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. 6:23

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 Vatican. It is the free gift of God's grace. The only way to obtain salvation and eternal life in Christ is for God himself to give it to you and create it in your heart.

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. Israel did not enter in because of unbelief. And if I miss heaven, it will be because of my own willful unbelief. There is nothing that will keep a man out of heaven but his own will. BUT THERE IS NOTHING THAT WILL KEEP A MAN OUT OF HELL BUT GOD'S WILL. My friends, we must build our doctrine on the plain statements of the Word of God; and so far as the Word of God is concerned, it is no where written that God predestinated anyone to hell. The decree of God opens the doors of heaven to a vast multitude of sinners; but God's decree does not shut the doors of heaven against anyone. In eternal predestination God fixed things so that all who want to be saved can be saved, and guaranteed that they shall be saved. In the Bible, reprobation is always spoken of as a judicial act. "Ephraim is joined to his idols; let him alone." Every time the Word of God speaks of God rejecting men, or refusing to save them it is the result of their rejection of him, never the cause (Mt. 23:37-38; John 5:40; 6:37-40; 7:37-38; II Thess. 2:10-1 Pro. 1:23-33). If you are damned, it will be the result of your own free-will. If you are saved, it will be the result of God's will.

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.