Message from Scripture: 2/5/2021

Our message from Scripture today is Rom. 6:23. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

We are familiar with the concept of earning a living, of earning wages for what we do in our occupation. The habit of earning wages is ancient in origin.  It is interesting that Scripture speaks of wages in a spiritual sense, but not as paid by God.

In Rom. 6:23, the apostle Paul wrote, “For the wages of sin is death.” Sin pays wages, the provisions which sin pays to those who do service to it. How tragic, however, that these provisions for life consist in death! Sin distorts reality, hardens the heart, and makes things appear different than what they are. While sin may appear to be appealing and desirable, the essence of it is harmful and destructive. Sin promises life, but delivers death, and not just physical death. To die in the flesh is the current payment from sin we already receive. Sin also pays a salary of eternal condemnation, as we are reminded in John 3:36. Spiritually speaking, this is the only wage one can claim, and how sad it is, that many will do exactlythat.

We can rejoice, though, that “the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  What we can’t earn by our own effort or merit, God freely gives through His Son. “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8-9). Of course, there is the human response in an obedient faith (Gal. 5:6), but that doesn’t negate salvation being a gift from God. When we respond to God’s will, His gift through Christ is eternal life.

Let’s never forget the price Christ paid that we could be saved. Let’s never forget the life we can live in Christ today, and with Christ in eternity. Don’t take anything for granted, but show your love for the love of Christ by living for Him today, every day. God bless.

Robert