Romans 5:15—“how much more did God’s grace … overflow to the many”

But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many (Rom. 5:15).

COMMON GRACE ARGUMENT:

“Just as original sin and guilt was passed to all without exception (‘the many’), so must the second part of the text refer to all without exception, and that God’s ‘grace’ is therefore, at least in some sense, for everyone who has been affected by Adam's sin (i.e., ‘the many’).”

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Prof. David J. Engelsma

[With regard to] Romans 5, the greater grace is not extensive but intensive.  God’s grace in Jesus Christ to elect humanity is greater in its goodness than His wrath is damning to reprobate humanity.  If the greatness is measured by the number of persons affected, the passage teaches universal salvation.  It certainly then teaches that the grace of God in Jesus Christ fails in the case of many to whom it is extended.  The grace of the second part of Romans 5:11 is the grace of God in Jesus Christ, a saving grace grounded upon the cross.  If it overflows to all humans, or to more than are saved, grace is a failure in the case of many.  Grace is much more and the gift of salvation in Christ overflows in that they are more costly and more wonderful than the effects of original sin and punishment of sin. (DJE, 20/03/2020)

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More to come! (DV)