For 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

I’m sure most of us agree that there are some things we ought to pay for, but other things we should receive for free. Let me give you a few examples: We expect to pay for a seat on an airplane, but we think our suitcase should ride for free. We expect to pay for gas at a service station, but we believe air for our tires should be free. And this one is in the news right now – We expect that WWII veterans who kept the world free and safe should have the freedom to see the war memorial in their honor.

Some things in life need to be paid for, and other things ought to be free.

At the top of the list of things for which a person must pay is the price of his sin. People are terribly wrong if they think they can slap God in the face by violating His holy will and then get away scot free without making restitution. We lie, we cheat, we hate. We transgress, trespass and trample over God’s commandments. We are not free to do these things to God. There is a cost! And it is a hefty one!

Scripture is clear: “The wages of sin is death.”

We are debtors who cannot pay. We are morally bankrupt and cannot make up for our failures. We are deadbeats who have no life to offer … but our own.

Thankfully, the Lord also believes there are things in life which ought to be free. At the top of God's list of free things is forgiveness of sin. Of course, forgiveness is free only for us. God's justice demanded our debt had to be paid. Seeing our helplessness, the Lord sent His Son into the world as one of us. Here, Jesus took our place and throughout His life and with His death, paid the debt our transgressions had incurred.

Now, with the Savior's third-day resurrection from the dead, our debt has been wiped out and all who believe on Jesus as their Savior are forgiven and freed. Because that is so, St. Paul didn't end his sentence with "the wages of sin is death." No, because of Jesus' blood-bought forgiveness the apostle could continue: "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

All of this explains why you and I should be eternally grateful we have a God who believes there are things in life which need to be paid for and other things which ought to be free.

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