In Romans, what should you think of when you see the words 'sin' and 'reign'?

Les explains that throughout the book of Romans he wants those two concepts kept in front of the reader. When you see the word sin, think of the old sin nature, the old Adam. When you see the word reign, think of a king on his throne. As soon as Adam fell, death reigned like a king because it was tied with sin. Death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression. Adam's sin was a simple act of disobedience by eating what God said not to eat. People between Adam and Moses did not commit that same sin, yet they were still disobedient to other things God had put within them. Les also points back to Romans chapter 2, verse 14, where Paul turns to the Gentiles who did not have the law, since the Jews had possessed the law for 1,500 years.