A summary of the Bible
I believe in this one inspired statement, we have a summary of what the Bible is about. The theme runs from Genesis to Revelation. Let’s take it look at this verse (in bold) and process it (in italics) as we go:
For the wages of sin
Wait, I’ve heard a lot about sin. You mean if I mess up, there’s a price I must pay? A consequence?
is death
The cost of sin is death? That’s serious!
but,
Alright! There has to be an exception … whew!
the gift of God is eternal life
Okay - God is real and He has offered us eternal life as a FREE gift? How can I receive it? I don’t want to die!
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Is that all? There are no strings attached? I don’t have to be ‘good enough’ or earn it? If I just accept Jesus Christ for who He is - I will have eternal life? If I believe that He died on the cross and rose again, all because I’m a sinner and cannot pay my own debt for sin?
Yes, that’s it in a nutshell. Only God can lay down His life and pick it back up again. He graciously does for us what we cannot do for ourselves - and offers this gift to all who will believe and accept it! That is the love of God: He gives when we don’t have anything to offer Him in return. He just wants us to come to Him and experience Him - by first taking Him at His word. That’s faith. Faith is knowing in your heart something is true even if you currently can’t see it with your eyes. But once you come to God, you experience Him and know Him even though you cannot see Him. Your faith will be strengthened by His love and His Spirit working in your life.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
