1430. The Wages of Sin

The Wages of Sin

"For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom_6:23).

"The soul that sinneth, it shall die." The word "death" here, as in our key verse, does not refer merely to physical death. It includes eternal separation from God. "Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death" (Jam_1:15). This death is the absence of life, and it means just what Christ said, when He cried on the Cross, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" Christ tasted death for every man; and that death was realized in the cry of Calvary. John wrote (Joh_17:13): "This is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only True God, and Jesus Christ." But death, eternal death, means eternal existence apart from God. An existence with no Christ, no Saviour, no home, no hope! It means the endless, shoreless sea of eternity, apart from God.

Over every sinner's head are written God's words of condemnation, "Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin." If the sinner could open his eyes, he would see his condemnation plainly inscribed. Let us bring out a few passages which shew the sinner's fate, and describe therein the wages of sin.

"Lost." What an awful word, and yet we read, "Jesus Christ came to seek and to save the lost."

"Perish." Another word full of terror, but God sent His Son, that "Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish."

"Condemned already." Another word which startles. It is the sentence passed, the judgment hanging over the soul! "He that believeth not is condemned already" (Joh_3:18). Of the believer is written: "But there is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus" (Rom_8:1).

The three words above show the present lot of the sinner; but, thank God, it is a lot from which a sinner may be saved if he will turn to Christ. Let us give a few additional words which set forth the eternal condemnation of the one who rejects Christ and who will not come unto Him that he might have life.

"Punishment." "And these shall go away into everlasting punishment" (Mat_25:46).

"Everlasting fire." "Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels" (Mat_25:41).

"Torment." "And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torment" (Luk_16:23).

"Hell." "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God" (Psa_9:17).

"Smoke of torment." "And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever" (Rev_14:11).

"No rest." "And they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image" (Rev_14:11).

"The lake of fire." "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire" (Rev_20:14).

"Fire and brimstone." "But the fearful, and unbelieving, * * have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death" (Rev_21:8).

The words above describe something of what awaits those who reject Christ. Surely upon the wicked God will rain snares and a horrible tempest (see Psa_11:6). They will be cast into eternal burnings. Such are the wages of sin.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR