The Best Life

Text: Romans 6:23

Central Idea of the Text: God’s great gift of Eternal Life is ours in Jesus Christ.

Proposition: To know eternal life, we must turn our back on sin and receive the Savior.

Purpose: All who hear of God’s offer of eternal life must turn their back on sin and receive the Savior.

In the realm of the “very online” Christians, there often seems to be many categories of discussion and debate. Some of them become quite heated. Most recently there’s been a ton of discussion and debate surrounding the meaning of Christian Nationalism, the choice of Christian parents to homeschool vs sending your kids to public school, and definitions of “modesty”. But none of those controversial topics are anything we are here to discuss or settle today. There is the always relevant seasonal topic about what we, as parents seeking to honor Jesus in the Christmas season, do with Santa Claus. If I took a poll of 10 different sets of parents in the room this morning, I would likely hear 10 different opinions and tactics as to how you speak about and address Santa at your house. And that is fine. We have each been given a conscience, we have been given a mind and reason which can be informed by the truths of God’s word and bring the traditions of man into conformity with the life we live in Christ.

One thing that I DO think that parents need to wrestle with in the season is: how do the things we talk about connected to presents and Santa inform or reflect what we know and what we teach our kids about God? Or is God bigger than even Santa around our home? One issue surrounding Santa that it is good for us to reflect is connected to principles that look closer to Karma than Christianity. It’s reflected in the words of the famous Christmas song: Santa Claus is Coming to Town. You remember the lyrics: “He’s making a list, he’s checking it twice, gonna find out who’s naughty or nice, Santa Claus is coming town. He sees you when you’re sleeping, He knows when you’re awake, He knows if you’ve been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake.”

Now I don’t think that Santa is a Hindu, but this idea of this song. It’s Karma. I do good stuff, I get good things: that doll, that lego set, that RC Car, that stuffed animal, and probably all of the above. I do bad stuff, I get bad things: The coal, a bag of cabbage, socks & underwear. It’s funny that this song was dreamed up back in the 1930’s in the age of department stores, commercialization of Christmas, and the motivation of stores for parents to buy their kids more stuff. It’s where Christmas goes off the rails, because it becomes about the materialism of the age and the things I’ve gotten, rather than the reflections of what I’ve been given in Jesus. It becomes about my own goodness, rather than his Grace.

So what do you and I deserve for Christmas? And what is the next great gift that God has given us? Let’s again open the word, and see another small verse that packs another of God’s greatest gifts to us. Romans 6:23. Please read with me this morning:

Romans 6:23 “23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

This is the Word of the Lord for us this morning, and the second great gift of Christmas.

Would you pray with me: Lord, you are a good God, who gives the best gifts to his Children. Some in this room today know these gifts, and they praise you. Some in this room today are only just becoming aware of your good gifts, and seeking to both understand and respond. Lord, would you provide both understanding and response from those who do not yet call Jesus Savior and Lord this morning? And you would place your words on our lips, so that we can share both what we deserve and what we’ve been given thru Jesus with the watching and listening world around us? We pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.

Last week, we opened a familiar verse, John 3:16. We saw the greatest gift, that is the giving of his Son Jesus, the pinnacle of the expression of his love, so that we may have A WAY to be brought to God. Similarly, this week’s text opens another famous Bible verse that talks about gifts from God. Some of you may have heard this verse quoted to you when someone was witnessing to you in a pivotal moment about Christ. It’s likely verses like this one were very influential in your coming to Christ. It’s also likely that some of you in learning how to share your faith, committed this verse to memory. It’s one of the verses in what we refer to as “The Roman Road”, a set of verses from Romans that make for a streamlined and simple way to talk about Christ and share his invitation to Salvation with those who don’t know him yet. But this Roman Road should be understood in the larger context of the Apostle Paul and his letter to the Romans.

