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Romans 5:16

ESV 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.
NIV Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification.
NASB The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one offense, resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the gracious gift arose from many offenses, resulting in justification.
CSB And the gift is not like the one man's sin, because from one sin came the judgment, resulting in condemnation, but from many trespasses came the gift, resulting in justification.
NLT And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins.
KJV 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.

What does Romans 5:16 mean?

Paul continues to compare the impact of pivotal choices made by two men at two points in the history of the world. Adam, on the one hand, introduced sin into a world that knew no sin. He was the first to break God's command. That choice caused all born after him to be born into sin. In response, all people lived under judgment for their sin and faced God's condemnation.

Jesus, born as a man thousands of years later after many, many had sinned and broken God's law, chose to become the source of God's free gift of grace. He did this by dying on the cross to pay for human sin. His one action brought justification from God for everyone who receives it by faith.

Adam, by sinning, brought death and condemnation to all. Jesus, by not sinning and then dying, brought justification to all who believe. This "justification" is a declaration, as if in a courtroom setting. No person is actually righteous (Romans 3:10, 23), but Christ's sacrificial death pays our penalty, allowing us to have peace with God (Romans 5:1).
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