Category Archives: Eternal Life

Bible, Christ, Death, Eternal Life, Eternity, Gifts, Jesus, Scripture, Sin, Wages

WAGES VS GIFTS

ROMANS 6:23

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Here we are again with another one of my Every Man A Warrior memory verses. We teach this verse to men to train them to share the gospel. Google “The Bridge Illustration” and you will find numerous examples. We use this verse because it spells out the Gospel so simply for anyone at any age. I actually have an App on my phone called “ShareYourFaith” which uses the Bridge Illustration also. Check it out.

Paul brings us to the end of chapter 6 (of course, there were no chapters in his letters) with this familiar verse. I want us to look at the key words of this verse today – wages, sin, death, gift, eternal life, Christ Jesus. And the biggest word in the verse is right in the middle – but. That word changes everything. Everything said in the first half of the verse is trumped by what is said in the second. But…a little word with big implications.

APPLICATION

“…the wages of sin is death,… We earn death (our wages) because of our sin. Since the fall of man in the garden of Eden, man has been held liable for their sins. The punishment for Adam’s disobedience was death, first a physical death. Then, if that sin was not atoned for, a spiritual death. Since Adam mankind has suffered these deaths. There is no way of escaping this punishment in and of ourselves. We cannot earn back our physical or spiritual life.

BUT… God had a plan from the foundation of the world. He knew what would happen in the garden. If He had not known, He would not be much of a God. And even though He knew the choice Eve and then Adam would make, He did not intervene to stop them. They had to decide on their own to obey Him. If He forced their obedience, they would rebel against that. You see, Jesus was not God’s plan B. He was always the plan.

“…the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” As Paul Harvey used to say, “Now, the rest of the story.” God gives us a gift. It cost us nothing. It’s free. We just have to accept it. What is that gift? Eternal life with Jesus. Hold on, Carl. What’s the catch? No catch. You see, that’s what causes so many to stumble. They are looking for the hook in this gift. God loves you so much that He sent His Son to die for you (John 3:16). If you haven’t accepted that gift yet, do it today. If you have, give Him praise for this inexhaustible gift that has brought billions of people into His kingdom. There is always room for one more.

This world doesn’t know how to accept free gifts. Thank You for giving so freely so I can live with You.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Bondslaves, Enslavement, Eternal Life, Fruit, Sanctification, Sin, Slaves

THE GREAT EXCHANGE 

ROMANS 6:22

“But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.”

This time of the year there are lots of Christmas parties. One of the favorite games among adults is “Dirty Santa.” Now, that sounds worse than it is. The rules are everyone brings a gift which is supposed to cost within a certain range, say $10. All the gifts are wrapped without any names attached. Everyone gets in a circle, and numbers are drawn representing everybody who is there. Number 1 goes first, selects a gift and opens it. Number 2 goes next, but they can take Number 1’s gift or select their own. If they “steal” Number 1’s gift, Number 1 gets to select again. This continues until everyone has gotten a gift by “stealing” someone else’s or selecting one of their own. Some exchanges are good while others not so much.

Paul tells us clearly that we exchange slavery to sin for slavery to God. We know the slavery to sin leads only to death and destruction. But Paul tells us here that slavery to God produces good fruit (same word we saw in yesterday’s blog). This fruit results in sanctification and eventually to our eternal life with Christ in the heavenlies.

APPLICATION

It’s important to look at the verbs in today’s verse. “Set free” and “enslaved” are both Aorist Passive Participles which are tied to the main verb “derive.” Aorist means a certain, undefined point in time. Passive means it is done to you. In the first one, “set free,” we have the Greek word eleutheróō, which means “properly, set free, release from bondage; (figuratively) to remove the restrictions of sin (darkness) because delivered by God into true spiritual liberty (growth).” (HELPS Word-studies) We see that used in John 8:36: “So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed”

The next verb (participle) is “enslaved,” which is the Greek word doulóō. This form of the Greek word, according to HELPS Word-studies is “focusing on the status of being a bond-slave.” Do you know what a bondslave is? It is someone who has chosen to serve someone. They weren’t taken by force. It was a willful surrender of their will to the master’s. What a great picture of our surrender to Jesus.

The main verb of this verse is “you derive.” That’s the Greek word echo, and I don’t mean that is something you hear when you yell in a cave, lol. It’s a simple verb, but the important thing is it is in the Present Indicative Active. Let me just say it’s an ongoing activity. We will derive or get the benefit or fruit continuously. Hallelujah! The Great Exchange – the bad for the good – sin for righteousness – impurity for purity – unholiness for holiness. Now, go live that way today.

Lord, I am not worthy to be called Your child, but You have chosen me and I serve You willingly.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Cross, Death, Eternal Life, Jesus, Life, Promises, Scripture

DIED ONCE FOR ALL

ROMANS 6:9

“knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him.”

