Essentially, what Paul in talking about in verses 12-19 of the fifth chapter of Romans is the imputation of sin in all of humanity paralleled with the imputation of Christ’s righteousness to all who believe in Him. Adam, and the covenant head of mankind, sinned; this one transgression plunged the whole human race into a state of inherent sinfulness.
If you look at how dinner is served at the Knoechel household, everything is separate. The meat, the sauces, the vegetables, the starches (pasta, potatoes, etc.) are all put in separate serving bowls.
I never did well in school when I was younger. It may have been because I did not care. But things changed in one day. I went to the doctor and he suggested that I needed correction, eye correction. It seemed that I was viewing things through faulty lenses; my eyes were focused wrong. I needed glasses.
I would love to be successful. The desire for success is really fueled by the way that I want to be viewed by others. If I drive a Audi A8W12 (and frankly who wouldn’t want to), if I have the proper education, if my workmates find my insights transcendent, if my wife and children just realized how lucky they were to have me in their life, that would define success.