What makes many people righteous in Romans 5:19?
Romans 5:19 states that by the obedience of one man, many are made righteous. The determining factor is obedience—the obedience of the one—in contrast to the one man's disobedience that made many sinners. It is not by human effort but by that one obedient act that many are made righteous.
Les explains that Romans 5:18–19 is repetition, but purposeful repetition, because God wants us to understand and not be in a fog. The moment we believe the work of the cross, God has justified us by virtue of His shed blood and declared us just as if we never sinned. In verse 19, the same contrast is repeated: by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, and so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Les emphasizes the word obedience: “The what? The obedience.” To illustrate, he points to Philippians 2, where Christ Jesus, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, yet made Himself of no reputation. He was absolutely obedient, just as Isaac was obedient when Abraham laid him on the altar. Christ lowered Himself from the almighty Creator God to a man walking the streets of dusty Palestine. Thus, the obedience of the one—Christ—is what makes many righteous.
For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.