Romans 5:18 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.
Universal Sin, Singular Savior
In the dark days of World War II, Hitler’s Germany attempted to destroy the British will, people, and nation. Winston Churchill described those days of England’s defense as their “finest hour.” He also talked about the Royal Air Force pilots who defended the island and drove back Germany’s attacking bombers. He said of them, “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.”
Romans 5 has the same kind of thought, but on a much grander scale. It talks not about a nation, but about the entire world. It speaks not about a few, but about One and His work on behalf of all people. Three words characterize Romans 5. The words are “all,” “one,” and “many.” All have sinned, One, Jesus Christ, died, and many will be saved. Romans 5:12 says, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.”
All people everywhere have sinned against a Holy God. God’s answer to this need is the gift of grace given through His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:15 speaks of that “gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ.” Verse 17 talks about the “gift of righteousness” which “shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.” Verse 18 says, “By the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men.” Verse 19 says, “By the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”
We live in a pluralistic society where no one seems to be absolute about anything except that nothing is absolute. But Romans 5 is clear and comprehensive. These verses describe the universal nature of man’s sin and the singular nature of Christ’s death. There is but one Son, one Sacrifice, one Savior for every sinner. Throughout history from Adam to Moses to this day, all people have sinned. Jesus Christ is both God and man, both perfection and sacrifice.
Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” We have access to God’s grace by faith. There may be many ways to sin, but there is but one way to be forgiven. That way is to trust the work of God’s Son, the Lord Jesus, Who died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and rose again. There is but one Savior for every sinner, and His name is Jesus.