23 October | Teens
«For the wages of sin is death, but the [a]gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.» Romans 6: 23
You've heard of salary, right? A salary is what people receive as a reward for the work they do. For example, after a month's work, your father or mother receives a salary. This salary is like a consequence of their work.
The Bible uses this idea of wages to teach us something very important about our choices and actions. It says that the wage of sin is death. But it's no ordinary death; it's eternal death, which means being separated from God forever. That sounds a bit scary, doesn't it? That's because when we choose to do the wrong things and live far from God, we are choosing a path that leads away from Him.
But I praise God because this verse doesn't stop there. It gives us wonderful news! Although the wage of sin is death, God offers us an incredible gift: eternal life. And best of all, it's a free gift! That's right, we don't have to pay anything for it. This gift is God's grace, which is given to us through Jesus Christ, our Savior. It would be as if He had worked, He deserved a salary, only He gives it all up and gives it to us as a gift. For free.
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To understand the concept of “free gift” in a practical way, ask your parents to show you some household bills, such as the electricity, water or internet bill. Notice how these bills are paid by your parents, and you, as a child, don't have to worry about paying them. This is a bit like God's grace: He has already paid the price for us through Jesus, and we receive the benefits of this grace without having to pay for it.