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Romans 5:19

ESV For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
NIV For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
NASB For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.
CSB For just as through one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.
NLT Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.
KJV For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

What does Romans 5:19 mean?

Paul continues to contrast the powerful actions of Adam and Jesus. Adam's action was one of disobedience. He and Eve disobeyed God's direct and clear command to them. The result of that disobedience, as Paul has shown repeatedly, was that many were made sinners. Adam introduced sin into the world and every last person born, other than Christ (Hebrews 4:15), was born into that sin.

Jesus's action, on the other hand, His death on the cross, was an act of obedience. This is true in two senses. One, mysteriously, Jesus' life and mission on earth were characterized by His obedience to His Father, who is God, as Christ is also. Jesus spoke and acted in obedience to the direction of the Father (John 12:49; 8:28). That obedience included His own death: "And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross" (Philippians 2:8).

Jesus' act of obedience, then, ensured that many would be made righteous through their faith in Him and by God's abundant grace.
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