wages of sin

The Free Gift of God.

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For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 6:20-23 ESV

When we choose to live as slaves to sin, obeying the desires of our sinful nature, we are “free’ when it comes do doing righteousness. Giving in to our sin nature can make us feel as if we are getting the sense of satisfaction and self-fulfillment we long for, but the real outcome is far from pleasant. Paul says, “the end of those things is death.” And Paul is not just speaking of immoral acts. He is addressing any and all deeds done by men who are apart from Christ and attempt to gain a right standing with God through their own human efforts. As the prophet Isaiah reminds us, “We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment” (Isaiah 64:6 NLT). Without Christ and His saving work, men are incapable of doing anything to gain God’s favor. Even their best efforts on their best day are soaked in sin and end up delivering death in the long run. But we must remember that, even as believers in Jesus Christ, we have the capacity to allow ourselves to be enslaved to sin again. We can even find ourselves attempting to earn a right standing with God through our own efforts. And even that is considered by God to be sin. It is self-righteousness. Paul wrote the church in Galatia and warned them of this very thing. “Before you Gentiles knew God, you were slaves to so-called gods that do not even exist. So now that you know God (or should I say, now that God knows you), why do you want to go back again and become slaves once more to the weak and useless spiritual principles of this world? You are trying to earn favor with God by observing certain days or months or seasons or years” (Galatians 4:8-10 NLT). He was concerned that they were going to go back to their old way of trying to work their way into God’s good graces. Even our good deeds, when done in the flesh and apart from the saving work of Jesus Christ, end up being sinful in God’s eyes.

Paul reminds his readers, and us, that we “have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God.” We are not just free from sins of immorality, but also the more dangerous sin of self-sufficiency and self-righteousness. We are now slaves of God. We have been bought by Him and the price He paid was the death of His own Son. He bought us out of slavery to sin and death and now we belong to Him. We live to do His will, not our own. We have been freed from having to do the will of sin and our own sin nature. We are free to obey God. And He has given us the power to live obediently by placing His Holy Spirit within us. And Paul tells us that “the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.” Living as slaves of God results in our progressive transformation into the likeness of Christ. By living in the power of His indwelling Spirit and according to His will, we grow in holiness. We become increasingly more set apart and distinct in our spiritual maturity. And ultimately, we will experience our final glorification when we become like Christ – completely sin-free and no longer encumbered by these natural bodies that are prone to decay, disease and death, and driven by sinful desires. Living under the control of sin and our sinful nature produces nothing but death. In this life it produces the damaging and deadly deeds of “sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these” (Galatians 5:19-21 NLT). And for those who have not accepted God’s free gift of grace made available through His Son’s sacrificial death, a life lived enslaved to sin in this life will produce spiritual death in the next one. The wages of sin are always death. And the ultimate meaning of death is separation from God. The real outcome of a life enslaved to sin is eternal, never-ending separation from God and His love, grace, and mercy. But “the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” When we turn from self-salvation and turn to God’s plan for making us right with Him, we gain the ability to walk in newness of life now and the promise of eternal life to come. And it is all provided for free. It costs us nothing. But it cost God the life of His Son. He offered His Son in our place as the sacrificial payment for our sins. And all we have to do is accept His offer of salvation through His Son, by faith. No more trying to earn our salvation. Instead, we simply accept the salvation provided for us by God through Christ. And when we do, we enjoy the fruit of our own sanctification now and the guarantee of our ultimate glorification in the future.

Leviticus 3-4, Luke 3

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Unintentional Sin. Intentional Solution.

Leviticus 3-4, Luke 3

If the whole congregation of Israel sins unintentionally and the thing is hidden from the eyes of the assembly, and they do any one of the things that by the Lord’s commandments ought not to be done, and they realize their guilt,when the sin which they have committed becomes known, the assembly shall offer a bull from the herd for a sin offering and bring it in front of the tent of meeting. – Leviticus 4:13-14 ESV

“But I didn’t know!”

