So . . . we are all sinners, and all condemned already. God is just, righteous and holy, and he MUST judge and punish sin, according to His perfect standard and His promise to do so. The rest of Romans 6:23, quoted above, reads, “but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” God cannot lie! “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;” (Titus 1:2). Note that God’s promise of eternal life is just as sure as His promise to punish sin!
Think about this: If you went before a court of law for speeding, and you were found guilty, what should the judge do? If the judge is a just and righteous judge, he would HAVE to punish you with a fine. It’s the LAW! Even if you had never done it before, and if you promised to never do it again, you would be punished for your crime. What if the judge’s son walked in and said “Father, this is my friend, whom I love. I will pay the punishment for him, because he loves me too. Don’t punish him, punish me instead”.
Well, your father in Heaven is the MOST just and MOST righteous of all. HE WILL PUNISH SIN. AND THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH! THE GOOD NEWS IS THIS: Jesus said, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17) But God warns in verse 18, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
Jesus also said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) Jesus lived the only perfect life, died on the cross, and on the third day, arose from the dead, conquering death – PAYING THE PRICE FOR OUR SIN! This is a fact of recorded history. His death is a matter of official record, and was never disputed in His day. There were hundreds of witnesses over a 40 day period that saw Him alive AFTER His brutal crucifixion on the cross. 500 people at one time saw the resurrected Christ. The disciples saw Him physically ascend into Heaven, where He is right now, the perfect Lamb of God, interceding for the sins of those who choose Him as their savior. Christ paid the price for our sin, so we don’t have to. Keep in mind these disciples went hiding after Christ’s crucifixion, fearful they would meet the same fate. Throughout history, many people have died for a lie but they didn’t know it was a lie. When in history did any sane person die for a lie when they KNEW it was a lie – when they were the ones who made up the lie? You see, the twelve Apostles boldly went out to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and eleven of them died horrible, brutal deaths because of it – willingly. What changed them from fearful, cowering, broken followers into bold Apostles of the Truth? It was the appearance of Christ Himself after His death on the cross, proving He conquered death. There is NO other explanation.
Accept His substitute payment for your sins. It’s a free gift that only requires your faith! Ask Jesus Christ into your heart as your Lord and Savior. Ask Him to give you the faith so you can believe! He will. It’s a promise! Tell Him you know you are a sinner, and you know that He died to pay the price for your sin. Ask Him to save you and make you a new creature in Christ (a spiritual re-birth, called being “born-again”). It’s a FREE gift, and it doesn’t matter how bad you’ve been! It doesn’t matter how old you are. It just doesn’t matter.
God will forgive you and grant you eternal life in Heaven instead of Hell. Repent (turn away from your sins – a requirement for God’s forgiveness), and turn to God! All you have to do is ask Jesus to save you, then confess it with your mouth and go tell somebody! Join a Bible-believing, Spirit-filled church, and learn about your new life as an eternal child of the living God, who has prepared a place for you in Heaven!