The Role of our Behavior in our Sinfulness or in Righteousness

By: Constancio C Ada, MD, President & CEO

Text: Romans 5:18,19: “Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.”

Paul is drawing a parallel between Adam and Christ.

Our sinfulness wasn’t based on our behavior originally.

You didn’t become a sinner the first time you lied or stole. You were “made sinners” by Adam’s one act (v.19). We inherited a sinful nature/status from Adam before we ever did anything. That’s why David says, “in sin did my mother conceive me” (Psalm 51:5).

So our condemnation in Adam is positional — based on representation, not just personal behavior. We sin because we are sinners, not the other way around.

Our righteousness in Christ isn’t based on our behavior either.

The same way Adam’s disobedience made many sinners, Christ’s obedience makes many righteous (v.19). It’s His “one act of righteousness” (v.18) — His perfect life, death, and resurrection — that results in our justification.

This is what theologians call imputed righteousness. God credits Christ’s perfect record to us. Philippians 3:9: “not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ.”

So yes — in Christ, your righteous status before God is constant and permanent. That’s exactly what Romans 5:8-11 drives home:

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God… we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”

Notice the tenses: “have now been justified”, “have now received reconciliation.” It’s done. It’s not probation. If you’re in Christ, God doesn’t wake up each morning and re-evaluate whether you’re righteous today based on yesterday’s performance.

But — and this is critical — behavior still matters.

Paul anticipates the abuse of this truth in Romans 6:1: “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means!”

Justification is constant. Sanctification is progressive.

Justification = God declares you righteous because of Christ. Permanent, instantaneous, based on Christ’s work (Romans 5:1, 9).

Sanctification = God makes you actually righteous in practice. Ongoing, lifelong, based on the Spirit’s work in you (Romans 6:19; 8:13).

If your behavior never changes, that’s evidence you were never justified to begin with (1 John 3:9-10). True faith produces fruit. But the fruit doesn’t make the tree good — the root does.

Bottom line:

Positionally: In Christ, you are righteous 24/7. Your standing doesn’t fluctuate with your sin. That’s the comfort of Romans 5:8-11.

Practically: That position should change your behavior. We’re called to “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4) because we are new, not to become new.

So it’s safe to say: Your acceptance with God isn’t based on behavior. Your growth in holiness is expressed through behavior.

Think of it like adoption: Once you’re adopted, you’re permanently a son. You might disobey your Father, but you don’t stop being His son. And because you are His son, you want to obey Him.