Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 67

March 8;   Romans 6:23;   123/260(I);   ‘Wages & Gifts’

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

What is sin?  The Bible describes sin as missing the mark as set by God.  There is a penalty for sin.  Religion teaches that God punishes you when you sin.  That is not true.  Sin punishes you and that is why the Lord does not want you to sin.  Sin earns wages.  Sin has a payout.  The wages and payout of sin is death.  The wages and payout could be literal death.  The wages and payout could also be the death of relationships, health, your finances or peace.  This is why the Lord tells us not to sin.  He is not trying to withhold you from having a good time as those who do not know Him say.  Think of the consequences when you have sinned.  There always are consequences.  v23 goes on to say that God has a gift for us.  You do not have to earn that gift, it is free.  That gift is eternal life through Jesus Christ.  Jesus paid the wages for sin, our sin, He had no sins of His own.  The wages for sin He paid was death.  God the Father’s plan was to punish Jesus for us that we would not be eternally punished by the wages of sin.  The free gift is given when we believe this and accept Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior.  These truths are faithfully taught in the Word of God, the Bible.  Religion is man’s means of earning heaven.  It enslaves us, trying to keep all of the rules and regulations that are imposed upon us.  Religion is a tool of the devil.  The Law was given to clearly show us that we could not keep it and needed Someone to help us.  That Someone was Jesus.  He never sinned, earning the blessings for s sinless life.  He gave us the blessings and took the curse. His love saves and frees.