Bible League: Living His Word For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our LORD.In Romans Chapter 6 the Apostle Paul contrasts the state of being a slave to sin with the state of being a slave to righteousness. Each state receives something. Those who are "slaves to sin" are those who do not have faith in Jesus Christ as their personal LORD and Savior. They receive "wages" for their sin. This is a payment for the work they have done. Slaves to sin work at sin and receive a wage for their work as a result. Those who are "slaves to righteousness," on the other hand, are those who have faith in Jesus Christ as their personal LORD and Savior. They do not receive a wage for their righteousness. Instead, they receive a gift. Unlike a wage, a "gift" is not given as a payment. A gift is given for free. Slaves to righteousness receive a gift rather than a wage because they did not work for their righteousness. Their righteousness came to them simply by faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:22). The wages for those who work at sin is death. "Death" here does not simply mean physical death. It means spiritual death. Spiritual death is alienation from God and it can be experienced both in the present and for all eternity. Ultimately, spiritual death means eternal alienation from God in hell. The gift of those who have faith is "eternal life in Christ Jesus our LORD." Like spiritual death, eternal life in Christ can be experienced in the present and for all eternity. Ultimately, eternal life means an eternity spent with God in the new heavens and the new earth (Revelation 21). Stating the stark contrast between being a slave to sin and being a slave to righteousness begs the question: why would anyone ever want to be a slave to sin? The end result is death, eternal death, and alienation from God. Sin may seem rewarding for a while, but it is ultimately unfulfilling in the present and it leads to an eternity in hell. And why would anyone not want to be a slave to righteousness? The end result is life, abundant life in the present (John 10:10), and eternal life with God. The righteousness of God is rewarding in the present and for all eternity. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingNumbers 25, 26, 27 Numbers 25 -- Israelites Sin in Moab; Phinehas Intervenes NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Numbers 26 -- The Second Census Totals 601,730 NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Numbers 27 -- The Daughters of Zelophehad; Joshua to Succeed Moses NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Mark 8:22-38 Mark 8 -- Jesus Feeds the Four Thousand, Heals a Blind Man at Bethsaida; Peter's Confession of Christ NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion But I keep praying to you, LORD,hoping this time you will show me favor. In your unfailing love, O God, answer my prayer with your sure salvation. Insight What problems David faced! He was scoffed at, mocked, insulted, humiliated, and made the object of citywide gossip. But still he prayed. Challenge When we are completely beaten down, we are tempted to turn from God, give up, and quit trusting him. When your situation seems hopeless, determine that no matter how bad things become you will continue to pray. God will hear your prayer, and he will rescue you. When others reject us, we need God most. Don't turn from your most faithful friend. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon 1 Peter 2:7 He is precious.As all the rivers run into the sea, so all delights centre in our Beloved. The glances of his eyes outshine the sun: the beauties of his face are fairer than the choicest flowers: no fragrance is like the breath of his mouth. Gems of the mine, and pearls from the sea, are worthless things when measured by his preciousness. Peter tells us that Jesus is precious, but he did not and could not tell us how precious, nor could any of us compute the value of God's unspeakable gift. Words cannot set forth the preciousness of the Lord Jesus to his people, nor fully tell how essential he is to their satisfaction and happiness. Believer, have you not found in the midst of plenty a sore famine if your Lord has been absent? The sun was shining, but Christ had hidden himself, and all the world was black to you; or it was night, and since the bright and morning star was gone, no other star could yield you so much as a ray of light. What a howling wilderness is this world without our Lord! If once he hideth himself from us, withered are the flowers of our garden; our pleasant fruits decay; the birds suspend their songs, and a tempest overturns our hopes. All earth's candles cannot make daylight if the Sun of Righteousness be eclipsed. He is the soul of our soul, the light of our light, the life of our life. Dear reader, what wouldst thou do in the world without him, when thou wakest up and lookest forward to the day's battle? What wouldst thou do at night, when thou comest home jaded and weary, if there were no door of fellowship between thee and Christ? Blessed be his name, he will not suffer us to try our lot without him, for Jesus never forsakes his own. Yet, let the thought of what life would be without him enhance his preciousness. Daily Light on the Daily Path Exodus 17:15 Moses built an altar and named it The LORD is My Banner;Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? Psalm 118:6 The LORD is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me? Psalm 60:4 You have given a banner to those who fear You, That it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah. Psalm 27:1,3 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread? • Though a host encamp against me, My heart will not fear; Though war arise against me, In spite of this I shall be confident. 2 Chronicles 13:12 "Now behold, God is with us at our head and His priests with the signal trumpets to sound the alarm against you. O sons of Israel, do not fight against the LORD God of your fathers, for you will not succeed." Psalm 46:7 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah. Revelation 17:14 "These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful." Psalm 2:1,4 Why are the nations in an uproar And the peoples devising a vain thing? • He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs at them. Isaiah 8:10 "Devise a plan, but it will be thwarted; State a proposal, but it will not stand, For God is with us." New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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