rom 06v23 The Wages of Sin and The Gift of God
THE WAGES OF SIN AND THE
GIFT OF GOD
"The wages of sin is
death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Rom.
Paul's purpose in the Book of
Romans is to show us that salvation is entirely the work of God's free grace in
Christ. He clearly sets forth the sin, guilt, and depravity of all men, telling
us that all men are without excuse. And he plainly tells us that men are
justified freely by the grace of God, without any works of their own, through
faith in Christ. The essence of his doctrine is set forth in this sentence -
"The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through
Jesus Christ our Lord." After studying Paul's doctrine in the Book of Romans,
(the doctrine which he was taught by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit), I am
forced to make these five conclusions.
1. IF I PERISH IN MY SIN, IT
IS A CONDITION THAT I DESERVE. If I continue in my sin, my rebellion, and
my unbelief, if I continue to reject Christ as my Lord and Savior, and die in
sin under the wrath of God, I deserve it. Death and hell will by my proper
wages. It will be my own responsibility. There will be no one to blame but
myself. But if I am saved, taken to heaven, and live for ever in God's glory
and holiness, it will be the result of God's work alone.
2. DEATH, ETERNAL SEPARATION
FROM GOD, IS THE RESULT OF DELIBERATE EFFORT ON MY PART. I do not read in
the Bible of anyone going to hell because of Adam's sin. We are all guilty of
original sin, and because of our original sin we deserve to go to hell; but as
I read the Bible I find that every man will be judged for his own works before
God (II Cor. 5:10). If I go to hell, it will not be because of my original sin
in Adam; it will be the result of my own sin. It will be the result of
deliberate effort on my part. But salvation and eternal life is the result of
deliberate effort on God's part. "Salvation is of the Lord!"
"God hath saved us and called us with an holy
calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace
which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began."
3. ETERNAL WRATH AND
CONDEMNATION IS THE JUST WAGE OF MY SIN - BUT ETERNAL LIFE AND SALVATION IS THE
FREE GIFT OF GOD'S GRACE IN CHRIST. Men and women go to hell on the merit
system, but never to heaven. Eternal life cannot be earned. You cannot weep
enough, repent enough, or reform yourself enough to get it. It cannot be
bought, even if you purchase a gold-plated "pope mobile" for the
4. THERE IS NOTHING THAT
KEEPS A MAN OUT OF HEAVEN BUT HIS OWN UNWILLINGNESS TO BOW TO CHRIST AND RECEIVE
HIM AS LORD AND SAVIOR.
5. AND ANY MAN WHO IS SAVED
BY THE GRACE OF GOD IN CHRIST
WILL
JUSTIFY GOD IN HIS OWN CONDEMNATION.
If God ever reveals his saving grace and redemptive glory in your heart through Christ, you will take sides with God against yourself. You will justify God in your own condemnation, acknowledging your sin and guilt before him. Your confession will be of the same spirit as David's, "Against thee, thee only have I sinned, and done this great evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest."
"THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH!" We all deserve
death, eternal death in hell. It is our just due. It is the proper wage of our
sin. BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE!" This is grace, pure,
free, sovereign, effectual grace! God has given to us eternal life in Jesus
Christ our Lord. He who is our Savior shall have all the glory and praise of
his salvation.