1-03. The Penalty of Sin
"The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of Elohim (God) is eternal life in Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) our Master" (Romans 6:23).
Wages are the pay you get for work. Death is "the pay you get for sin". When a physical body dies, the ruach (spirit) is "cut off" from the presence of our flesh which disintegrates. We become disembodied. Death in this context means separation or to be "cut off" from Elohim (God).
What does it mean to be "cut off from Elohim (God)"? If your electricity supply is cut off, your home is plunged into darkness and many other basic necessities may well be lost too - water (because the water pumps no longer work), heating (if electricity controls your heaters in any way), possibly cooking, etc.. To be cut off from electricity is to be cut off from some very basic necessities of life. I have experienced electricity cut offs in mid-winter in Scandinavia and life became extreemly uncomfortable. We were all miserable for several days and our home was turned into an ice box. There was no water, no adequate heating and no way to cook. We rejoiced when the electricity came on again and we no longer took it for granted.
Elohim (God), whose Name is Yahweh (inaccurately translated "Jehovah" by some), is the source of all chayim (life) through His Son, Yahshua (Jesus). Not only is the physical universe held together by Him but our very ruachot (spirits) obtain their chayim (life) from Him too. To be cut off from Elohim (God) as a ruach (spirit) being after death is not unlike being isolated in a very cold room while next door there is a warm fire to keep those who are in His presence warm. To be cut off from Elohim (God) is also be cut off from the source of love, comfort, compassion, kindness, gentleness, companionship and all that the righteous treasure dearly. To be cut off from Elohim (God) is to be completely and utterly alone.
Let me give you another illustration. People of similar interests tend to be attracted to one another. In the spiritual dimension the good have fellowship/companionship together in the presence of Elohim (God) whereas the evil have none. There is a myth held amongst many of the wicked that when they die they'll all be able to get together and have a big "party". Not true. When the wicked see the evil that is in them for what it is, and especially in their friends, they will be so revolted that they will repell each other like two north poles of a magnet. The wicked are alone. There is no "power of attraction" outside the presence of Elohim (God) and they will repell one another. They will be alone - terribly alone.
The Bible describes those who are without Messiah (Christ) as already being "spiritually dead" even if they may be alive in their physical bodies. Those who are not saved are dead spiritually, or put another way, "dead in your trespasses and sin". This is your state of Present Death as a lost person. You too face physical death: "For the body without the ruach (spirit) is dead". You live only once, for
"it is appointed for men to die once". This could happen to you at any time. Should you die physically and be dead spiritually at the same time you would experience permanent death, for at the judgment you would experience what the Scriptures call "the second death", to be with those who have "their part...in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death". This is the threefold death or wages your sin pays. What a wage!
You do not, however, have to die like that and experience being eternally cut off from Yahweh. Elohim (God) wants you to be saved from eternal death. He offers you the gift of eternal chayim (life). This is the "free gift of Elohim (God)..in Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) our Master (Lord)". Yah'shua (Jesus) said: "He who hears My Davar (Word) and believes (trust in) Him who sent Me {Yahweh}, has eternal chayim (life), and does not come into judgment". Since eternal chayim (life) is a gift it cannot be obtained by
"works (self-effort), that no one should boast". "For by grace (undeserved loving kindness) are you saved through emunah (faith, trusting); and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of Elohim (God)".
Yahweh now offers you eternal chayim (life). Yah'shua (Jesus) died and paid the debt for your sin. To be saved you must, by emunah (faith, trust, believing), accept this payment.
Is it so simple? Yes it is. The only price you have to pay after you have made this decision after you have been saved is quitting a life of sin. Salvation is absolutely free. You don't have to earn it any more than a child has to earn the right to be taken care of by his parents. Though the gift itself is free, you must live a life of obedience in order to retain it. Someone has said that the entrance fee to salvation is free but the annual subscription will cost you everything.
There are a lot of products on the market today and a lot of gimmicks are used to get people to buy them. People are understandably suspicious especially when there are so many poor quality goods and when the manufacturers do not live up to their promises. But once you are pleased with a product, the chances are that you will stick with it and buy it again. Some wise marketers wisely give away a product free because they are confident that their product is so good that you'll buy it without any slick advertising and quit using a competing product.
Salvation in Messiah is the only "product" guaranteed to work if you follow the instructions carefully. There are hundreds of other "salvation" products offered by other religions but without exception you must DO something to get them, like become celibate, stop eating meat, attend meetings, partake of various sacraments, make a pilgrimage to a holy place, kill infidels, etc.. You can never be sure you are saved until the end of your life when the books are balanced and their god decides whether you have made it or not.
In Messiah you have already made it once you accept the free gift of eternal chayim (life). You have what is called "eternal security". You can, of course, reject the gift after you have received it, in which case you lose that security. But so long as you have received it and continue to walk a life of obedience - which you will do spontaneously and with simcha (joy) in your heart, without any sort of compulsion, if you have truly received this gift - you are guaranteed a future in the presence of Elohim (God) in heaven. It's a little diferent from the promises made by other religions since you have your spiritual reward HERE AND NOW.
Salvation is not to be confused with the rewards we receive in the next life. These rewards are conditional upon what we do. The important thing is that we have a guarantee of heaven - we cannot, in any case, know exactly what rewards we will receive for our good deeds on earth, only that they will be wonderful. Salvation guarantees us a place in heaven so long as we do not reject it, and our good works determine the quality of life we shall enjoy there.
Do you want eternal life instead of eternal death? If so, say:
"The wages of my sin is death. But I see now Elohim (God) offers to give me eternal chayim (life) in Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ)."
