Romans 5:21

that as sin, &c. More lit. that as the sin reigned in death, so also may the grace reign through righteousness, &c. "The sin reigned in death:" i.e., death was the expression of its power. Cp. Romans 5:12-14 and notes. "May grace reign:" such is the exact rendering, which should be kept, though Gr. idiom makes E. V. (" might") grammatically possible. St Paul is still thinking of the succession of future believers.

through righteousness i.e. "through the gift of righteousness," (Romans 5:17,) Justification. Grace provides the Method of the justification of the ungodly; it gives them a position of acceptance in the eye of the sacred Law; constitutes them, for the purposes of that Law, righteous persons. We do not for a moment here forget that a moral changeis intended, and effected, in the subjects of grace; but the argument, up to this point, has in view not this yet, but the judicial acceptance which is the prior condition of it; Justification, not yet Sanctification.

unto eternal life The final issue of the "reign of grace." See Romans 6:22; Romans 8:32, and note on Romans 2:7.

by Jesus Christ our Lord Well do these holy words close that great section of the argument which specially explains the Way of Pardon. Jesus Christ is the one Cause and Means of Pardon, and therefore indeed also the "Lord" of those who through Him are accepted and glorified.