No one who has rightfully studied the subject can honestly consider the penalty of sin, (Death) as scripturally set forth and defined, too slight a punishment.
When understood, it is seen to be neither too slight, nor too severe, but simply a just recompense of reward. "The gift of God," says the apostle "is eternal life." And that gift or favor bestowed upon Adam, and through him upon his posterity, was to be lasting only on condition of its proper use, which was to glorify God in its well-being and well-doing, and not to dishonor him by rebellion and sin. And when God creates, he reserves to himself both the right and the power to destroy that which he considers unworthy of continuous life. When man sinned, therefore, God simply withdrew the favor he had granted which had been misused, and death (destruction) followed: proceeded naturally by the dying process--pain, sickness, and mental, moral and physical decay.
Had God not provided redemption through Christ, the death penalty which came upon our race in Adam would have been everlasting; but in mercy all have been redeemed from death; yet all are again, individually, put under the same law, which changes not--"The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Did our Lord Jesus ever use the expression, eternal torment?
Or even once hint that he came into the world to save men from eternal torment?
No, never! Yet, if this were the truth, and if they were in danger of a penalty so terrible for not receiving him, it would have been neither just, nor kind in him, to have kept back the truth whatever it might be. He did tell them, however, that he came to save them from death, from perishing. The penalty of sin, death, being against all, none could hope for a resurrection to any future life, but all were hopelessly perishing, unless Christ should redeem and restore them from death, to that which was lost in Adam, --to righteousness and its privileges of everlasting life and favor. The Lord's title, Savior, has a weight too in this examination. It does not imply a deliverer or savior from torment, but a savior from death. The Greek word translated “Savior” signifies literally “Life-giver”.
What did our Lord say of his mission? We may well inquire. He said that he came "to preach deliverance to the captives."
What captives could he refer to but the captives of sin, receiving daily its wages--dying by inches and entering the great prison-house, the tomb?
He said he came to "open the prison-doors"—what prison, but the tomb? Of which also the prophet had spoken. (See, Isa. 61:1; Luke 4:18) He declared that he came that mankind "might have life;" that he came "to give his life a ransom for many" lives--in order that by believing in him men "should not perish, but have eternal life;" and again, "Narrow is the way that leads unto life," and "broad is the way that leads to destruction."(John 10:10; Matt 20:28; John 3:15; Matt 7:13)
AN UNANSWERABLE ARGUMENT
It will generally be admitted by Christians that our Lord Jesus redeemed mankind by his death; that he endured willingly the penalty of man's sins, in order that man might be released from that penalty. "Surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows." "He was wounded for our transgressions; he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon him; and by his stripes we are healed." (Isa 53:4, 5)
This being admitted, it becomes an easy matter to decide to an absolute, unquestionable certainty, what the penalty of our sins was, if we know what our Lord Jesus did endure when "the chastisement for our peace" was inflicted upon his willing head.
Is he suffering eternal torment for us?
If so, that would thus be proved to be the penalty against our sins. But no one claims this, and the Scriptures teach that our Lord is now in glory, and not in torment, which is incontrovertible proof that the wages of sin is not torment.
But what did our Lord do to secure the cancellation of our sins? What did he give when he paid our ransom price--the price or penalty against sinners?
Let the Scriptures answer. They repeatedly and explicitly declare that "Christ died for our sins;" that he gave his life a ransom to secure life for the condemned sinners; that he bought us with his own precious blood; that for this purpose the Son of God was manifested in flesh, that his flesh he might give for the life of the world; that as by man came death, by man ("the man Christ Jesus") might come the resurrection of the dead. (1 Cor 15:3; Matt 20:28; 1 Tim 2:6; Hos 13:14; 1 Cor 6:20; 1 Pet 1:18,19; 1 John 3:8; John 6:51; 1 Cor 15:21; 1 Tim 2:5, 6).
Is there room to question further the clear Bible doctrine that "the wages of sin is death"? Is there room to doubt further either the unscriptural-ness, or unreasonableness of the heathenish dogma of eternal torment? We answer, No!
Let the God-dishonoring, saint-perplexing, scoffer-making, and wholly absurd blasphemy go--back to its vile and worthy source, the devil.
