Sin Brings Death, but God Gives Life (Romans 6:23; 2 Samuel 12:13)
Sermon Summary
Pastor David Yan
21 Sep 2025
Is there life after death? The apostle Paul answers positively. He writes to give assurance to believers that they have eternal life.
How does everlasting life come to believers?
First, there has to be a recognition of sin.
Some people deny sin which is tantamount to saying they are perfect. This needs little comment. No one is perfect. Everyone has sin.
Some people admit to sin but say if they do good deeds they will get to heaven. But such people are ignorant of the fact that all the good they do will not get them to heaven. All their good deeds are like filthy rags before a holy and perfect God.
Some people simply say there is no hereafter. This is unjust to the multitudes who have been wronged in life but do not find justice in their lifetime. Furthermore, this is a denial of God’s truth that it is appointed for people to die once and after that there is judgement.
Secondly, there has to be recognition of the consequences of sin. Paul says the wages of sin is death. Wages are due for work done. Death is due for sins committed. Concerning labour, the laws of our land require wages to be paid. Concerning sin, the law of God requires death to be meted out. “The soul who sins shall die” (Ezekiel 18:20).
Into this matter Paul states that God gives eternal life as a gift. A gift is not earned. It is freely given. God has freely given his Son Jesus to die for human sin. Instead of death there is now life.
But this gift is received only by those who are in Christ. He has taken the death due to sinners and taken that death upon himself. In Christ Jesus you have life. Without him you remain in death. But God has borne the death due to sinners and laid it on Jesus. Jesus died for sinners (1 Tim.1:15).
David committed adultery and murder. When confronted with his sin he confessed. God’s message to him was “God has put away your sin. You will not die.”
When sinners come to believe in Jesus they have their sins put away forever. As far as the east is from the west, so far God has removed our transgressions from us (Psalm 103:12).
Praise God for eternal life. Death is deserved. Eternal life is undeserved. It is God’s gift to us. Turn away from unbelief. Awaken to eternal life. Why die when you can live?