We just spent the past year exploring Acts as a church and talking about the conversion and the ministry of Paul. It has been one of the most timeline-shifting stories, and has literally changed the course of history through Paul’s ministry and writings. Romans is one of Paul’s longest letters. It was written during a time when Paul was dreaming of going to Rome, but staying in Corinth. While staying with Gaius sometime around 57 AD, he composes this letter. It’s obvious from it’s contents that this letter will be read by both Jewish and Gentile Christians, the message of the Gospel having already reached them, or some of them having migrated toward Rome from other places. But Paul’s aim is to help till the soil to receive the seeds of the Gospel ahead of his coming. And Paul commences to inform them of the purpose of his writing in Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” He is writing for the sake of what he calls the Gospel and to prepare the heart to receive that first great gift of God we talked about last week, Jesus Christ.

What follows is the Magnum Opus of Paul’s theological writings. Many pastors and giants of the faith past have marveled at this full letter to the Romans:

John Stott says: “Romans is the fullest, plainest and grandest statement of the gospel in the New Testament.”

Martin Luther says: “This letter is truly the most important piece in the New Testament. It is purest Gospel… It can never be read or pondered too much.”

John Piper says: “Romans is the greatest letter ever written… It is a sustained argument that the gospel alone—the righteousness of God by faith alone—is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes.”

Charles Spurgeon says: “I would recommend you either believe God up to the hilt, or else not to believe at all. Believe this book of God, every letter of it, or else reject it. There is no logical standing place between the two. Be satisfied with nothing less than a faith that swims in the deeps of divine revelation… and the Epistle to the Romans is the deepest place.”

If you’ve not gone to the deep well of Romans lately, or ever, I hope today’s message will encourage you to go there and experience the riches of God’s great gift that we explore. It is the place where Paul will build his biggest cumulative case for this Gospel that we embrace and proclaim.

This morning’s text right in the middle of that great letter, and it actually seeks to answer the question that we wonder not simply at Christmas, but the question that looms over all of our lives: What do I deserve? In the end, as there is a God, what do I deserve, and what will I get? Paul gives the answer from two angles in Romans 6:23: he boils it down to the payoff and the present. At the end of your life on this earth, will you receive the payout or the present. Let’s start by exploring the Payout.

Paul’s argument with those who would contend for sin and for sinning!

The Payout: Death

As I said, Paul is building a case. It order to build that case he has to tear down some myths and lies of the enemy. Namely myths and lies that say: I’m a good person. I deserve all of God’s best blessings. And I don’t need a savior. But with just 3 words, built on the previous words of this book, Paul takes three quick chops to hack down this tree of lies that’s grown over our hearts. “The Wages of Sin is Death.”

Paul starts with the word (Wages). The Greek word here is “opsonion”. It’s not used many places in the New Testament, just 4. But each time it is used, it is used tied to pay, specifically for soldiers. As we know, certain career choices come with certain pay/benefits. Some people take the job because of the job itself, but in many cases like that of soldiers where great risk is involved, there better be a big reward for the fighting and possible injury or death you face. It’s that way even today with military, they may or may not be known for their great wage, but they are known for the health care or college supplements you receive. The point is: You do a job, you get a wage. It’s what the contract calls for, and it’s what is fair. You might say that the wage is what you deserve when all is said and done. Ok, so Paul’s making a statement connected to getting the things we all deserve at the end of this life. Yes, Paul, please make this clear. I’ve been good! I’m waiting. God’s got a list and checking it twice! He’s gonna see I’m good, and he’s gonna pay me my wages! Big mansion on the beach of heaven with my yacht and my fishing pole as payment for all my goodness! Yee haw! Um, not so fast Paul says. What is this payout for? The next word:

(Sin). Now this is kind of a downer word here, to talk about sin. The Greek word here is Hamartia. We often, as we speak of sin, speak of it as a word also used in the military. For an archer to take aim at a target, then miss their mark, that was sin. The New Testament uses this word all over the place for missing the mark that God has set before us. God’s word is clear that God has given commands and mankind has missed them. 1 John 3:4 says “Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.” To break any law of God’s is to commit sin.