When understood, it is seen to be neither too slight, nor too severe, but simply a just recompense of reward. "The gift of God," says the apostle "is eternal life." And that gift or favor bestowed upon Adam, and through him upon his posterity, was to be lasting only on condition of its proper use, which was to glorify God in its well-being and well-doing, and not to dishonor him by rebellion and sin. And when God creates, he reserves to himself both the right and the power to destroy that which he considers unworthy of continuous life. When man sinned, therefore, God simply withdrew the favor he had granted which had been misused, and death (destruction) followed: proceeded naturally by the dying process--pain, sickness, and mental, moral and physical decay.
Had God not provided redemption through Christ, the death penalty which came upon our race in Adam would have been everlasting; but in mercy all have been redeemed from death; yet all are again, individually, put under the same law, which changes not--"The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Did our Lord Jesus ever use the expression, eternal torment?
Or even once hint that he came into the world to save men from eternal torment?
No, never! Yet, if this were the truth, and if they were in danger of a penalty so terrible for not receiving him, it would have been neither just, nor kind in him, to have kept back the truth whatever it might be. He did tell them, however, that he came to save them from death, from perishing. The penalty of sin, death, being against all, none could hope for a resurrection to any future life, but all were hopelessly perishing, unless Christ should redeem and restore them from death, to that which was lost in Adam, --to righteousness and its privileges of everlasting life and favor. The Lord's title, Savior, has a weight too in this examination. It does not imply a deliverer or savior from torment, but a savior from death. The Greek word translated “Savior” signifies literally “Life-giver”.
What did our Lord say of his mission? We may well inquire. He said that he came "to preach deliverance to the captives."
What captives could he refer to but the captives of sin, receiving daily its wages--dying by inches and entering the great prison-house, the tomb?
He said he came to "open the prison-doors"—what prison, but the tomb? Of which also the prophet had spoken. (See, Isa. 61:1; Luke 4:18) He declared that he came that mankind "might have life;" that he came "to give his life a ransom for many" lives--in order that by believing in him men "should not perish, but have eternal life;" and again, "Narrow is the way that leads unto life," and "broad is the way that leads to destruction."(John 10:10; Matt 20:28; John 3:15; Matt 7:13)
AN UNANSWERABLE ARGUMENT
It will generally be admitted by Christians that our Lord Jesus redeemed mankind by his death; that he endured willingly the penalty of man's sins, in order that man might be released from that penalty. "Surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows." "He was wounded for our transgressions; he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon him; and by his stripes we are healed." (Isa 53:4, 5)
This being admitted, it becomes an easy matter to decide to an absolute, unquestionable certainty, what the penalty of our sins was, if we know what our Lord Jesus did endure when "the chastisement for our peace" was inflicted upon his willing head.
Is he suffering eternal torment for us?
If so, that would thus be proved to be the penalty against our sins. But no one claims this, and the Scriptures teach that our Lord is now in glory, and not in torment, which is incontrovertible proof that the wages of sin is not torment.
But what did our Lord do to secure the cancellation of our sins? What did he give when he paid our ransom price--the price or penalty against sinners?
Let the Scriptures answer. They repeatedly and explicitly declare that "Christ died for our sins;" that he gave his life a ransom to secure life for the condemned sinners; that he bought us with his own precious blood; that for this purpose the Son of God was manifested in flesh, that his flesh he might give for the life of the world; that as by man came death, by man ("the man Christ Jesus") might come the resurrection of the dead. (1 Cor 15:3; Matt 20:28; 1 Tim 2:6; Hos 13:14; 1 Cor 6:20; 1 Pet 1:18,19; 1 John 3:8; John 6:51; 1 Cor 15:21; 1 Tim 2:5, 6).
Is there room to question further the clear Bible doctrine that "the wages of sin is death"? Is there room to doubt further either the unscriptural-ness, or unreasonableness of the heathenish dogma of eternal torment? We answer, No!
Let the God-dishonoring, saint-perplexing, scoffer-making, and wholly absurd blasphemy go--back to its vile and worthy source, the devil.
