Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned--
Here in the verse we are in today, Paul really breaks down the who, and the how. He points out all who are ungodly. Then explains how that sad state of ungodliness came about. Law, and sin come into this equation.
Adam broke the one law he had. What law you ask? Not to eat from, or touch the tree in the mist of the garden. That wasn't a, "by the way Adam," kind of thing when God said this. It was a commandment from God the Creator. You shall not eat...I like the New Living Translation for this verse, which is found in Genesis 3:3 God said, 'You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.'" "you must not...." That was the law in Adam's time. His sin was, not keeping that law. His punishment was, death. Spiritual, moral, and physical death.
As children of Adam, we were born into this world dead in sin, spiritually, and morally dead. Not to mention the physical death that we all will encounter one day. We had no communion with our Holy God. There was no relationship with God because, of our own unrighteousness. So God, came in the form of man, died for our sins that we may be made alive. By excepting Christ as our redeemer we are made alive. As if that wasn't enough we become righteous. Through the righteousness of Jesus we have direct communion, direct accesses to our Holy God. The free gift of grace comes with, His Favor, His blessing, His authority, and His power!