And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift.
The Adamic and Christian dispensations
I.The adamic.
1. One offence brought condemnation.
2. Upon all mankind.
3. By a just and inevitable law.
II. The Christian.
1. Grace is free.
2. Brings justification.
3. For all.
4. From many offences. (J. Lyth, D. D.)
The one and the many
With the one sinner is contrasted the multitude of the justified. What a difference between the power of the spark which sets fire to the forest by lighting a withered branch, and the power of the instrument which extinguishes the conflagration at the moment when every tree is on fire, and makes them all live again. (Prof. Godet.)
Christ and the many
He gave His life a ransom for many (Mat_20:28); His blood was shed for many (Mat_26:28; Mar_14:24); He bare the sins of many (Isa_53:11-12); by His knowledge He justifies many (Isa_53:11); He brings many sins to glory (Heb_2:10). The many are a multitude which no man can number (Rev_7:9). (T. Robinson, D. D.)
Salvation a free gift
One excuse which awakened sinners are accustomed to allege in their own defence is, that they wish to love God with all their heart, but cannot. They do, indeed, wish to be saved, but they are not willing to be saved in God’s way; that is, they are not willing to accept salvation as a free gift. They would do anything to buy it, but will not take it without money and without price. Suppose that you were very sick, and were told by the physician that there was but one medicine in the world which could save your life, and this was exceedingly precious; that you were also told that there was but one person in the world who had any of this in his possession; and that, although he was willing to give it to those who asked, he would on no account sell any. Suppose this person to be one whom you had treated with great neglect and contempt, injured in every possible way. How exceedingly unwilling would you be to send to him for the medicine as a gift: you would rather purchase it at the expense of your whole fortune. You would defer sending as long as possible; and when you found you were daily growing worse, and nothing else could save you, you would be obliged, however reluctantly, to send and ask for some. Just so unwilling are sinners to apply to God for salvation, as a free gift; and they will not do it until they find themselves perishing, and that there is no other hope for them. (E. Payson.)
Sin the occasion of glorifying God
I do believe that sin in itself has the same aspect as affliction--that it makes room for the mercy of God. I hardly dare say what Augustine, when speaking of the fall and of the sin of Adam, and looking to all the display of grace that followed it, said. He said, “beata culpa”--“happy fault,” as if he thought that by means of sin the grace of God is so magnified and displayed he might call it a “happy fault.” I will not go so far. I scarcely do more than repeat what that great master in Israel once said; but I do say this, that I cannot imagine an occasion for glorifying God equal to the fact that man has sinned. God so loved the world as to give Christ to die for sinners, and how could this have been if there had been no sin? The Cross is a constellation of glory that is brighter than creation itself. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
