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Why Are The Wages of Sin Death?

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A reality all humans have to reckon with is death. Death reminds us not only of our mortality, but also our sinfulness. Paul makes us aware in his letter to the Romans that the wages of sin are death (Romans 6:23). The first mention of the association between sin and death was stated by God when enacting the covenant of works with Adam (Genesis 2:17). Adam breaks this covenant by disobeying the law of God and thus dies, as well all those in his loins (Romans 5:12). But what does it mean to die and why is death the consequence of sin?

Dead in Sin

When Adam sinned, sin entered into the world with death accompanying it. As a result, all those who come from Adam are in sin and death (Romans 5:12). This paradoxical reality can seem confusing to the natural mind – how can people who are alive be dead? Well, we must first define what it means to die. When God created male and female, He created them to be ambassadors of His glory (Genesis 1:26) as well as to be in fellowship with them (Genesis 2:16-17). This covenantal relationship came with a condition – to not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If Adam or Eve were to disobey, death awaited them. Yet, they didn’t die immediately. Physical death eventually caught up with them, as well as the generations that were to come after them (Genesis 5). However, there was an immediate deathly reality. Upon being confronted by their sin, God announces curses on His creation and drives Adam and Eve from His presence (Genesis 3:8-24). This is what is referred to as spiritual death. Ephesians 2:1 refers to this reality by declaring that we are dead in our trespasses and sin. This was Paul writing to the church in Ephesus, he was reminding them of their state before being saved by Christ and the state of people outside of Christ. The point being living people can be dead.

Why death?

Humans were not meant to die. Death came because of sin. Why is death the punishment for sin? We must first realise what sin is. Sin is falling short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). This is what man was made for, to express and behold the glory of God (Psalm 8:1-2, 5). Sin corrupts this reality and taints the image humans were created to bear. God is holy, therefore God cannot abide with darkness since He is light (1 John 1:5-6). This means that when Adam and Eve sinned, they broke their covenant with their Maker and forfeited their union with Him. God drove Adam and Eve out of His presence to purify His presence. Spiritual death alerts us to this vital truth, sin and God are incompatible. As the late R.C. Sproul put it – to sin is to commit cosmic treason. And yet, there is hope.

Death to life

Whilst sin causes death, Jesus causes life. That is good news. Sin causes eternal death but Christ offers eternal life to all who believe in Him. What is eternal life? Eternal life means to know God (John 17:3). Sin causes us to be estranged from God, the gospel causes us to be united with God. Eternal life doesn’t mean you won’t die physically. Eternal life means that the separation that occurred in the garden is no longer a reality. Mankind does not have to be spiritually dead forever, through Jesus we can be reconciled with God (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). Jesus dies the death that sin produces so that we wouldn’t have to. And the Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, will raise all those who trust in Christ to new life too (Romans 8:11).

Is Hell Literal Or Metaphorical?

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In the UK, whilst 45% of people believe in Heaven, less than 40% of the population believe that Hell exists. However, Jesus was not short on teachings about Hell. The Apostle Paul spoke about the fate of the wicked after death over 80 times in his letters (more than he spoke about mercy, forgiveness or Heaven combined). If we want to see Christ-like families, Christ-like friendships, Christ-like churches, Christ-like evangelism and a Christ-like world, then we need Christ-like understanding, not least on the subject of Hell. Join the discussion online using #ThePulsePodcast

How do I battle against temptation?

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Temptation is something that every Christian faces daily. Some are easy to resist, while other temptations may seem overwhelming at times and the fight against sins feels like a losing battle. Our four guests share some stories and answer the question how does one go about fighting temptations or resisting temptation?

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5 Things You Need To Know About Satan

The Bible speaks at length about Satan. Despite this, we can fall into the trap of being too dismissive of his activity and influence. On the other hand, we may give him more credit than he is due. We must have an accurate view of who he is in order to successfully resist him with the authority God gives us.

1. Who he is

Satan is a created being. He was an angel of the highest order (Ezekiel 28:14), made to worship and serve God. However, he lost this position of rank and dignity because of his pride. Satan desired to be God. He rebelled against God as he sought authority and equality with the Almighty (Isaiah 13:13-14). Therefore, God cast Satan out of His glory and presence (Isaiah 14:15).

“How you are fallen from heaven,
    O Day Star, son of Dawn!
How you are cut down to the ground,
    you who laid the nations low!
You said in your heart,
    ‘I will ascend to heaven;
above the stars of God
    I will set my throne on high;
I will sit on the mount of assembly
    in the far reaches of the north;
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;
    I will make myself like the Most High.’
But you are brought down to Sheol,
    to the far reaches of the pit.

