¹⁶ Therefore, the promise is based on faith so that it can be a gift.^[a] Consequently, the promise is guaranteed for every descendant, not only for those who are descendants by obeying Moses’ Teachings but also for those who are descendants by believing as Abraham did. He is the father of all of us, ¹⁷ as Scripture says: “I have made you a father of many nations.”

Abraham believed when he stood in the presence of the God who gives life to dead people and calls into existence things that don’t even exist.

A Comparison between Adam and Christ

¹² Sin came into the world through one person, and death came through sin. So death spread to everyone, because everyone sinned. ¹³ Sin was in the world before there were any laws. But no record of sin can be kept when there are no laws. ¹⁴ Yet, death ruled from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin in the same way Adam did when he disobeyed. Adam is an image of the one who would come.

¹⁵ There is no comparison between ⌞God’s⌟ gift and ⌞Adam’s⌟ failure. If humanity died as the result of one person’s failure, it is certainly true that God’s kindness ^[a] and the gift given through the kindness of one person, Jesus Christ, have been showered on humanity.

¹⁶ There is also no comparison between ⌞God’s⌟ gift and the one who sinned. The verdict which followed one person’s failure condemned everyone. But, even after many failures, the gift brought God’s approval. ¹⁷ It is certain that death ruled because of one person’s failure. It’s even more certain that those who receive God’s overflowing kindness and the gift of his approval will rule in life because of one person, Jesus Christ.

¹⁸ Therefore, everyone was condemned through one failure, and everyone received God’s life-giving approval through one verdict. ¹⁹ Clearly, through one person’s disobedience humanity became sinful, and through one person’s obedience humanity will receive God’s approval. ²⁰ The laws in Moses’ Teachings were added to increase the failure. But where sin increased, God’s kindness increased even more. ²¹ As sin ruled by bringing death, God’s kindness would rule by bringing us his approval. This results in our living forever because of Jesus Christ our Lord.