Punishment for Sin
If you look at all the religions of the world they can be summed up very simply into one category. They all require a person to obtain some type of spirituality or eternal life by doing some type of deed/deeds or good works or adhering to their beliefs.
Look at what the bible says about religious practices that are commanded by people to people.
We will look at the bible for our source of truth since that truly is God’s word as discussed in the God’s word section.
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
It is true that salvation is a gift from God but notice that it says that the wages of sin is death. Don't miss that point. Sin is what causes death but this is speaking of spiritual death or seperation from God the Father and as a result physical death. We as people are born seperated from God.
Originally, Adam and Eve were made in God's image. But when they sinned they passed on that sin nature to all of us.
Now God requires death as payment for our sin. But if we die with our sin nature we will forever be seperated from Him.
Genesis 5:1-4
In the day that God created man, He made him in the likeness of God. He created them male and female, and blessed them and called them Mankind in the day they were created. And Adam lived one hundred and thirty years, and begot a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth.
Notice when God originally made Adam and Eve they were in the image of God but after they sinned all there kids were not in the image of God anymore but in Adam's image. That is, in his sin nature.
That is why death and disease are in the world. Physical death is a result of our new nature that is called the nature of Adam.
Paul talked about this new nature in Romans 5:12
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned
Look and see how Christianity takes care of our sin nature.
Paul the Apostle said in Galatians 2:20-21I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain."
First notice Paul was very much alive in the physical sense yet he says, “I have died with Christ”. We need to die with Christ (only occurs once) not keep religious laws that is how we are forgiven. Remember the wages of sin is death. So we must die with Christ.
Colossians 2:20-23
You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as, "Don't handle! Don't taste! Don't touch!"? Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person's evil desires.
The underlined section above states that keeping religious rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion and self-denial ect… but they are no good at conquering or overcoming your evil desires. What this basically means is if religious acts are what you are counting on for your salvation then you are not truly saved or have eternal life.
The proof of this is you will still struggle with your evil desires. Maybe you don’t struggle with sins like murder but how about the rest of what Jesus commanded. Such as, (coveting) strongly desiring something that isn’t yours, making disciples, hating someone, lust, anger, or gossip. Think of your own life and how you compare. I’m not saying by keeping those laws it will guarantee your entrance into Heaven, but it definitely is proof of where you stand with God.
Religions may teach how to do good by adhering to their beliefs but that doesn’t get rid of those indulgences of the flesh (sin). None explains why we have sinful desires and how to overcome our sin problem.
Let me explain what this means this way.
Imagine for a moment there was someone who murdered one of your relatives like your son, daughter, mom, or dad and as this person was standing before a judge he asks the judge, “can you let me go free because I know you are a loving Judge, I’m truly sorry, and because I did a good deed the other day by walking an elderly lady across the street?”
Would this judge be a good judge if he just let him go free because he had done some good deed? The answer is no, obviously he must pay for his crime and no good deed that the murderer does can make up for the crime he had done.
Unless, the Judge himself takes the penalty for his crime so that the murderer can go freely! That is exactly what God has done for you. God became a man in the person Jesus Christ and took your penalty of death upon Himself. Faith in Jesus that He is God and that His death was was payment for you is all that is needed. Then it would be as if you have died with Jesus 2000 years ago. Since you died with Him on that cross you would also rise with Him into Heaven.
Acts 10:42-43Acts 10:42-43
And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins."
God is the Judge and He demands perfection in Heaven
(Matthew 5:48).
Perfection is the requirement and none have obtained that. But if you have died with Christ then you will be given Jesus' perfection.
If you die with Christ you will be raised with Him in Heaven but if you die without Him you will forever be separated from Him and cast into Hell!