New Defender's Study Bible Notes
5:21 sin hath reigned. Sin is seen at its worst, and God’s grace and love at its best, in the death of Christ. Sin has many faces, but it is basically the rejection of God as Creator and Savior by rejecting His Word. Sin originated in the cosmos when Satan did this, and entered the earth when Adam did the same (Isaiah 14:13; Ezekiel 28:15; Genesis 3:1,4,17; Romans 5:12). Sin in practice is thus basically disbelief of God’s Word (Romans 10:16; 14:23; John 16:9) and disobedience to God’s law (Romans 3:20; 5:20; I John 3:4). Finally, God’s judgment on sinners will be based on the words of Moses (John 5:43-47), the words of Christ (John 12:44-50) and the words of God’s Book (Revelation 20:12-15; 22:18-19).