SIN YIELDS DEATH, JESUS GIVES LIFE
Jenna Worsham
Today’s Scripture: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23, ESV
Theme: All sins require death, but Jesus gives life.
SIN = DEATH
Sin leads to death. Some sins more obviously lead to death, like murder. Yet, even the sins that seem less directly associated with death still cause death. It is hard for us to understand how this is true. God shows us with rules, laws, traditions and stories. Adam and Eve caused animals to die because, in their sin, they then required skin coverings. Lost access to Eden and the Tree of Life means the first people would die. Cain killed Abel because of sinful jealousy leading to Abel’s death, but more tragically Cain’s godless life and eventual death. The collective sins of people over time led to Jesus’ death on the cross. Our disobedience causes death. Thus, we fear death, the natural consequence of our disobedience.
DEATH HAS NO STING FOR THE BELIEVER
The first man to offer an acceptable offering to God was Abel. He offered the best of his lambs. Yet, Abel is also the first man recorded to die. His blood soaked the ground, and his guilty brother kept on living, imperfectly, uncomfortably. Why didn’t Cain’s sin cause his own death? Is death a punishment for sin? Consider sayings like “life’s not fair” or “that’s life.” They refer to the unfair, broken kind of lives we know and recognize. That’s not the kind of life Jesus wants to offer to us.
JESUS GIVES LIFE
Jesus definitely gives life, but I think we sometimes become confused about what kind of life He gives. When we are born into the world, it is mixed with beauty and pain. It is not pure or holy. There are elements of holiness around us. The Kingdom of God is already started, but it has broken pieces all around and through it. This place is not yet finished. Even people without faith can see this. It’s not nirvana. It’s broken. Jesus gives “not as the world gives” life. He gives something different and better than that. As today’s verse says, Jesus gives eternal life. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid,” (John 14:27, ESV). The death we see here is not a punishment. It makes sense that people die when leaving this “life.” Jesus provides life for us. If we lose life here (and we do), we can trust that the life He provides next is even better.
Make It Personal: Let’s trust God with our fears and troubled souls. Sin does lead to death. Jesus does give life. How have you thought about the life that Jesus provides? Does it seem like His provision should be healing from sickness? Miraculous recovery here on Earth? Or even resurrection from the dead? Pray as you consider the yield of sin in your life. Pray as you consider the real life Jesus shows us and gives generously.
Pray: Lord Jesus, thank You for leaving us peace the promise of real and better life. You broke every chain and set us free from sin and death. The death we see around us is subject to Your authority. You paid for our sins. Because of this we are free to accept Your gift of life. Not the life that we were born into, but real life that doesn’t end when our bodies wear out, get sick or are cut down by violence. You are greater than sin and death. We worship and honor You, longing for the day when this broken world and broken people are healed once and for all. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Read: Hebrews 9:11-28; 1 Corinthians 15:55
Weekly Memory Verse: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23 (ESV)