"THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST AND THE PROBLEM OF SIN"
The Gospel's Answer To The "Result" Of Sin
(The Gift Of Eternal Life)
INTRODUCTION
1. The purpose in this series of lessons has been to help us understand
and appreciate how the gospel of Christ is indeed God's power to
save us - Ro 1:16-17
2. We have examined various aspects of the PROBLEM OF SIN, and then how
the GOSPEL OF CHRIST with its COMMANDS and PROMISES effectively
addresses the problem of sin. To summarize thus far:
a. When the command to BELIEVE is obeyed, the LOVE of sin is addressed
b. When the command to REPENT is obeyed, the PRACTICE of sin is dealt
with
c. When the command to BE BAPTIZED is submitted to, the STATE of sin
is changed
d. When we have obeyed these commands, we receive wonderful
PROMISES...
1) REMISSION OF SINS, which removes the GUILT of sin
2) The GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, which enables us to deal with the
POWER of sin
3. In this final lesson, we shall examine another PROMISE which deals
with the RESULT of sin: the promise of ETERNAL LIFE - Ro 6:23
[In the first lesson, we touched briefly on the RESULT of sin; we shall
now examine it more carefully...]
I. THE "RESULT" OF SIN
A. ONE RESULT OF SIN IS "SPIRITUAL" DEATH...
1. This is likely the death referred to by God when He warned
Adam & Eve - Gen 2:15-17
a. Note: "...for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou
shalt surely die."
b. They did not die "physically" in the day they ate of the
forbidden fruit, but they did die "spiritually" in that day
2. "Spiritual" death is "separation from God"
a. Death of any sort involves the idea of "separation"
b. Just as physical death is the separation of body and spirit
- Ja 2:26
3. "Spiritual" death is what occurs when all sin - Ro 5:12
a. It occurs when we reach that "age of accountability" where
we know the difference between right and wrong, and then
violate God's law - cf. Ro 7:9
b. This is the "death" referred to in Ep 2:1-3
1) All who are outside of Christ are "dead in sin"
2) Those who are "dead in sin" are separated from God and all
the blessings that would otherwise come from union with
Him - cf. Is 59:1-2
B. ANOTHER RESULT OF SIN IS "PHYSICAL" DEATH...
1. Because of their sin, Adam and Even lost access to the "tree of
life" - Gen 3:22-24
2. Because access to the "tree of life" was lost, all mankind is
subject to "physical" death - "in Adam all die" (1 Co 15:22a)
C. THE FINAL RESULT OF SIN IS THE "SECOND" DEATH...
1. This death is referred to in Re 21:8
2. This "death" involves ETERNAL separation from God!
3. This "death" Jesus often spoke of and warned about - Mt 10:28;
25:41-46
[Truly, in more than one sense, "the wages of sin is death" (Ro 6:23);
but the same can be said about "the gift of eternal life"!
No matter what the RESULT of sin, the PROMISE and GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE
more than makes up for it!]
II. THE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE
A. IN ANSWER TO SIN RESULTING IN "SPIRITUAL" DEATH, THE GOPEL
PROVIDES IN ONE SENSE "ETERNAL LIFE" EVEN NOW!
1. John speaks of this "life" in 1 Jn 5:11-13
2. This is "eternal life" in the sense of knowing God and Jesus in
a special way, having fellowship with them - cf. Jn 17:3;
1 Jn 5:20
3. With this type of "eternal life"...
a. One is no longer "dead in sin"
b. One is no longer "separated from God"
c. The emphasis in this use of the expression (eternal life) is
the QUALITY of life, not quantity - cf. Jn 10:10
4. "Eternal life" in this sense begins when we rise from the
watery grave of baptism in "newness of life"...
a. Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that
like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of
the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
(Romans 6:4)
b. This is because in baptism...
1) Our sins are forgiven, washed away by the blood of Christ
- cf. Ac 2:38; 22:16
2) We enter into a new relationship with God as our Father,
having put on the Lord Jesus Christ - Ga 3:26-27
5. In this way, we who were once dead "spiritually", are now "made
alive" in Christ! - cf. Ep 2:1,4-9
B. IN ANSWER TO SIN RESULTING IN "PHYSICAL" DEATH, THE GOSPEL
PROMISES THE "HOPE OF THE RESURRECTION"
1. Jesus spoke of this "hope" in Jn 5:28-29
2. Paul wrote of this wonderful "hope" in 1 Co 15:20-23,50-58
3. This hope of the resurrection we have is based upon our
conviction that Jesus Himself was raised from the dead
- 1 Pe 1:3
4. With such hope, "physical" death has lost much of its sting
- 1 Th 4:13-18
C. FINALLY, IN ANSWER TO SIN RESULTING IN THE "SECOND" DEATH, THE
GOSPEL PROMISES, IN YET ANOTHER SENSE, THE "HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE"
1. In this sense, "eternal life" is still a future promise...
a. Jesus spoke of "eternal life" in this sense, in Mt 25:46;
Mk 10:29-30
b. Paul also spoke of "eternal life" as a future hope, and not
a present possession, in 2 Ti 1:1; Ti 1:2
2. This "eternal life", which is yet to be realized by those who
are in Christ...
a. Comes AFTER one has:
1) Been set free from sin (which occurs in baptism - Ro
6:3-7)
2) Become a slave to God (which occurs when we present our
selves as servants of righteousness - Ro 6:17-19)
3) Produced the fruit of holiness - Ro 6:22
-- Please notice carefully what Pauls says: But now being
made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have
your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
(Romans 6:22) Did you notice? Everlasting life comes
at "the end" of a life that has borne fruit unto holiness!
It is a gift, yes (Ro 6:23), but in the text Paul is
speaking about a gift that one receives as "the end" of
the Christian's faithful life!
b. Comes AFTER the resurrection and judgment - Mt 25:31-34,46
c. Comes to those who patiently DO the will of God! - Ro 2:4-7
d. Offers honor, peace and glory to those who receive it - Ro
2:8-11
e. Is beautifully described by the apostle John in Re 21:1-7;
22:1-5
CONCLUSION
1. This is how the gospel addresses the "RESULT" of sin:
a. In every sense that that sin results in death...
1) "spiritual death" (where our sins separate us from God)
2) "physical death"
3) "second death" (eternal separation from God)
b. ...the gospel of Christ offers the PROMISE of life!
1) "eternal life" (in the sense of knowing the Lord, which begins
at one's conversion)
2) "the resurrection from the dead" (which occurs at the coming
of Christ
3) "eternal life" (in the sense of eternity with God and Christ,
which begins after the Judgment)
2. I hope that we better understnd the wonderful grace of Christ; and
why Paul calls it "the gospel of the grace of God" (Ac 20:24)...
a. Even the COMMANDS to be obeyed involve God's grace:
1) We must BELIEVE IN CHRIST, if we are to stop the LOVE of sin;
yet BY GRACE God's Word produces such faith! - Ro 10:17
2) We must REPENT, if we are to end the PRACTICE of sin; yet it is
God's goodness (i.e., BY GRACE) which leads us to repentance
- Ro 2:4
3) We must BE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST, if we are to change the STATE
of sin; yet, even in this, it is BY GRACE (for God is the one
who is at work in cleansing our sins and regenerating us anew)
- Co 2:12
b. HOW MUCH MORE are the PROMISES of the gospel indicative of God's
marvelous grace!
1) The REMISSION OF SINS removes the GUILT of sin
2) The GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT helps us to overcome the POWER of
sin
3) ETERNAL LIFE is God's gracious gift in response to the RESULT
of sin
Have you accepted the grace of God by obeying the gospel of Christ? If
not, may the words of Paul encourage you do so TODAY...
1 We then, [as] workers together [with him], beseech [you] also that
ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 2 (For he saith, I have heard
thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured
thee: behold, now [is] the accepted time; behold, now [is] the day of
salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6)
If I can be of any assistance, please don't hesitate to @contact me. May
God be with you.
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