THE WAGES OF SIN

PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)

NCE(Eng.) ND/HD (Journalism) DIP, BA, (Theology) MA, PhD

THE WAGES OF SIN

“... For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of GOD is eternal life in CHRIST JESUS our LORD”

INTRODUCTION:

     Myer Pearlman {1937:121} posits that, “there is no need to argue the question of the reality of sin, since history and man’s own consciousness bear abundant testimony to the fact.” To this end, C. D. Cole {1968:1} remarks that, “sin is a patent fact, its reality does not need to be argued. Sin, he continues, “is a fact of experience, of observation, and of revelation.” In other words, sin is something shared by everyone, as well as something revealed in the Bible, {1 John 1:8}.

     By way of definition, A.H. Strong opines that, “sin is any lack of conformity to the Law of GOD, whether in act, disposition or state,” as the Apostle John describes it as “the transgression of the Law, {1 John 3:4}. In confirmation, Pearlman {1937:134} agrees that “sins is both an act and a state,” as he explains that, “as a revolt against GOD’S Law, sin is an act of man’s will, and as separation from GOD, it becomes a {sinful} state.”

ORIGIN OF SIN

     Sin was first noticed in heaven among the angelic order. In the words of Herbert Lockyer {1964:153}, “sin originated in the mind of Satan before the creation of man”, when he became lifted up with pride in his bid to be equal with GOD, {Isa. 14:12-14}. In fact, Satan in his scheme successfully deceived one third of the angelic host {Rev. 20:4} who are presently referred to as “fallen angels” {Jude 6}, and so, in the history of creation, Satan and these angels are known as the first sinners.

     The inroad of sin to this world came also, as a result of Satan’s deception against the first man {Adam} and woman {Eve} at the Garden of Eden, {Gen. 3:1-6}. And, for the fact that Adam and Eve had no offspring before they sinned makes sin a problem that affects everyone born into this world, since they started bearing children after the original sin, thus, the Bible says, “all have sinned,” {Rom. 5:12}.

FRUITS OF SIN

     Every tree is known by its fruit, JESUS remarks that, “a good tree cannot bear bad fruit, or can a bad tree bear good fruit, {Matt. 7:18}. So, sinners are known by the fruit they bear, and             these unholy fruits are portrayed in the Bible as the works of the flesh, which are; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outburst of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murder, drunkenness, as well as revelries and are capable of stopping someone from getting into the Kingdom of GOD, {Gal. 5:19-21}.

     Sin breeds ungodliness. According to Pearlman {1937:133], ungodliness is taken from a word, which means, “without worship” {Rom. 1:8} or “reverence”, {2 Tim. 2:6}. The ungodly person is one who gives little of no thought to GOD and sacred things. Sin, equally produces disobedience, which Pearlman says, literally means, “hearing amiss,” as well as “listening with lack of attention,” {Heb. 2:12} and these, are all marks of the fallen nature of man, which cannot be subject to the Laws of GOD, {1 Cor. 2:14}.

WAGES OF SIN

     The Bible does not mince words when it says “the wages of sin is death,” {Rom. 6:23}, as it also cites three types of death, which are; Spiritual {1Tim 5:6}, Physical {Gen. 5:5}, and Eternal, {Rev. 21:8}. Sin inflicts death on the sinner, and his economic undertakings,{Gen. 2:17}. This is because, according to Pearlman, {1937:134}, “the sinner brings evil upon himself through his wrongdoing,” as he exposes himself, and his ventures to divine judgment, which at present inhibits his business, and at the end of his life leads him to eternal damnation, if he fails to repent, {Rev. 21:8}. Pearlman {1937:136} further says that, “man was created with a capacity for immortality.” In order that he might “lay hold” on immorality and eternal life, he was placed under a covenant of works, pictured by the two trees -the tree of knowledge of good and evil and the tree of life. And, life was thus conditioned upon obedience; as long as Adam observed the Law of Life, he had a right to the tree of life. But, he disobeyed, broke the covenant of life,” and so, from that moment, death began to reign, {Rom. 5:12}.

FORGIVENESS OF SIN

     Forgiveness of sin can only be obtained by a hearty repentance and confession of one’s sins, coupled with the acceptance of JESUS CHRIST as one’s LORD and personal SAVIOUR, {John 1:12}. By way of analysis, repentance is the inward regrets for one’s sins, which Alban Douglas {1991:127} says is, “a change of mind that leads to a change of conduct”, and confession is the outward expression of such regrets which the Bible says, leads to cleansing, {1 John 1:9}.    But, many do not obtain forgiveness from the LORD because of the wrong notion that “sorrow for sin” is repentance, whereas, “sorrow for sin” is a step to repentance, as the Bible says, “ungodly sorrow produces repentance, {1 Cor. 7:10}. Countless others are also held out of DIVINE FORGIVENESS because they confess their sin independent of CHRIST, who is the MEDIATOR of the New Testament, {Heb.1:15}, and the only way to the FATHER, {John14:6}, in WHOM the Bible says, “we have redemption through HIS BLOOD, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of HIS GRACE,” {Eph. 1:7}

     In conclusion, therefore, for one to stay out of the wages of sin, one must lay hold on GOD’s gift of eternal life, which can only be obtained in CHRIST JESUS our LORD, {Rom. 6:23}, as one repents {Acts 3:19} and confesses one’s sins {1 John 1:9}, as well as surrenders one’s life to HIM {John 1:12}. DELAY IS DANGEROUS.

REFERENCES:

Douglas, Alban {1991}, 100 Bible Lessons,

Overcomers Bookshop, Nigeria

Pearlman, Myer {1937}, Knowing the Doctrines of the Bible,

Gospel  Publishing House, Springfield, Missori, U.S.A.

Cole, C. D. {1968} Definitions of Doctrine Vol. 2

The Bryan Station Baptist Church, U.S.A.

Lockyer, Herbert {1964}, All the Doctrine of the Bible,                                                      Zondervan ,Grand Rapids, Michgan, U.S.A.

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