Adam was a type of Christ, but he was a nominal head without saving power. His power was in bringing death to all mankind. By him sin entered the world.

In verse 12 and 16, Paul states the problem without addressing the solution. He says, 'Wherefore, as by one man, sin entered into the world and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned; for the judgment was by one to condemnation.' So the problem is condemnation to all men.

There are several solutions addressed in verses 15-21. For example, the solution is the gift by grace. Look for the words gift and grace in the solution:

¹⁵ the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. ¹⁶ the free gift results in justification. ¹⁷much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.²⁰ but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, ²¹even so grace reigns through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The solution is in One. Look for the word One in the solution:

¹⁵ much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. ¹⁷much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.¹⁸ even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. ¹⁹even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.

The solution is in justification or made righteous. Look for the word justification or made righteous in the solution:

¹⁶the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification. ¹⁸even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. ¹⁹even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. ²¹even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The solution is life to men. Look for the word life in the solution:

¹⁷much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. ¹⁸even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. ²¹even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The solution is Jesus Christ. Look for the word Jesus Christ in the solution:

¹⁵much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. ¹⁷much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.²¹so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Paul exhausts the study of death in Adam and life in Christ. You are either in Adam or in Christ. If you dwell on sin, then you are in Adam. If you dwell in forgiveness of sin, then you are in Christ. People who esteem themselves more than Christ either by dwelling on sin or esteeming themselves independent of Christ are into self-esteem, not Christ esteem. I'm not only talking the obvious self-righteous prideful person, but also those who think ritual in religion is going to save them. They are in a relationship with Adam or Moses under the law, living under a pseudo covenant. Christ does not intend us to stay in this relationship with Adam or to live under a pseudo covenant. Christ speaks of a new covenant he has made with us.

On that night long ago, Jesus 'took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to his disciples, saying, drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.'

Now rewind: in ^{Exodus 24:8} Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, 'This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you.' It was the old covenant. The scripture says; 'For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD. It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever. And the priest, whom he shall anoint, and whom he shall consecrate to minister in the priest's office in his father's stead, shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen clothes, even the holy garments: And he shall make an atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make an atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation, and for the altar, and he shall make an atonement for the priests, and for all the people of the congregation. And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year. (10th day of the 7th month) And he did as the LORD commanded Moses.' Leviticus 16:30-34

'For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.' Hebrews 10: 1-4

Under the new covenant, Jesus Christ; 'Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.' Hebrews 7:27

Under the old covenant only Moses could come nigh unto the Lord. ^{Exodus 24:2} 'And Moses alone shall come near the LORD: but they shall not come nigh; neither shall the people go up with him. And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do.' Exodus 24: 2-3

Now it is interesting to note that Moses alone shall come near the Lord. Under the new covenant, we as heirs shall come near the Lord: 'In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.' Ephesians 3:12 'Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.' Hebrews 4: 16