Why did death pass upon all men, according to Romans 5?
According to Romans 5, death passed upon all men because sin entered the world through one man, Adam, and death came with sin. Paul concludes that the two are synonymous: all people have sinned, so death spread to all humanity.
Les explains that the need for justification by faith began back in the Garden when Adam fell, and death came with sin. The human race now faces a dilemma: not only are we sinners, but we are also in a circumstance of death. Spiritual death has already taken place, and we are born dead. Physically, every human being will approach death someday if the Lord tarries. In Romans 5:12, Paul concludes that by one man, Adam, sin—the old Adamic nature—entered the world, and death came with sin. Thus death passed upon all men, for all have sinned; the two become synonymous. Les also notes that death reigned as king from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, because they were not faced with a tree and a forbidden fruit.
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: