Romans 5:17-19 NASB95
For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. [18] So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness (Jesus’ sacrifice) there resulted justification of life to all men. [19] For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.
Five different times from verse 15 – 17 in Romans 5, the word gift or free gift is used referencing our righteousness in Christ. Righteousness is not just our new right standing before God is also our new nature in Christ that allows us to experience a “new living” before God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says that we have become “the righteousness of God, in Christ.”
Notice in Romans 5:17 we are told that we can reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ because in him the abundance of grace has bestowed upon us the gift of righteousness. The proper grammar in verse 17 should be translated like this, “For if by the transgression of the one (Adam) death reigned through the one, much more those who are continually RECEIVING the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will reign in life of the one, Jesus Christ.”
Righteousness is not something we achieve through strenuous Christian disciplines. Righteousness is someone we receive. Again, we have become the righteousness of God in Christ. It is because we are in Christ that our new nature is the righteousness of God because we are partakers of “the divine nature” of Jesus, according to 2 Peter 1:4. Righteousness is not something that we earn as a result of our action; it is the result of the one “act, or action” of Jesus at the Cross. Verse 19 says, “the many (those who receive Christ) will be MADE righteous.” We are made righteous as a free gift from God in Christ. There are no self-made people in Christianity. There are only those who are made righteous by God placing us into Christ, which makes us totally new creatures.
Righteousness is truly your new standing before God because you now get to participate in the standing that Jesus has before God. You share in His relationship with the triune God. Righteousness is also truly your new identity and nature because “Christ is your life.” Don’t let any bad behavior deceive you. Bad behavior may have been what you did, but it is not who you are. I’ve often heard people say, “You just don’t know what I’m capable of” referencing the potential of their bad behavior, and it is true that the flesh is capable of anything, but sadly Christians don’t know what they’re capable of in Christ, and until you know who you are, you will never know what you’re capable of, but Paul made it simple when he said, “We can do all things in Christ who continually strengthens us with His strength.” Every contingency, whether it be situation or temptation, anticipates His righteousness and adequacy being manifest through you.