HOUSMAIL HM#090 -- THE PENALTY OF SIN                                                                                      27 April 2002

A QUESTION FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN CONSCIOUS ETERNAL TORMENT OF THE WICKED.

According to popular theology, the "wages of sin" is:

Well, the Bible certainly does say that, on the Day of Judgement, unrepentant and unforgiven SINNERS will be punished! And it says just as certainly, that it will not be a pleasant experience! THE PROSPECT IS MEANT TO GENERATE FEAR -- enough fear to make us seek a way of escape!

*** "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Heb 10:26-31)

*** "The FEAR OF THE LORD is the beginning of wisdom". (Psalm 11:10)

*** "What shall we do?" (Acts 2:37)

If WE want to escape Judgement and Punishment for our sins, we MUST find a Biblical answer to that last question!

THE BIBLE SAYS that sinners are:

"storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's
righteous judgment will be revealed. For he will render to
every man according to his works .... for those who are
factious and do not obey the truth, but obey wickedness,
there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and
distress for every human being who does evil, ..... For God
shows no partiality.(Rom 2:8-11)

"The wages of sin is death". (Rom 6:23)

But does that REALLY mean "Eternal Torment"?

Jesus has certainly "died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures".(1 Cor 15:5)

But it is equally certain that the Scriptures say that Jesus is now at the "Right Hand of God", and that He is NOT suffering ETERNAL TORMENT!

That leads to a VERY important question:

If "death for sin" means ETERNAL CONSCIOUS TORMENT in "hellfire" .....

and if Jesus has been to "Hell" to suffer our penalty to the full .....

Then why isn't Jesus still there in "hell" suffering ETERNAL TORMENT?

Clearly if Eternal Torment is the Biblical penalty of sin, then Jesus has NOT paid the appropriate penalty in our place ..... and we could no longer be certain that we are pardoned!

On the other hand -- if the Ransom HAS been paid IN FULL, then the REAL penalty due for our sins is death

i.e. The penalty for sin is the suffering that causes the sinner's death, and the death itself. At the moment of death, the penalty is completely paid and there is NO FURTHER suffering to be imposed or required. Which is why Jesus can be said to have paid the price in full

when He Cried aloud as He died: "IT IS FINISHED!"

Which is why Jesus did not have to stay dead!

Which is why WE can BELIEVE that, if we make an adequate repentance, we are pardoned in full, and that our sins will NEVER be remembered against us again. (Ezek 33:15-16)

and that:

"As far as the EAST IS FROM THE WEST, so far does He remove our sins from us". (Psalm 103:12)

All of that requires that we must review our concept of what Biblical death REALLY means. When we do that prayerfully, and carefully, we shall discover that the Bible teaches that:

Rather, Immortality is a CONDITIONAL GIFT, reserved ONLY for the righteous, on the day of Resurrection. (John 5:28-29; Rom 2:6-11; Rom 6:23)

The GOSPEL promises a CONDITIONAL place in the Kingdom of God (the SIN FREE world of the "Age to Come") after Jesus returns to earth.

And it is REALLY GOOD NEWS, because it tells us how to escape the penalty of our sins, and qualify for that gift!

Allon

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