QT 28 Sep 11, The gift is not like the trespass

Rom 5:15a, 18-21 (NIV) But the gift is not like the trespass. . . .

18 Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

20 The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

NOTE: If taken out of context, verses 18 and 19 would argue for universalism.  The structure, key words, and verbs are all the same, with the exception of verb tense.  But verse 15 says that the gift is not like the trespass.  There is something distinctly different.  The difference is not in the cause and effect, i.e., one man's actions led to many men's consequence.  Because the parallelism argues for similarity in that sense.  No, I believe the gift is not like the trespass because the trespass infected us, although technically we all sinned, so we can't blame Adam.  But the gift is not like an infection.  It offers hope, but does not demand it.  Adam's sin demanded death of everyone.  And we earned it by our actions.  But grace is a gift, it is not earned, nor is it forced upon a person.  A gift can be rejected.  A gift gives a choice to the recipient.  The gift is not a wage as Rom 3:23 describes sin.  Finally, verse 21 concludes the section and clarifies the thought by the introduction of "grace might reign through righteousness."  Here the parallelism is broken just enough.  Verse 21 says that sin reigned in death but grace "might" reign through righteousness.  Not everyone is saved, only those who respond to the  gift of grace offered to them.  Why should anyone reject that gift?  Why do people reject God's rule over their lives now?  Man wants to be his own god, he does not want to submit to his creator.