In this chapter, Paul explains the benefits of being justified by faith, including peace with God and hope in suffering, and contrasts the consequences of Adam’s sin with the gift of righteousness through Jesus Christ.

Peace with God and Hope in Suffering (vv. 1-5)

1 Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; 2 through whom we also have our access by faith into this grace in which we stand. We rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope doesn’t disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

• Paul describes how justification by faith brings peace with God, access to grace, and joy in hope. He notes that sufferings build perseverance, character, and hope, supported by the Holy Spirit pouring God’s love into believers’ hearts.

Christ’s Death for Sinners and Reconciliation (vv. 6-11)

6 For while we were yet weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man. Yet perhaps for a good person someone would even dare to die. 8 But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we will be saved from God’s wrath through him. 10 For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we will be saved by his life. 11 Not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

• Paul highlights God’s love demonstrated by Christ dying for the ungodly and sinners. This justification by his blood saves from wrath, reconciles former enemies to God, and assures salvation through Christ’s life, leading to rejoicing in God.

Sin and Death through Adam (vv. 12-14)

12 Therefore, as sin entered into the world through one man, and death through sin, so death passed to all men because all sinned. 13 For until the law, sin was in the world; but sin is not charged when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those whose sins weren’t like Adam’s disobedience, who is a foreshadowing of him who was to come.

• Paul explains that sin entered the world through one man (Adam), bringing death to all because all sinned. Death ruled even before the law, from Adam to Moses, over those whose sins differed from Adam’s, portraying Adam as a type of the one to come.

The Gift through Christ Contrasted with Adam’s Trespass (vv. 15-17)

15 But the free gift isn’t like the trespass. For if by the trespass of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. 16 The gift is not as through one who sinned; for the judgment came by one to condemnation, but the free gift followed many trespasses to justification. 17 For if by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; so much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ.

• Paul contrasts Adam’s trespass, which brought death to many, with God’s grace through Christ, which abounds to many, leading to justification and reigning in life for those who receive the gift of righteousness.

Justification and Life through Christ’s Obedience (vv. 18-21)

18 So then as through one trespass, all men were condemned; even so through one act of righteousness, all men were justified to life. 19 For as through the one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one, many will be made righteous. 20 The law came in that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace abounded more exceedingly; 21 that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

• Paul concludes the contrast: one trespass led to condemnation for all, but one act of righteousness brings justification and life to all. Through Adam’s disobedience many became sinners, but through Christ’s obedience many are made righteous. The law increased sin, yet grace superabounds, reigning through righteousness to eternal life.