The Wages of Sin and Death: The Origin of Sin and Why Our Souls Are at Stake

Good morning, church! Today, we are going to explore a deeply sobering and significant truth—the wages of sin and death, the origin of sin, and why our very souls are at stake in this cosmic conflict. It’s crucial for us to understand that sin isn’t just a series of mistakes or errors in judgment. It is a force that has eternal consequences for every one of us.

In Romans 6:23, the Apostle Paul writes:

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

This verse outlines a terrifying reality—the wages of sin, which is death, but also a wonderful hope—the free gift of eternal life in Christ. We will unpack the meaning of this and explore why sin is such a dangerous and destructive force in our lives, and how we can avoid its deadly consequences.

1. The Origin of Sin:

To understand the true gravity of sin, we must first go back to its origin. Sin did not always exist. When God created the world, everything was "very good" (Genesis 1:31). There was harmony between God, humanity, and all of creation. However, sin entered the world through one act of disobedience—the fall of Adam and Eve.

In Genesis 3, we read how God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, giving them one command: not to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. But the serpent, Satan, tempted Eve, and through her, Adam, to eat the forbidden fruit. This act of rebellion against God's command is what introduced sin into the world.

Sin entered humanity through one man, Adam. In Romans 5:12, Paul writes:

"Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned."

From that moment in the Garden, the perfect relationship between God and humanity was fractured. Sin became part of our human nature, and its destructive power has been passed down from generation to generation. Every person born into this world inherits a sinful nature, and we are all, in some way, guilty of sin.

2. What is Sin?

Sin is more than just doing bad things. It is rebellion against God’s perfect will. It’s choosing our own way over God's way. Sin is rooted in the desire to be our own gods, to act independently from the Creator who made us. It can manifest in many forms—lying, stealing, pride, lust, greed, hatred—but it all comes from the same root: the rejection of God's authority.

In 1 John 3:4, we are told:

"Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness."

At its core, sin is the violation of God’s law. And sin is not just harmful to our relationship with God; it has a ripple effect, causing harm to others, to creation, and to ourselves.

3. The Wages of Sin:

In Romans 6:23, we read that "the wages of sin is death." What does this mean?

Wages are what you earn for your work. When you work at a job, you earn a paycheck. In the same way, when we sin, we earn something too—and it’s not something we would want: death. The “death” Paul speaks of is not just physical death, but spiritual death—a separation from God, the source of all life.

Sin leads to death because it separates us from the life-giving presence of God. God is holy and perfect, and sin cannot dwell in His presence. In Isaiah 59:2, the prophet declares:

"But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear."

Sin creates a chasm between humanity and God. It is a spiritual death that manifests itself in broken relationships, guilt, shame, and a sense of emptiness that nothing in this world can fill. Without Christ, sin will lead to eternal separation from God.

4. Why Our Souls Are at Stake:

The stakes are incredibly high because sin affects the very core of who we are. Our souls are eternal, and where our souls spend eternity depends on what we do with the issue of sin. If we remain in our sin, rejecting God’s offer of salvation, we are choosing death. But if we accept God’s grace and forgiveness through Jesus Christ, we are choosing life.

Jesus, in John 14:6, says:

"I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

The Bible makes it clear that every person is faced with a decision about sin—either to repent and turn to Christ for forgiveness or to remain in our rebellion and face the consequences of death. Eternal death in hell is the outcome for those who refuse to accept the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.

But God does not want anyone to perish. He loves us so much that He made a way for us to be saved. In John 3:16, the beloved verse tells us:

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

5. The Remedy: Jesus Christ and the Gift of Life

While the wages of sin is death, there is good news—the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. Through His death on the cross, Jesus took the penalty for our sin upon Himself. He bore the punishment we deserved, so that through faith in Him, we could receive forgiveness and eternal life.

In Romans 5:8, Paul writes:

"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Jesus didn’t wait for us to get our act together. He didn’t wait for us to clean up our sin. He came to us while we were still in our sin and offered His life as a sacrifice for ours. Through His death and resurrection, He defeated the power of sin and death.

6. The Urgency of the Decision:

The reality is, the decision about what to do with sin and its consequences is urgent. None of us knows the length of our lives. The time to accept the free gift of salvation is now, before it is too late. Jesus offers us a way out of the penalty of sin, and we must choose whether or not we will accept it.

In 2 Corinthians 6:2, Paul says:

"For he says, 'In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.' Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation."

The opportunity to receive eternal life is here today. It is not something we can delay or take lightly. Our souls are at stake, and where we spend eternity depends on the decision we make regarding Jesus Christ.

Conclusion:

Sin is a powerful force with deadly consequences. It separates us from God and leads to eternal death. But God, in His mercy and grace, has provided a way for us to be reconciled to Him through Jesus Christ. Jesus took the wages of sin—death—upon Himself so that we could receive the gift of eternal life.

As we reflect on this truth, I urge each of you to examine your own life. Have you accepted the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ? If not, today is the day to turn from sin and receive the life God offers.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, We thank You for Your incredible love and grace. We recognize that the wages of sin is death, but we also thank You that through Jesus, we have the gift of eternal life. Help us to understand the seriousness of sin and its consequences, and may we live in the light of the sacrifice Jesus made for us. Lord, if there are any here today who have not yet accepted Your gift of salvation, I pray that today they would turn to You in repentance and faith. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Go in peace, knowing that the wages of sin have been paid in full by Christ, and that eternal life is ours through Him!