How many times has that pitiful plea graced the ears of the average parent? We’ve all been there. We’ve all had a child who we caught in an act of what appeared to be obvious disobedience and disregard for our authority, only to find out that their sin was inadvertent and unintentional. They didn’t know they were sinning. They didn’t mean to break the rules, but they did. And while we may have extended grace and diminished the degree of punishment meted out, their ignorance didn’t eliminate their guilt. How many speeding tickets have you ever talked your way out of using the excuse, “But I didn’t know!”?

In the case of the people of Israel, God had a predetermined plan for dealing with just such a case. He knew there were going to be times when the people sinned unintentionally. But their ignorance did not eliminate their guilt. God’s law was intended to reveal any and all sin in the lives of God’s people, whether intentional or not. Sins of commission and omission all had to be dealt with, because God is a holy God. He cannot tolerate sin. By placing of the hand on the head of the animal, the unintentional sins were transferred from the guilty party to the “substitute.” The unintentional sins of the people still required the shedding of blood as propitiation or payment for the sins committed, whether they were intentional or not. God had to be appeased. The penalty for sin was still death. But God provided a means by which His righteous requirements might be satisfied and forgiveness be given. Twice in chapter four we read, “And the priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be forgiven” (Leviticus 4:31 ESV).

What does this passage reveal about God?

God’s grace is amazing. Whether their sins were intentional or not, He provided a way for them to find forgiveness. God left no stone unturned and no loose ends when it came to man’s sin and His provision for forgiveness. God knew that man was going to sin and that sometimes it would happen out of ignorance. But He also knew that sin was serious and the consequences were deadly, regardless of man’s intention. Payment still had to be made. Blood had to be shed. Everyone, rich or poor, had to satisfy God’s just demands – either with their own life or the life of an innocent substitute. And all of this pointed to a future day when God would send His Son as the ultimate and final sacrifice for the sins of man. Paul reminds us, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23 ESV). Elsewhere he writes, “None is righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10 ESV). He was simply echoing the sentiment of the prophet Isaiah who wrote, “We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6 NLT). Paul made it painfully clear that “the wages of sin is death,” but he also gave us the incredibly good news that “the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23 ESV). God, in His infinite mercy and grace, provided a way for man to find forgiveness for sin, not imperfectly or temporarily, but permanently and completely.

What does this passage reveal about man?

When John the Baptist showed up on the scene, preparing for and heralding the arrival of Jesus, he was confronted by a people who were steeped in their sinfulness. There were the chosen people of God, but they had long since given up living as those set apart by God and for His glory. They had begun to see their worth as based on their heritage as descendants of Abraham. They viewed themselves as righteous because of their blood line, rather than because of the blood of the sacrifices they offered each year. Being descendents of Abraham was their get-out-of-jail-free card. They thought they were guaranteed a right standing with God because they were born into the right family tree. But John bluntly reminded them, “God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham” (Luke 3:8 ESV). He warned them about God’s coming judgment. He told them that their lives needed to reflect a passion for the things that pleased God. “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise” (Luke 3:11 ESV). He told the tax collectors to “collect no more than you are authorized to do” (Luke 3:13 ESV). He told the soldiers to “not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages” (Luke 3:14 ESV).

John was demanding life change. He was letting them know that their lives were going to have to be distinctively different than what they had been. It wasn’t going to be business as usual. They were to “bear fruits in keeping with repentance” (Luke 3:8 ESV). Things were about to heat up. Expectations were about to ratchet up. He warned them, “even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (Luke 3:9 ESV). God’s expectations for holiness hadn’t changed. His demands for a people who would live holy lives and act in accordance with His Word and in keeping with their character as one of His children, had not changed.

But only one man could do what would bring satisfaction to God. Only one man was going to be able to live up to God’s exacting standard, perfectly and completely. And at the baptism of Jesus, God said, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22 ESV). Like no other man had ever been able to do before, Jesus pleased God. He met His standard and lived up to His holy requirements. And He would continue to do so throughout the days of His life on this planet.

How would I apply what I’ve read to my own life?

I am the recipient of God’s amazing grace. Rather than having to try and live up to God’s impossibly demanding standards, I have been offered forgiveness of sin through the death of His Son. I have had my debt paid in full by the sinless Son of God. Paul tells us, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV). All of my sins, intentional and unintentional, have been taken care of by Jesus. But I must remind myself of this daily. Because not only is God pleased with His Son, He is pleased with me! I sometimes find that hard to comprehend, and sometimes even harder to believe. My sins have all been paid for. My debt has been settled. Jesus made atonement for me, and I am forgiven.

Father, Thank You for the remind of Your gracious provision for my sin through the death of Your Son. Never let me take it for granted. Don’t allow me to ever forget that I am now pleasing to You because the selfless, sacrificial death of Your Son brought pleasure to You. He satisfied Your righteous demands and allowed You to shower me with grace, rather than wrath. Amen

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org

Romans 1:1-17

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Right With God.

Romans 1:1-17

This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” – Romans 1:17 NLT

It’s not hard to tell what Paul has on his mind as he launches his letter to the believers in Rome. Seven times in seventeen verses he brings up the topic of the Good News of Jesus Christ. This was a favorite topic of Paul’s and he never grew tired of writing and talking about it. But his interest was far more than academic. The Good News truly was great news to Paul because it had transformed his life in a real and radical way. At one time he had been a paid persecutor of the church of Jesus Christ, arresting Christians and throwing them in prison. He was determined to destroy Christianity and everyone who confessed to follow the teachings of Jesus. He was on his way to the city of Damascus to continue his personal vendetta against “The Way,” when he had a personal encounter with the resurrected Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. His recounting of the story is recorded in Acts 26, where he is on trial before King Agrippa. “One day I was on such a mission to Damascus, armed with the authority and commission of the leading priests. About noon, Your Majesty, as I was on the road, a light from heaven brighter than the son shone down on me and my companions. We all fell down, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is useless for you to fight against my will.’

“‘Who are you, lord? I asked.

“And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. Now get to your feet! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and witness. You are to tell the world what you have seen and what I will show you in the future. And I will rescue you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.'” (Acts 26:12-18 NLT).

At that moment, Paul’s life was radically changed and he would never be the same man again. He became one of the greatest witnesses for the transforming power of Christ and spread the message of the Good News found through faith in Christ throughout the known world of his day. Paul knew the power of the Good News. He had experienced it first hand. He had been called and commissioned by Jesus Himself to tell of this Good News to each and every person he met, and he did so unashamedly and unapologetically. The essence of the Good News and what makes its message great is that it contains the key to men being made right with God. Paul knew that apart from the Good News, there was nothing but bad news in store for all men and women. Throughout this letter, Paul would remind his readers over and over that there was only one way for them to be made right with God. And it was through faith in Jesus Christ. No amount of good works, religious efforts, or behaviorial change would fix what was wrong between them and God. They were all sinners and all faced the same dire prognosis. “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard” (Romans 3:23 NLT). They all faced the same fate. “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a NLT).

But Paul had Good News. “…but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23b NLT). The Good News was that God had provided a way for men to be restored to a right relationship with Him. He had provided a solution to the problem of sin and the penalty of death. He had sent His own Son to die in the place of men, sacrificing His own sinless life in order to pay the penalty for their sins and satisfy the just demands of a holy, righteous God. And all anyone had to do was accept the reality of that fact and believe it to be true for them – by faith. Paul will spend the rest of his time in this letter, painting the very real picture of the bad news and proclaiming the unbelievable reality of the Good News. This letter will be deeply personal, incredibly theological and highly practical. It will reveal the incredible mind of the apostle Paul and his passionate desire to see all believers grow in their knowledge of Christ and experience the full scope of the life-changing nature of the Good News. Read it slowly, thoughtfully and deliberately. Ask God to give you a deeper love and appreciation for the Good News than you have ever had before.

Father, make the Good News truly great in our lives. Don’t let us become complacent about this greatest of all gifts. Drive into our minds the reality of the bad news so that we might better appreciate the unbelievable beauty of the Good News. We have been made right with You and we played no part in it whatsoever. Don’t let us take that for granted. Amen.

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org