(Isaiah 14:12-15)

2. His character

From Genesis to Revelation, Satan is revealed as:

  • A slanderer (Genesis 3:2). Out of his mouth comes deceit and lies. This was how he influenced Adam and Eve to distrust the command of God and lure them into desiring to be God just as he did (Genesis 3:4-5; 2 Corinthians 11:3).
  • The tempter (Matthew 4:3). No one is exempt, not even Jesus while on earth. He is committed to tempting us into the enticements of sin.
  • An accuser (Revelation 12:10). He speaks dishonestly against us, working to make us doubt our standing before God.
  • The father of lies (John 8:44), pleased by those who mirror his behaviour and speak falsely as he does.
  • Murderer and devourer (John 8:44; 1 Peter 5:8). He is roams about, looking to cause real and lasting harm in the world and in our own individual lives. He desires to pull us into his grip and swallow us up, requiring us to be alert and on guard. Knowing his character helps us to know how to fight against him.

3. His position

Satan does not have ultimate authority, but he rules over the world with pervasive influence which invades every sphere (2 Corinthians 4:4); worldly philosophies, ideologies, institutions and the like. The earth and its inhabitants  are subject to his power (1 John 5:19). Every single individual has rebelled against God in their sin (Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8; 10). They have turned away from God and are under the rule of Satan (Ephesians 2:2; 2 Timothy 2:26). Good news: it doesn’t have to remain that way. All those who repent of their sin and believe in Jesus as their Saviour and Lord are freed from Satan’s evil domain and brought into the glorious kingdom of God (Colossians 1:13). As powerful as he is, he has no power over Jesus (John 14:30), or His people.

In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

2 Corinthians 4:4

4. He is our enemy

Not all sin is caused by Satan and his demons, but a lot of it is. This is because Satan and his demonic host have determined to set themselves in opposition to God and His good work. In the Hebrew Scriptures he is often referred to as “the Satan” – the adversary. Thus, Satan is our enemy. When saved, a Christian automatically enlists into spiritual warfare. This is an ongoing conflict with the devil and the spiritual forces of evil in our world. The battle is intense, but victory is ours when we fight in the Lord’s power, equipped with the armour of God (Ephesians 6:13-18).

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Ephesians 6:10-12

5. Under God’s authority

Satan’s power should not be underestimated, but it mustn’t be overstated. In the prologue of the book of Job, Satan approaches God, seeking to wreak havoc (Job 1:6-7). God gives him access to Job, but is constrained by the limits God imposes (namely, not to take Job’s life) (Job 1:8-12). Satan is under God’s authority. He is prevented from doing more than God allows. He cannot act outside the Almighty’s sovereign will and decree. As Martin Luther put it: “Satan is God’s devil”.

Satan is exceedingly evil. He is a formidable adversary, but be encouraged: he is ultimately defeated. You have all you need to know and available at your disposal to submit to God and resist the devil and his wicked schemes.

“God is greater than my circumstances” // Talking Faith

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Mati Mupfacha sits down with Clarissa Stockton from Amongst Wolves, who shares her incredible testimony of how God rescued her from her anxiety disorder and has used this “weakness” to show His strength incredible ways, ones that she could’ve dreamt of.

Why are there so many denominations // The Pulse Podcast

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Jesus often prayer that his followers would have such a radical unity that would be a testimony to the world. However, when we look at the Christian body today, it seems as though they divide up into hundreds of different groups, churches, and denominations. For those who are not Christians, it seems confusing. Why can’t they agree on anything? Why are there sometimes four different churches on the same street? Even for believers, the question often arises: Why are there so many Christian denominations?

Help! I’m Struggling To Pray! // On The Table

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Maybe you have never prayed to God yourself, or maybe you’ve prayed for years. Most of us sense the desire to pray and even want to develop a better prayer life. However, we often find that sometimes it’s difficult to know what to pray for or to even explain why we pray. Our four guests sit down to discuss the all-important topic of prayer, looking at what the Bible has to say about our prayer lives!

How Can I Have More Passion For God?

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As Christians, we are to love God with all of our being—with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Many of us want to love God more than we do. We wish we had a stronger desire to serve him, obey him, and tell others about him. Our Facebook and Linkedin Lead Michael Agbonkpolor shares how can we go about cultivating a stronger passion and zeal for God.

What is the role of the Holy Spirit // The Pulse Podcast

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Of all the gifts given to mankind by God, there is none greater than the presence of the Holy Spirit. For many people, the person of the Holy Spirit raises many questions as to its functions, roles, and activities. Our Director Mike Omoniyi shares how The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit is active in our world and notes several roles the Holy Spirit plays in the lives of believers today.

Should Christians Build Wealth Or Avoid It / On The Table Podcast

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In our culture today, there seems to be no facet of life that is untouched by money and the pursuit of it. The Bible calls Christians to have a different culture, one which pursues sacrificial giving. Our four guests discuss the all-important of how should Christians think about money management, stewardship and giving.