In 1 Peter 1:18-19 (NIV) we read, “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.”
Those who would have us believe that God can just simply suspend the consequence of sin, which is death, if someone just repents of their sin have overlooked one of the most highlighted attributes of God: he does exactly what he says he will do. His integrity, reliability, and faithfulness are perfect and He does not change. So when He declared that, “the soul that sins shall die”, that’s exactly what will happen. No exceptions. All of us must face the consequence of our sin and die. And that is not just the death of our bodies, but the dreadful spiritual death of banishment from experiencing the presence and love of God forever.
However, that is not the end of the story. There is Good News in the Bible, very Good News for us to take to heart: God himself came up with a way in which to be both true to his word and yet rescue us from death. His answer was that while we will most certainly die on account of our sins, that death will occur in union with the death of his own Son, Jesus.
The Apostle Paul summed it up like this:
“For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” — 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (NIV)
And he also writes,
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” — Galatians 2:20
This Good News now leaves us with a choice. We can say no to what God did for us and choose to die separate from the death of Christ and remain dead forever, or we can say yes to God and choose to die in union with Jesus. And that also means that, united to him, we will participate in his resurrection and rise with him to live forever.
What will it be for you?
