The Penalty

The Penalty

By: Keith Baxter

In the game of football a personal foul is something that you do that breaks the rules. The penalty for the foul is 15 yards and sometimes you can be thrown out of the game.

The same is true in real life, we all do things that are wrong and we break the rules that God has for us. This is called sin and everyone has sinned.

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" ( Romans 3:23 )

"... there is none that doeth good, no, not one." ( Romans 3:12 )

Now the penalty for sin is death and we all have earned it and deserve the penalty.

" for the wages of sin is death..." ( Romans 6:23 )

This death is the second death which is the lake of fire and it will last for ever and ever.

"...and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." ( Revelation 21:8 )

Well we know that we have all lied, and we know that we deserve to suffer forever in the lake of fire.

" But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." ( Romans 5:8 )

We now see that we do not have to suffer our punishment in the lake of fire, but we can have eternal life through what the Lord Jesus Christ did for us on the cross of Calvary.

" For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." ( Romans 6:23 )

Now all you have to do to have eternal life is believe that:

"...Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" ( I Corinthians 15:3,4 )

" For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (II Corinthians 5:8 )

This means that the Lord Jesus Christ up on the cross had all of our sin placed on him, and his righteousness is is given to anyone that receives it. Now we do not have to receive the penalty for sin, because Jesus Christ has already paid the price for us. Again this is a free gift and we can do nothing to work for eternal life.

" For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." ( Ephesians 2: 8, 9 )

" Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, ..." (Romans 3: 24, 25 )

Please note there is nothing you can do . If you believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins, then put your faith in his shed blood for your sins and trust him and the work that he did on the cross for you and you can have the free gift of eternal life.

This choice is now up to you!

What did you decide? If you have trusted in the finished work of Christ on the cross for your sins then you have eternal life.

"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise," ( Ephesians 1: 13 )

You know need to remember that ther was nothing you could do to earn eternal life, and there is nothing you can do to lose it.

" For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." ( Romans 8: 38, 39 )

And upon believing that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins, all of your sins have been forgiven past, present and future.

"In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:" ( Colossians 1: 14 )

"And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;" ( Colossians 2: 13 )

Now you can rejoice in knowing that you do not have to suffer the penalty for your sins and you can live with the Lord Jesus Christ in heaven forever.