5:15 What exactly does Paul mean by what he says here?
5:15 What exactly does Paul mean by what he says here?
Here Paul contrasts Adam's sin which brought condemnation and death to the whole human race with Christ's gift of life through God's grace which freely takes away all sins and restores life.
Christ's power to save is greater than Adam's sin is to destroy. His gift of life is immeasurably greater than the consequences of Adam's sin (CP V16-19). Those who avail themselves of Christ's gift of life reign in life; sin no longer has dominion over them (CP 6:14).
God's grace is more powerful than sin - it not only forgives sin, it also overcomes the desire to sin. Where sin abounds grace abounds even more to empower believers to resist sin (CP 5:20-21 with 1Jn 3:6-10; 5:4, 18).
The word abound is used twice in Ro 5:20 and derives from two different Greek root words. The first time it is used, "The law entered that the offence might abound", teaches that not only did the law reveal sin, but it also caused it to happen.
Whereas the second time it is used, "…but where sin abounded grace did much more abound", teaches that grace is exceedingly more powerful than sin.
It provides forgiveness of sin and as we learned in 1Jn 3:6-10 and 5:4, 18 it also empowers believers to resist it (CP Ro 6:1-2).
See also comments on Ro 3:9, 5:12-14, 6:1, 6:3-5, 6:6-11, 6:12-14, 6:15, 6:16, 6:17-20, 6:21-23, 7:7-23, 8:1-2, 8:3-4; Ga 5:17; Jas 4:5 and 1Jn 3:6-9 and author's studies Romans 6 - a Study on God's Empowering of Believers through Jesus Christ to Overcome Sin in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith.