Christians love to quote the verse that says “The wages of sin is death…” but overlook the part of the verse that makes the point.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23, NIV.
SIN
Everyone agrees that sin is bad. This verse states the ultimate punishment is death; in the Bible death is eternal separation from the Giver of Life. It is the sin is death context which makes the second part of the verse such good news.
THE MISTAKE WE CHRISTIANS MAKE
We know that a person’s eternal state is important and as messengers of the Good News Christians want people to get right with God, but it is the Holy Spirit’s job to show people their sin, their guilt, and give them a burden for their soul’s future; that is not our job, we are partners with the Lord in the Good News, not the bad.
THE GIFT
The verse’s second part is the heart of it, “the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” God has a free, unearned and undeserved gift for us, and He offers it to all who are willing to take it. This gift is more than freedom from judgment but eternal and abundant life, the threat of death is completely and irrevocably removed.
The giver of this gift is God himself, there is no better security for our eternal souls. Since God is the giver no one can offer a better gift of salvation. You could not invent a better way to be saved than God did and no other religion or philosophy could compete with it. Since this gift is from the Holy Creator of the universe no one could ever be worthy of it; that is why it is a gift- because we are not worthy and never could be.
CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD
This gift of “Eternal Life” is anchored by a source bigger than ourselves our efforts, sacrifices, or deeds, because the life promised is “in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Eternal life is not in anything that can be shaken like my own religion or good works but in Christ. He is the Resurrection and the Life. He paid for our sin by dying in our stead on the cross. Death has been defeated because Jesus overcame death and the grave when he rose on Easter.
BUT HE IS LORD
Jesus is not just a savior or some fire escape from God's punishment, he is Lord. You cannot accept his salvation and forgiveness for your sins and then go on doing those sins that he died to pay for- it is a slap in his face or worse. He died to give you new life it is right to use that life for him.
If you want to know more about coming to Jesus for new life see my other post.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23, NIV.
SIN
Everyone agrees that sin is bad. This verse states the ultimate punishment is death; in the Bible death is eternal separation from the Giver of Life. It is the sin is death context which makes the second part of the verse such good news.
THE MISTAKE WE CHRISTIANS MAKE
We know that a person’s eternal state is important and as messengers of the Good News Christians want people to get right with God, but it is the Holy Spirit’s job to show people their sin, their guilt, and give them a burden for their soul’s future; that is not our job, we are partners with the Lord in the Good News, not the bad.
THE GIFT
The verse’s second part is the heart of it, “the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” God has a free, unearned and undeserved gift for us, and He offers it to all who are willing to take it. This gift is more than freedom from judgment but eternal and abundant life, the threat of death is completely and irrevocably removed.
The giver of this gift is God himself, there is no better security for our eternal souls. Since God is the giver no one can offer a better gift of salvation. You could not invent a better way to be saved than God did and no other religion or philosophy could compete with it. Since this gift is from the Holy Creator of the universe no one could ever be worthy of it; that is why it is a gift- because we are not worthy and never could be.
CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD
This gift of “Eternal Life” is anchored by a source bigger than ourselves our efforts, sacrifices, or deeds, because the life promised is “in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Eternal life is not in anything that can be shaken like my own religion or good works but in Christ. He is the Resurrection and the Life. He paid for our sin by dying in our stead on the cross. Death has been defeated because Jesus overcame death and the grave when he rose on Easter.
BUT HE IS LORD
Jesus is not just a savior or some fire escape from God's punishment, he is Lord. You cannot accept his salvation and forgiveness for your sins and then go on doing those sins that he died to pay for- it is a slap in his face or worse. He died to give you new life it is right to use that life for him.
If you want to know more about coming to Jesus for new life see my other post.
(c) Adron Dozat 8/12/10
