Benefits Of Being Justified Through FaithSample

You Are Saved Because Of What Christ Did

“For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.”

Romans 5:12-21 is important theology, teaching us that all of life must be viewed through two representatives: Adam and Christ. In verse 19, for the fifth verse in a row, two truths are taught: Because of Adam’s disobedience, we died, but because of Christ’s obedience, we have life. Five times in a row. Look at it: 

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. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin.

For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.

(Romans 5:15-19)

Perhaps God is so emphatic because we are so slow to grasp that we cannot earn our salvation, but can only get right with God because of what Christ did on the cross. 

I am not condemned because of my bad deeds but because of my representative, Adam. Similarly, I am not saved because of my good deeds but because of my representative, Christ. I am not saved because of what I do. I am saved because of what Christ has done. That’s the gospel.