The statement, “through the obedience of one man, all people become righteous,” means that through the obedience of Jesus—where “all people” here refers to believers—human beings become righteous. Not merely regarded as righteous, but enabled to exist in a state of righteousness truly. That is why there is a process of discipleship in Jesus. Jesus said, “Make disciples of all nations.” Why? So that they may all become like Jesus. This is why the Word of God says, “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.”
Therefore, the phrase, “the law was added so that the trespass might increase, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,” must be understood within the context of salvation history. Throughout the long period before the age of grace, God allowed human beings to live in distorted and corrupted behavior. However, after the age of grace arrived, there came people who live within grace—people who are enabled to put on a life that corresponds to God’s original design. This is the life that Jesus lived.
Hence it is said, “Just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 5:21). This means that if formerly human beings lived in sin with no way out and headed toward death, now in Jesus Christ, they can live in righteousness leading to eternal life. Living in righteousness does not merely mean being considered righteous; it means truly being righteous.
Thus, the phrase “grace will reign through righteousness to eternal life” implies that within grace there is a life that aligns with God’s will, which prepares human beings for eternal life in the new heaven and the new earth. Christians are not sufficiently faithful if they only believe in Christ’s sacrifice and feel that they already possess grace; rather, they must strive to fill that grace with a righteous life.
That is why Paul, in Galatians 5, delivers a statement consistent with what he taught the church in Rome: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Gal. 5:1). If we read the following verses, we find the command: “Live by the Spirit, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh” (see Gal. 5:24–25). “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Not crucifying the flesh with all its passions means continuing to live in spiritual death and being unable to be reconciled to God. For only those whom the Holy Spirit leads are called children of God. If a person lives according to the flesh, he is not a child of God, and one day he will hear the Lord say, “I never knew you.”
When Paul says that we have been set free from sin and become slaves of righteousness, this does not mean that a person is automatically free from sin and instantly lives in righteousness. All of this must be passed through by struggle. Jesus Himself, although He was the Son of God, learned obedience from what He suffered. We must understand that God did not script Jesus’ victory to be easy. There was a real struggle, so it is with us.
Therefore, never follow teachings that say God alone determines who is saved, with no human involvement. The truth is that human beings have the freedom to choose whether to strive for their salvation truly. Do not attempt to link God’s omniscience with human logic carelessly. That is impossible. We must adopt an ethical posture as human beings and as people who belong to God by honoring Him. Do our part, and God will surely do His part. That is why we must strive to work out our salvation.
Hence, in Romans 6:19, Paul says, “Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness.” If we do this, we will bear fruit that leads to sanctification, and the result is eternal life.