Epistle to the Romans Sin Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter:Verse)

Quote #4

Just as sin came into the world through one man [Adam], and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned—sin was indeed in the world before the law, but sin is not reckoned when there is no law[…] But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one man's trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ. (NRSV 5:12-15)

Wherefore, as by one man [Adam] sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law[…] But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. (KJV 5:12-15)

Jesus is the new Adam. While Adam's inability to follow God's very simple directions caused the whole downfall of humanity, Jesus's devotion to God redeemed us all. Sorry, Adam, but you're a bit of a dunce.

Quote #5

But law came in, with the result that the trespass multiplied; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, just as sin exercised dominion in death, so grace might also exercise dominion through justification leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (NRSV 5:20-21)

Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. (KJV 5:20-21)

Here Paul is accusing Jewish law of not being able to do anything to stop sin. Hey, give the Torah a break. Stopping sin in its tracks is a tall order.

Quote #6

Therefore, do not let sin exercise dominion in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. No longer present your members to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and present your members to God as instruments of righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. (NRSV 6:12-14)

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. (KJV 6:12-14)

Paul thinks this is how Christians should be living in light of Christ's death and resurrection. Jesus gave us the power to kick sin to the curb and that's what we should be doing. We're not under the old regime anymore. Oh, sin is toast.