Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned – (13) (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.  (14) Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam who is a type of Him who was to come.  (15) But the free gift is not like the offense.  For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of one Man, Jesus Christ, abounds to many.  (16) And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned.  For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification.  (17) For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who received abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ.)  (18) Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.  (19) For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. 

The letter to the Romans was written by the Apostle Paul and our verses today are written for our assurance of the good news of the gospel.  The point of our verses is that in Christ through faith we are made right with God and are saved for eternal life.  Outside of Christ man is still under the reign of spiritual and physical death.

All men are in Adam so all men sinned when Adam disobeyed God – his sin was imputed to all.   Because of this sin of the first man all are born into this world with a sinful nature.  In Genesis God judges Adam – and us – but also announces His plan for salvation through another. Our old identity was with Adam but through faith (also a gift) we are reborn and have a new identity in Christ Jesus. The identification with either Christ or Adam is the key to understanding these verses.  We will either be condemned through Adam or saved through Christ, the perfect man and sacrifice, acceptable to God.  God’s gift of free saving grace through Christ is far greater than the result of Adams sin.

Paul is writing of the reign of death through Adam versus the reign of life in Christ.  We will not just be judged but will be judged in the deeds of our representative, Christ Jesus.   This gift of righteousness to all who believe and now stand in Him means not that the faithful are morally upright but all their sins are covered.  Paul is clear that  it is not by by our deeds but by one man’s act we are no longer separated from God –  Not just good news but the only news we need to know.