Romans 5:18

‘So then as through one trespass (the judgment came) unto all men to punishment following sentence; even so through one act of righteousness (the free gift came) unto all men to justification of life.'

The words in brackets are not in the Greek, but the sense is clear. The one trespass began the process which resulted in the condemnation of all men. In contrast the ‘one act of righteousness' resulted in the declaration of righteousness on all who truly believe.

The ‘one act of righteousness' may either see His whole life as one act resulting from His act of coming into the world (Philippians 2:5), or may specifically indicate His obedience unto death (Philippians 3:8). Either way it contrasts with the one trespass. Alternatively we might translate dikaioma as ‘the one declaration of righteousness', which resulted in the offer of the free gift of His righteousness, which came to ‘all men'. But the ‘one act of righteousness' provides a better parallel to the ‘one trespass'.

‘All men' may signify ‘came to all types of men', thus including both Jew and Gentile, or it may mean ‘came to all men as an offer'. Once accepted it brings about their acceptance before God, through Christ's righteousness (their ‘justification'), on their believing in Him, an acceptance which results in ‘life', both now (John 5:24) and in eternity (John 5:28).