In continuing the last article in Ephesians 2:1-4, I want to begin where I left off at verse 3; “Among whom also we had our conversation in time past, in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh, and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”
This verse should put an end to all self righteous judgment on our part as Christians, seeing that we have all been in times past, disobedient to God’s word, and were therefore, under the wrath of God. A scripture reference is John 3:36 “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” The only thing that can remove God’s wrath on our sin is blood. God’s word says in Hebrews 9:22 “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”
The word “remission” in this context means, “the cancellation of a debt.” The debt is found in Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death.” You will notice this payment is called wages, which is defined as “Reward; fruit; recompense; or that which is given or received in return.” Simply stated, it means “what we get in return for our sin.” The answer is, Death!
This death is actually two fold: 1. Physical and 2. Spiritual. We understand the physical part of death. We have all been to funerals, but that is not the final payment for sin. Revelation 20:11-15 puts a solemn ending to the full payment for sin: I will just use the last two verses, 14, 15 “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
Jesus Christ, God’s Son, paid the debt and received the wages for our sins when he suffered and died on Calvary’s cross. He took our sin and penalty and gave us his righteousness, according to 1 Corinthians 5:21 “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.” Jesus, while his body lay in the tomb for three days and three nights, went into hell and suffered our penalty and then rose from the grave in victory over death, hell and the grave. The only way this payment for sin can be received and applied to our account is by faith. It must be received before it can be applied. John 1:12 “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”
To be continued.