(Death). The Greek word here is thanatos. It is a word that in this context not simply to speak of the ending of a life, but of a death that extends beyond this life. The implications of the word imply an eternal death, or what we commonly refer to as hell. It is the same hell that Jesus refers to when he says of those condemned in Matthew 25:41: “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” It is the same hell Paul refers to when he says of the unrighteous in 1 Thess 1:9: “They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.” It is the same hell that John refers to when he says in Revelation 20:14-15: “Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” To be clear, the voice of the New Testament is one voice when it comes to hell and its reality. Don’t let the hucksters and charlatans tell you otherwise.

So let’s make sure we connect the dots between these three. Wages of sin. Because of sin, those who sin receive the payment. What is the payment? The wage is death. Those who sin receive death as their payment. Now some of us either use this to laugh off sin or to dunk on the worst sinners. Who here has not joke about sin, damnation and hell? It’s a common joking matter among the drunks, the druggies and the pervs. But there is no sarcasm or humor in the voice of Paul here. it is only warning. Who here has not heard someone rejoice that there is a hell for the Hitler, the Serial Killer, the person you have fixated their hate on, yet have excused their own sin with an “at least I’ve never killed anyone excuse.” As if that is what God is looking for as the criteria for entry into heaven: the “at least you never killed anyone” card. But that is not what Paul is saying. Paul has been building the case from the beginning of the book: EVERYONE has sinned.

He said in chapter 1 that mankind has been without excuse for knowing there is a creator. Yet they have dishonored God, been futile in thinking, become fools and exchanged the Glory of God for idols. God gave mankind over to their sin and lusts.

He said in chapter 2 that God is the judge who will judge both the worst of sinners, as well as those who think they have no sin (because they do have sin).

He makes clear in both chapters 2 & 3 that everyone has sinned. There is no one who can claim no sin except for the savior except for the savior Jesus.

He makes it clear in chapter 5 that this Jesus, while we were sinners, came and died for our sin to pay the price and call us to faith.

And in this same chapter 6 we look at today, Paul is addressing this sin and the misguided notions some might have. If Jesus died for my sin and paid the price, I can just keep doing what I want right? Go on sinning so I keep getting more grace?? Paul says NO WAY! If you knew what you sin did to God’s heart, you would beg his forgiveness and run far from it.

The case of the book is we sin, it is a stain we cannot escape. And we can’t simply claim Christ’s grace and continue to live in it, because to continue in sin knowingly is to turn your back on God and what he has done.

Church, this is why sin and the definitions of sin matter to us. When people come around trying to excuse sexual sin, devalue life, call good that which God calls evil, the church is not just to sit idly by. Christians must stand on the principles of what is true and right. I have visited with some of you who have done this very thing. You have had to take strong stands in your life upon principle. You have had loved ones who have called you hateful and even disowned you. You have had people in the community that have called you names and marginalized you. But I am commending you, because to compromise this truth is to compromise the gospel. At the same time, I recognize that there are some in this space today who have not only sinned, but they have become complacent and compromised to sin, even while calling yourselves Christian . God has told us in his word not to let unwholesome talk come from our lips, but you walk out these doors and are back to cussing like a sailor. God has told us not to commit adultery, yet you continue to sleep your girlfriend without making her your wife. God has told us to observe his day of rest and worship on Sabbath, yet you fill it with the distractions that keep you from God’s people and God’s word. God has told us not to deceive or gossip, yet you leave this space and you say the worst things about your coworkers or neighbors. God has told us that we are to love our wives as Christ loves the church, but some would leave this place and then speak quite cruelly to their spouse. If you continue down these paths of sin, you are exactly who Paul is talking to here. Paul says that we are slaves to the one we obey (6:16). You want what you deserve? What you deserve is eternal death.

