For until law, sin was in the world, but sin was not imputed, there being no law. But the death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned upon the likeness of Adam’s transgression, who is a type of the one about to come (Romans 5:13–14).
In the Garden of Eden, humans were under law. During the next three dispensations, however, the households were not under law. The rule for the dispensation of conscience was that, now possessing the knowledge of good and evil, humans were to rule over the sin nature and do good (Genesis 4:7). For the dispensation of government, murder was a capital offense; therefore, with the knowledge of good and evil, humans were to govern themselves and punish those who did evil (Genesis 9:5). In the dispensation of promise, Abraham and his seed were to guard God’s land covenant (Genesis 15:18–21). Yet all were subject to physical death, even though their personal sins were not being imputed to them. If their sins had been imputed, they would have been put to death as soon as they sinned.
Today, God is also not imputing trespasses but is instead offering an opportunity for reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:19). For the grace believer, He child-trains those who sin (1 Corinthians 11:32). For the unpersuaded, He permits them to fill up the measure of judgment due for their works (Romans 1:18–32).