Sin Entered the World Through One Man

Paul writes,

“Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned…” (Romans 5:12)

This takes us back to Genesis 3, where sin first entered the world through Adam’s disobedience. Many in our culture treat Adam and Eve as myth or metaphor—just a “simplified” way of explaining where humanity came from. But Scripture doesn’t leave that option open.

God’s Word is true, trustworthy, and perfect. It cannot lie because God cannot lie. If Adam and Eve weren’t real people, then sin didn’t really enter the world—and if sin didn’t enter the world, then we don’t need a Savior. That’s why Paul roots his argument about Jesus in the historical reality of Adam and Eve.

The Responsibility of Adam
Genesis tells us Eve took the fruit first, but Adam was with her. He wasn’t off in another part of the garden—he was standing right there, watching. He could have stepped in and obeyed God, but instead he remained silent and joined her in rebellion.
That’s why Scripture places the responsibility on Adam. He was the head of humanity and the head of his household. When he rebelled, sin and death entered the world—and that rebellion is still felt today.

Sin is not simply a mistake. It’s rebellion against the authority and goodness of God. And rebellion has consequences. Separation from God—what Scripture calls “death”—became the new reality for humanity. Every human being since Adam inherits both physical and spiritual death.

The Consequences of Sin
We see this truth all around us: everyone sins (Ecclesiastes 7:20) and everyone dies (Romans 3:23; 6:23). Death is the unavoidable outcome of sin.

Paul explains that sin existed before the law of Moses was given, but people were still accountable for their sin. How do we know? Because they still died. The stories of Genesis—Abraham, Jacob, Joseph’s brothers—are full of sin and its consequences, long before the Ten Commandments were ever written.

The law didn’t create sin; it revealed it. It made us aware of the depth of our rebellion and our desperate need for grace.

How to Read and Understand Scripture
Paul’s words in verse 13 remind us how important context is when reading Scripture. If we pull verses out of context, we can easily misunderstand them.
Three key principles help us interpret Scripture faithfully:

1. Scripture interprets Scripture. The Bible is perfectly consistent and never contradicts itself. When passages seem to conflict, the problem is with our understanding, not with God’s Word.
2. Context is king. We must read verses within their broader context—who is speaking, what’s happening, and what comes before and after.
3. Clear passages interpret unclear ones. When we find a confusing verse, we look to other, clearer parts of Scripture to understand it.

These rules keep us anchored in truth and prevent us from twisting God’s Word to fit our preferences.

The Fairness Question
Many people wrestle with the idea that Adam’s sin affects us all. “Why am I accountable for something I didn’t do?”

It feels unfair until we remember that the same principle applies in our salvation. Adam’s sin was imputed—counted—to us, but Jesus’ righteousness is also imputed to us through faith. God uses representation—headship—to deal with humanity. Adam represents fallen humanity; Jesus represents redeemed humanity.
So yes, we all share in Adam’s sin nature. But in Christ, we can share in His righteousness.
The Second Adam: Jesus Christ

Paul draws a beautiful contrast between Adam and Jesus:

“For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive…the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:17)

Adam’s sin brought judgment, but Jesus brings grace.

Adam’s disobedience brought death, but Jesus’ obedience brings life.
Jesus is the new Adam—the head of a new humanity. Our sin was imputed to Him, and His righteousness is imputed to us. As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:21:

“For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Jesus had to be both fully God and fully man—God to perfectly fulfill the law, and man to stand in our place as the new Adam.

Grace Greater Than Our Sin
Paul ends with this powerful truth:

“Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more…” (Romans 5:20)

The more we recognize our sin, the more clearly we see the beauty of grace. The law reveals our need; grace meets it through Jesus.

Like King Josiah in 2 Kings 22, when the people rediscovered God’s law and realized how far they’d fallen, they wept, repented, and renewed their covenant with God. That’s what the law is meant to do—to lead us to grace.

The Very Good News
The story that began in Genesis with Adam’s failure finds its redemption in Jesus Christ.
Through Adam came sin and death.
Through Jesus came righteousness and life.
And that’s the very good news of the gospel—what was lost in Eden is restored in Christ.


Scripture References

• Primary Text: Romans 5:12–21
• Related Passages:
  • Genesis 1–3
  • 1 Corinthians 15:14
  • Ecclesiastes 7:20
  • Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23
  • Romans 1:18–20; Romans 2:12–16
  • 2 Corinthians 5:21
  • 1 Timothy 2:15
  • 2 Kings 22