This is bad news, but the good news can’t be good news without understanding the bad. Knowing the wages of sin, helps us understand the goodness of today’s gift:

The Present: Eternal Life

Again, this is Good News must be heard in light of the bad, understanding that our biggest problem and need is our sinful state. The opposing case and good news is built of 4 words that that is where we see clearly and in full contrast today’s present from the Lord:

(free gift). We first see this word Charisma in the Greek. This word is translated free gift, or even gracious gift. It is a comparison and contrast to what was seen earlier in the wage. Where as the wage is what is earned for the deeds done, the gift is unearned. It is grace. it is favor. It is an undeserved thing. A person cannot earn this gift, buy this gift, can’t simply be “good enough” to be granted this gift, you can’t sweet talk your way into this gift, you can’t argue your way into this gift. It is a thing that you didn’t deserve. It is a gift that will never be available in a store. It’s not even a gift you can pick up at a church, though you can hear about it here and in faithful churches preaching the Bible everywhere. It is a word that is given to you, that if you believe it, will transform your life and change everything. We will talk more about this idea of the undeserved gift with next week’s gift as well.

(God) Who is this free gift of God connected to? It is connected to God. It is literally from him. There is no other source to which you can run to find the gift. There are no counterfeits or duplicates. Do you want a free gift? Then you must receive it from God. We live in a time and place of many cultural Christians, those who believe in the default gift to all without the receipt of the gift from the one who gave it and without the fruit of a transformed life.

(Eternal Life). These are two words in the greek. Aionios is the word for Eternal, everlasting, forever. Zoe is the greek word for life. Put the two together and what have you got? it is life upon life. Life with no end. And ultimately, THIS is the gift that we are speaking about today! It is a promise of eternal life with God. And who does it come through? The verse finishes: Christ Jesus our Lord. As we learned last week, he is the first gift of Christmas and all of the other gifts of God come through him and because of Him.

So let’s talk for a moment about this. What is this eternal life we speak of?

it is the paradise that Jesus promised to the thief on the cross in Luke 23:43.

It is the living forever resurrection, being with the Savior that Jesus promised in John 11:25-26.

It is the eternal weight of glory that Paul speaks of in 1 Cor 4:17.

It is to be in the place that Jesus is preparing for us in John 14:1-2.

It is the crown of life promised to those who are faithful unto death in Revelation 2:10.

It is to have every tear wiped away by the savior in Rev 21:4.

It is to see Jesus, our greatest Joy in 1 John 3:2.

And there is much more than I could share or even imagine that is entailed in this eternal life. But both things that we are speaking of this morning are most certainly eternal, because Jesus himself said so. Matthew 25:46: “And these [the cursed, the deceived, lost in sin] will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”” If this were the only piece of evidence we had in the scripture from the words of Jesus, it would be enough. But we have treasures in the word that either a terrible fate or a glorious future is promised.

And that is where we can bring today’s message home today. Romans 6:23 says that there is a payout for the things we’ve done, and that is what we deserve: death. It’s a whole lot worse that the coal that Santa gives. It’s life away from God’s presence, and it goes on forever. But the Present, the gift of God? It is eternal life. It comes from God. It is free. And it comes through Christ Jesus our Lord.

I want to talk to you if you are in a couple different circumstances hearing this message. Earlier, I spoke of many who walk in sin, while claiming the Grace of Christ. You may have given your life to Christ long ago, but your walk isn’t matching with one who has received God’s gift. If this is you this morning, and you are convicted by God’s spirit, I want you to call out to God. Say God, I have sinned. I followed you long ago. I’ve cheated you and wronged you. And I need to confess that sin, leave it behind, do what is right, and come back to you.” If that is you this morning, don’t leave this place without either talking with someone, or filling out a connect card so that we can follow up. You need accountability in order to leave that sin behind, and we as a church want to walk and support you in that.

And to those today who are hearing this message of the grace of God, and feeling the tug on your mind and heart, knowing that YOU need to respond by faith in Christ, today is that day where you can call on the name of Jesus and be saved. Tell him: “Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I need you to save me. Please be my Lord and my Savior. I turn from my sin today.” If that is you, we want to walk alongside you in making that faith a faith that is not simply private but is public.