Romans 5:16

Romans 5:16 says, And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.   I believe that Paul was speaking of the sin of Adam, but I also believe we can apply it to each person since.  Sin, rebellion against God, is a choice that each of us makes at some point in life, and we cannot blame it on anyone else.  We may say that it is not fair since we don't live in a perfect world as Adam and Eve did, but neither did Jesus, and He lived without sin.  In order for the sacrifice of Christ to be truly meaningful, we must acknowledge that He was fully human and subject to temptation just as we are.  There is always a tendency to want to blame someone else for our sins, but we are alone responsible.  Still, because of the sacrifice of Christ, the sins of the world were paid for, but it is up to each individual to accept that gift of grace.  Verse seventeen adds, For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)   This again states the truth that Christ died, not for a selected group, but for all.  We just have to accept this abundance of grace and gift of righteousness made available through Christ.  It is so sad to know that those who go away to eternal separation from God do so with their sins, that which separates them from God, already forgiven through Christ, but they simply choose not to accept that gift of grace.  Verse eighteen continues, Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.  This again states that by the righteousness of one Man, Jesus Christ, the free gift of salvation came to all people for all time, if they only accept that gift. Verse nineteen states, For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.  We can read this to mean that by Adam's disobedience all men were made sinners, but we cannot say in my opinion that we are guilty because of the sin of Adam.  Each person chooses at some point to rebel against the will of God, and just as the sin of Adam affected many, so does ours.  Not that our sin makes them guilty, but that we lead them away from God's will.  The good news is that the obedience of Christ makes salvation available to all.  Verse twenty adds, Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: Paul said that the Law only made sin abound.  This was not the purpose of the Law, but the result due to the failure of even one person to keep the Law, until Christ came.  That is where grace abounded, with the coming of Jesus Christ to fulfill the Law on behalf of everyone.  Verse twenty-one continues, That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.  Through sin, we earn death.  Through grace, by believing in the sacrifice of Christ for us, we are given everlasting life.  It is a simple choice, with nothing in between.