others as we willingly bear the weight, pain, and grief of their sins, forgive for Jesus’ sake, and seek their highest good for the glory of God. Acknowledgment: Music from “Carried by the Father” by Eric Terlizzi. www.ericterlizzi.com