Romans 5:17 : "For if, by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; much more shall they that receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, even Jesus Christ." The act of one brought death into the world. "Death reigned."-- Reigned is ingressive--that is, death began to reign. But what death? Were it not for the contrast Paul draws, we would readily conclude that he referred to physical death; but he contrasts death with the gift of righteousness, which is the spiritual life. The death that reigns through the one man Adam is overcome, or destroyed, by the gift of righteousness through Christ. It is a fact that spiritual death, as well as physical death, entered the world through the sin of Adam; and it is a fact that spiritual life entered the world through Jesus Christ. But are we all dead spiritually because Adam brought spiritual death into the world? No more than that we are all alive spiritually because Christ brought spiritual life into the world. As we do not partake of the spiritual life un-conditionally, so neither do we partake of the spiritual death unconditionally. If Adam had introduced mea-sles into the world, that would not prove that all his descendants are born with the measles! But people live in a sin-infested country, and sin is more con-tagious than measles. To say that people are born subject to sin is far from saying that people are born sinners. Adam was created subject to sin, and he sinned; but that does not prove that he was created a sinner, nor even with a depraved nature. Paul speaks of the gift of righteousness; but if a person is not free to accept or reject a thing, it can-not be properly called a gift. If we merited it by the perfection of our works, it would not be a gift. It is a righteousness to which we attain through the forgiveness of our sins. We are made righteous by the cleansing power of the gospel of Christ. To that plan of righteousness we must submit. Spiritual life and spiritual death are both the results of our own choice. It is surprising that anyone ever thought that the personal righteousness of Christ is given to the believer.