That's HALF of it. The other HALF is:
18 So then as through one trespass the judgment came unto all men to condemnation; even so through one act of righteousness the free gift came unto all men to justification of life. Ro 5
Rom. 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Rom. 5:6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Rom. 5:12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.
Rom. 5:15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
Rom. 5:18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.
So what do "we" see here?
"we" - 16 times;
"our" - 4 times;
"us" - 4 times;
There is a specific group Paul is writing about", "
we".
This group, "
we", Paul describes and identifies as follows:
"have been justified" (v.1)
"have peace with God" (v.1)
"rejoice in our sufferings" (v.3)
"God's love has been poured into [their] hearts" (v.5)
"the Holy Spirit has been given to [them]" (v.5)
"justified by His blood" (v.9)
"shall be saved by him from the wrath of God" (v.9)
"are reconciled" (v.10)
"shall be saved" (v.10)
"also rejoice in God (v.11)
"have now received reconciliation" (v.11)
Very obviously, "we" does not refer to "everyone", it only refers to those who are saved (or by extension, the elect). It does not refer to "every single individualgg.
Then Paul uses the phrase, "all men". What you (and others) don't seem to realize is that this can be interpreted in different ways, and only one way takes the context ("
we", the elect) into account.
1) Paul could be immediately and arbitrarily changing the topic of discussion from "we" (the justified) to "all men everywhere, saved and condemned). Why would he, and what is in the context to suggest an abrupt "change" in the subject matter?
2) Paul could be referring to "all men" among the group he is already discussing, namely all of "
we".
There seems no reason to assume the first interpretation, since there is nothing in the context to warrant it, and since the only reason to hold that interpretation is due to a biased doctrine of "universal salvation" one may need to defend.
... California signing out... Brother Glen