Rom 5:12 | Scofield | STEP | The "wherefore" relates back to and may be regarded as a continuation of the discussion of the universality of sin, interrupted ; ; by the passage on justification and its results. have sinned The first sin wrought the moral ruin of the race. The demonstration is simple. (1) Death is universal ( ), all die: sinless infants, moral people, religious people, equally with the depraved. For a universal effect there must be a universal cause; that cause is a state of universal sin ( ). (2) But this universal state must have had a cause. It did. The consequence of Adam's sin was that "the many were made sinners" ( )--"By the offence of one judgment came upon all men unto condemnation" ( ). (3) Personal sins are not meant here. From Adam to Moses death reigned ( ), although, there being no law, personal guilt was not imputed ( ). Accordingly, from to the sin-offering is not once mentioned. Then, since physical death from Adam to Moses was not due to the sinful acts of those who die ( ), it follows that it was due to a universal sinful state, or nature, and that state is declared to be out inheritance from Adam. (4) the moral state of fallen man is described in Scripture ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; .

Romans 5:12

The "wherefore" relates back to Romans 3:19-23 and may be regarded as a continuation of the discussion of the universality of sin, interrupted ; Romans 3:24-5:11; by the passage on justification and its results.

have sinned

The first sin wrought the moral ruin of the race. The demonstration is simple.

(1) Death is universal (Romans 4:12,14), all die: sinless infants, moral people, religious people, equally with the depraved. For a universal effect there must be a universal cause; that cause is a state of universal sin (Romans 5:12).
(2) But this universal state must have had a cause. It did. The consequence of Adam's sin was that "the many were made sinners" (Romans 5:19)--"By the offence of one judgment came upon all men unto condemnation" (Romans 5:18).
(3) Personal sins are not meant here. From Adam to Moses death reigned (Romans 5:14), although, there being no law, personal guilt was not imputed (Romans 5:13). Accordingly, from Genesis 4:7 to Exodus 29:14 the sin-offering is not once mentioned. Then, since physical death from Adam to Moses was not due to the sinful acts of those who die (Romans 5:13), it follows that it was due to a universal sinful state, or nature, and that state is declared to be out inheritance from Adam.
(4) the moral state of fallen man is described in Scripture Genesis 6:5; 1 Kings 8:46; Psalms 14:1-3; 39:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Matthew 18:11; Mark 7:20,23; Romans 1:21; 2:1-29; 3:9-19 ; 7:24; 8:7; John 3:6; 1 Corinthians 2:14; 2 Corinthians 3:14; 4:4; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 2:1-3,11,12; 4:18-22; Colossians 1:21; Hebrews 3:13; James 4:14; 1 Corinthians 15:22.