GOD S GIFT AND SIN S WAGES Dr. Walter P. Atkinson SCRIPTURE: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23 INTODUCTION: We were born with a terminal illness! We were born with a fatal disease! There is an epidemic! This epidemic is like nothing the Surgeon General ever imagined in his worst nightmare. This sickness is worse than HIV and the Ebola Virus. A sickness of darkened understanding deception evil and darkness corruption and deceitful hearts rebellion and disobedience human depravity In Jeremiah 17:9, God says, The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? You may say, But I have never been desperately wicked. You may have never stolen, but have you envied those who have more than you have? You may have never murdered anyone, but have you killed someone with your words. You may have never committed adultery, but have you lusted after someone who was not your spouse? We were a condemned and lost people who needed a physician! Just as a reputable doctor will tell you the truth about your condition we needed such a physician. When we have physical problems, we call our family doctor! We have aches and pains that we cannot explain so we get them checked out! If something is wrong and he can help, He prescribes medication. We needed a physician that would diagnose and apply His cure. If we want freedom from our sickness, we must first realize that we have an enemy within and admit our need for Him. 1
Sin is subtle but more deadly than a cancerous tumor. Through one man s sin and disobedience, came death. Then another man came. Adam was the first man; Jesus was the second man. Adam was earthly Christ was heavenly As sin and death came by one, so now the Christ-man made us awake to righteousness, peace and abundant life in Christ. Through Christ we can line up in divine order. So what do we have to do? We first have to admit we have a problem, call the doctor and accept his treatment. May I introduce you to a physician who has a cure for your terminal illness! This physician doesn t charge a penny. Money won t pay for His cure. The payment He accepts is: Confession Repentance Obedience Praise If you didn t notice.acronym for CROP! If there is going to be a harvest, there first has to be a crop planted. God, as your Creator, has a rightful claim to your life. Do you think you exist independently? Do you feel you are autonomous (self-sufficient & self-controlled)? Do you think your life is yours to do with as you please? Do you think it is your call to call the shots? In Psalm 100:3 the Psalmist wrote, Know that the Lord, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves. God alone is the source of life. Nothing has ever come into existence that wasn t created by the triune God. John 1:3 says, All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. This includes your present life and situation. If you chose to remain a slave to sin and reject God s free gift, you will receive the wages of death. 2
If you choose to remain separated from God you will perish. Luke 13:5 says, Unless you repent you will all likewise perish. So, how does this Gift of eternal life work? Just as a farmer who expects a harvest plants a crop, so must we. We must C- Confess our sins R- Repent sincerely O- Obey His command P- Praise Him for the Gift 1. THE GIFT OF GOD IS AVAILABLE You must understand how rich you are through Christ and in Him. Romans 5:2 says, Through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. This grace brings us to a deeper understanding of God who is eternal and has authority and power to impart the gift of eternal life. We have access to His promises and inheritance as His heirs. 1 Peter 3:18 says, For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit. We can think of God s gift as a freebie where we are concerned because we didn t have to pay for it. The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. In the beginning was the Word. And the Word was with God, and the Word was God and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. John 1:1 Christ died on the cross as a sinless sacrifice for the penalty of our sins. Isaiah 53:6 says, The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all. You have a gift just waiting to be claimed. 2. HOW DO WE RECEIVE THE GIFT? There is just one way to receive the gift of eternal life Through Jesus Christ - enter eternal life through the doorway of faith. There is no way that you can pay your sin debt. It is much too expensive. A do-it-yourself godliness won t work. Your moral muscle will not suffice. 3
Ephesians 2:8 says, For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. Grace is unmerited favor Something given, undeserved For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 He died for your sins. He paid for our sins by shedding His blood on Calvary. His blood cleans you like a bar of spiritual soap. Jesus must be the Lord of your life! He must have total control. You do what He says do. You go where He says go. You surrender all that you are and all that you have. 1. You must admit you are a sinner. 2. Admit that you cannot change yourself. 3. Admit that you are a sinner and on your way to hell and want to be rescued. Many people try to buy their way. Giving huge sums of money won t earn eternal life. Some try to work their way to the gift. Some think if they just live a good life they will receive the gift. All these attempts fall short and we remain separated from God until we accept the free gift. It s free! Can you believe it? We are totally unworthy of the gift! We can do nothing of our own strength to obtain it. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. Acts 16:31 Christ is the key to eternal life. Romans 10:9 says, If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:10 says, For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 3. RESULTS OF ACCEPTANCE OF HIS GIFT You are delivered from the power of Evil. (Colossians 1:13) You are a member of His kingdom. (Colossians 1:13) You are justified (Romans 5:1) 4
You have been adopted. (Romans 8:15) You have an imperishable inheritance. (1 Peter 1:4) You are a branch in the vine. (John 15:5) You are the dwelling place of the Spirit. (1 Corinthians 6:19) Your penalty for sin has been paid. Sin put you in prison and locked you in with the prisoners of shame, fear, deception and guilt. You were shackled but Jesus paid your bail. He set you free. You are no longer a jail bird! Today, when the jail doors open, prisoners leave. They don t hang around just homesick for their cell. They get out of dodge! You have been discharged. You don t have to hang out in the courtyard of the prison. You are free to be free from sin! Get out of Dodge: Deadness Oppression Depression Guilt Evil You can experience Grace! Move into Grace! We have God s GRACE: G- God s R- Redemption A- At C- Christ s E- Expense! Remember when the enemy of your soul, Satan, is the nearest, God comes nearer with an abundant and unexplainable measure of His grace. When you fall in defeat, Christ waves His banner over you like a blanket. He covers you with His RIGHTEOUSNESS. He covers you with His GRACE. He covers you with His PEACE. He covers you with His PROVISION. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:20-21 5