Romans 5:18
18 Therefore [ara] [oun] as [hos] by [dia] the offence [paraptoma] of
one [heis] judgment came upon [eis] all [pas] men [anthropos] to [eis] condemnation [katakrima]; even [kai] so [houto] by [dia] the righteousness [dikaioma] of one [heis] the free gift
came upon [eis] all [pas] men [anthropos] unto [eis] justification [dikaiosis]
of life [zoe].
KJV-Interlinear
18 Therefore, as one trespass
led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to
justification and life for all men. ESV
Some try to use this passage to prove that everyone is
automatically saved, however that is not the case. Paul began the subject back
in verse twelve, and throughout these last few verses he has been comparing the
pattern by which sin came into the world, to the pattern by which salvation
came into the world.
Adam made a conscious decision and he committed a sin.
By that sin, the human race as a whole was condemned. However, each individual
person, as they have lived their life, made their own individual decisions and
committed sins of their own, thus confirming their own condemnation.
Jesus Christ made a conscious decision and voluntarily
placed himself in the place of all humanity, to take on the penalty of sin and
pay the price for salvation.
Adam made a conscious decision that brought
condemnation to humanity.
Jesus Christ made a conscious decision that brought
salvation to humanity.
However, each individual person has to make a
conscious decision of their own in order to confirm each of these cases.
Each and every person throughout human history has
sinned, therefore all are condemned.
Each and every person throughout human history has to
believe in Christ, which is a conscious decision, in order to receive
salvation.
Just as a person makes a decision to sin, so also each
person has to make a decision to believe in Christ for salvation.
What Paul has been teaching is that there is a pattern
that lays down the groundwork, and framework for each of these concepts.
No person is condemned by the act of another. So also,
no person is saved by the act of another.
Each person has to make their own conscious decision
in order to fall into the patterns that have been established.
Condemnation comes through sin, and likewise salvation
comes through faith.
This therefore, makes it possible for babies, for
example, to be saved if they happen to die at a very young age. They have
neither committed a sin, but likewise they have not committed faith. Neither of
which they are capable. God is fair.
Adams original sin, exposes humanity to eternal
condemnation.
The righteous work of Jesus Christ, presents
opportunity to humanity for eternal life.
These
studies, are a part of the massive daily study web site at DailyBibeStudy.Org,
that is easily accessible, and are written, so that you can come to Christ if
you have not done so already, and therefore not be lost forever.
And
if you have already believed in Christ, then these studies are written so you
can learn and understand and grow in your spiritual life, so that you can come
to the full knowledge of Christ, so that you can fulfill your meaning and
purpose in life as God intended for you, and so you can qualify for a
phenomenal eternal reward which you will have forever.
To
ignore this opportunity to pursue a daily study means you will be incomplete,
unfulfilled and you will lose out, big time.
The
Daily Bible Study is online, making it possible as never before in all of human
history, to advance in ones relationship with God, through Christ, and to
complete yourself beyond your imagination.
But
you have to decide to make that commitment.
No one else can study for you.
You have to do that yourself.
