Recently, a news article portrayed the horrific story of a mother who turned on her own children, and committed a horrible act toward them. The details are shocking to anyone who has experienced the joy of bringing a child into the world. Such articles produce questions that are hardly answered, and I wonder, ‘Did she think about the con-sequences?’
When we first turn to Romans, we are presented with a similar picture of sinful humanity: men given up to uncleanness due to the lusts of their own hearts; men who change the truth of God into a lie; men who know God, but do not glorify Him as God; men who defile themselves and those around them (Rom 1:21-32). It’s a chilling list, regaling the hardness of men’s hearts toward God.
Do we consider the consequences of sin? In chapter 6, Paul writes, “the wages (consequence) of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life” (v. 23). With tender compassion like a loving parent, God saw our troubled situation and sent his son, Jesus, to take the full penalty of our sins upon Himself. That is why He died on the cross – so we wouldn’t have to.
What may surprise some, however, is found in verse 20 of chapter 3. He says, “by [doing] the deeds of the law … shall no flesh be justified in His sight”. Those who do what is good and right are not considered to be any better, in God’s eyes, than those who willfully commit sin – “for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23).
It is natural for us to try to offer God our good deeds – rather than relying on God’s Good Deed – as payment for our sin. But the Bible states, “Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
Romans 5 tells us that “being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 1). It is by faith in what Jesus did for us, and not by our works, that we can enjoy peace with God.
If you have never accepted the gift God has offered to you, what is keeping you from calling out to God today? The Bible promises that “[whoever] shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom 10:13, emphasis added).
Salvation is a gift, prepaid by Jesus on the cross, offered without cost to you. You only need to ask Him:
“Lord, will you save me from the consequence of my sin?”
-From the August 2015 Helmers Street Herald
Helmers Street Baptist Church 