THE WAGES OF SIN

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”—Romans 6:23

It’s surprising that death happens. Death is awkward, uncomfortable, and pretty scary. If 10 out of 10 people die and it is such a natural thing, why does it feel so unnatural?  

When we open to the beginning of the Bible in Genesis chapters 1 and 2, God creates the universe and everything in it. Everything he makes he actually calls ‘good.’ Death did not enter the picture until chapter 3 when Adam and Eve disobey God’s one command to not eat from the tree of life. The first sin lead to death, and everyone living in a fallen world where we are born into sin, encounter it, and commit it result in physical death. God describes it when he speaks to Adam after the first sin of eating from the Tree of Knowledge: 

“In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.”—Genesis 3:19

Physical death is merely an outward sign of an inward problem. We also die spiritually because we are separated from God. 

“And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world.”—Ephesians 2:1  

However true this may be, did you catch the crazy part in our passage today? Paul is actually using sin and death to encourage the believers in Rome. The crazy thing is that the second half of our passage becomes the part we need to bind to our hearts. The gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord! Let the scariest thing you can face (death) encourage you today, that nothing stopped God’s love from reaching you when you didn’t deserve it. 

DIG:  How does the gift of eternal life promised in our passage encourage you? 

DISCOVER: Think of some examples of how God has shown you he has given you eternal life and write them down (verses, circumstances, an encouraging word, etc.). Once you have written them down, discuss them with your parents or friends and compare and/or contrast the results.  

DISPLAY: Because Jesus died a death we deserved we can now claim the gift of eternal life. Live the gospel on display for everyone you encounter to see. Live a life that shines the promise of eternal life.