This is a handout I created as part of my five-week Lenten series on the first five books of Romans.

1. Romans 5 to all because all have sinned— sin was indeed in the
world before the law, but sin is not reckoned when
(verses 1-5) there is no law. Yet death exercised dominion from
Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not
peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, like the transgression of Adam, who is a type of the
through whom we have obtained access to this grace one who was to come.
in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of
sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we (verses 15-17)
also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if the
produces endurance, and endurance produces many died through the one man’s trespass, much more
character, and character produces hope, and hope does surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the
not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the
into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been many. And the free gift is not like the effect of the one
given to us. man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass
brought condemnation, but the free gift following
(verses 6-10) many trespasses brings justification. If, because of the
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ one man’s trespass, death exercised dominion through
died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die that one, much more surely will those who receive the
for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness
person someone might actually dare to die. But God exercise dominion in life through the one man, Jesus
proves his love for us in that while we still were Christ.
sinners Christ died for us. Much more surely then,
now that we have been justified by his blood, will we (verses 18-21)
be saved through him from the wrath of God. For if Therefore just as one man’s trespass led to
while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God condemnation for all, so one man’s act of
through the death of his Son, much more surely, righteousness leads to justification and life for all. For
having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. just as by the one man’s disobedience the many were
But more than that, we even boast in God through our made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the
Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now many will be made righteous. But law came in, with
received reconciliation. the result that the trespass multiplied; but where sin
increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, just as
(verses 12-14) sin exercised dominion in death, so grace might also
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one exercise dominion through justification leading to
man, and death came through sin, and so death spread eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Discussion Questions: Comparison of Two Men
Group 1: Read verses 12-14
• What did Adam bring into the world?
• What was its result?
• How affect does this power have over people?
• What does this power over us mean to me?
Group 2: Read verses 15-17
• What did Jesus bring into the world?
• What was its result?
• How affect does this power have over people?
• What does this power over us mean to me?