As a lifelong Baptist I have heard the whole debate about crosses verses crucifixes. A lot of my Baptist friends will argue that since Christ is alive and was resurrected, we should not have a symbol of Him remaining on the cross. My Catholic friends see the crucifix as a reminder of the sacrifice of Christ on that cross. They know He is alive and resurrected. Honestly, I don’t have a problem with the crucifix. To me it’s no different than watching a movie about the crucifixion each year. Let’s just agree to celebrate His sacrifice. Amen?

Paul knew that Christ had been raised from the dead. He had spoken to Him on that road to Emmaus. He knew Jesus’ shed His divine blood once for all mankind. He knew He had defeated death and the grave. Today’s verse is a reminder to us all of the supreme sacrifice and our promise of eternal life with Him one day. Understand this – for a follower of Christ the dominion of death has expired.

APPLICATION

Two of the verbs in today’s verse need to be explained. “Is…to die again” is in the Present Indicative Active. That verb tense is an ongoing action of the verb. Paul is saying that Christ is no longer dying constantly. He is not suffering for us now. He is advocating for us. He’s at the right hand of the Father. He died ONCE for all.

The other verb to look at is translated as “is..master.” It literally reads in the Greek “no longer rules over.” It’s the Greek word kurieuó and is also in the Present Indicative Active. Strong’s defines it as “have dominion over, exercise lordship over.” Death is not ruling over Jesus. Just the opposite, in fact. He defeated death. When He was resurrected, death saw its last day of dominion over mankind. Those who follow Jesus walk in that victory.

Where are you today in regard to Christ’s death and resurrection? I pray you have made that decision to follow Him. If you have, walk in that victory that is yours through Jesus. There is absolutely no reason to feel defeated. Trust Him to show you each day how to handle those situations that test you. He wants to see you living victoriously, not defeated. Remember, He died and arose again for you. This is an eternal promise from the Father.

O God, I praise You that I have victory of sin and the grave because of Jesus’ shed blood and His victory over death.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Death, Eternal Life, Life, Promises, Scripture

IF HE…THEN WE

ROMANS 6:8

“Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,”

One key parenting skill is teaching our children cause and effect. You can do that by saying to them, “If you do this, then this will happen.” For example, if you clean up your room, then you can have some extra video time. You get it. It’s important, though, to make sure if they do what you ask them, then you have to follow through with the “then.” Promises made equal promises kept.

Paul tells us in today’s verse that if we are dead to our sins because of our trust in Christ, then we shall live in Him. That’s a pretty good promise, isn’t it? In Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible there is this commentary on the last half of today’s verse. There was a lot more, but I chose to just include the following. “and are therefore under the greatest obligation, whilst here on earth, to live, not in sin, but to righteousness, and to his praise and glory; with whom they are now dead to sin, and with whom they not only hope, but believe they shall live throughout the endless ages of eternity.” That’s a wonderful explanation.

APPLICATION

How shall we apply this verse today? One is so clear in the first part of the verse. We must die with Christ daily. We must give up all our wants and desires to Him. We have no rights as crucified followers of Christ. All our rights are nailed to the cross. Does that mean we are powerless and helpless? Far from. It. Look at the second part.

Paul says, “we believe.” Don’t read that and just blow right past it. That is critical. So many believers make the decision to follow Christ but fail to believe in in His promises. We have to trust. We have to believe. We have to have faith in what He says is true.

Finally, Paul says, “we shall also live with Him.” That’s incredible. Paul is not referring to our future life with Him in heaven, though that is true. He is talking about our daily walk with Him now. We can live with Christ today. We can live for Him now. Every decision we make needs to flow from the Master. Every step we take is to be taken with Him.

You have to walk pretty close to someone on the beach to follow their footprints because the waves come in and wash them away. The same goes with Christ. We should be right on His heels every step. If He says something, we do it. If He guides us somewhere, we go. If – Then!

Father, I want to do whatever, whenever and however You lead. If You say it, then I will do it.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Death, Eternal Life, Grave, Life, Scripture

WE ARE DEAD!

ROMANS 6:2

“Far from it! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?”

Death is final or is it? For a believer we believe that death is simply a portal from this life on earth to eternal life with Christ. For the unbeliever, their physical death also leads to an eternity of their choosing, one of eternal separation from God and His light. Their end is not as precious as the believers. But we all will die one day unless the Lord returns in our lifetime. That would be fine with me.

Paul makes a great theological point in today’s verse when he writes “we who died.” This verb is in the Aorist tense which means it happened in the past. In regard to this verse and this verb, Lightfoot writes, “that they are not, and cannot be, their former selves—and that it is a contradiction of their very being to sin any more. It is the definiteness, the absoluteness of this change, considered as an historical crisis, which forms the central idea of St. Paul’s teaching, and which the aorist marks.” (Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers). That’s a powerful statement.

APPLICATION

Let’s think about this for a second. When you die, the affairs of this life cease for you. You will no longer have to worry about money, work or even losing weight. All those things are dead to you. You died a physical death which released you from all earthly concerns. The same is true for us in regard to sin. Once we surrender our life to Christ, we are dead (a one-time event) to sin. So why do we struggle with it every day?

Barnes says, “All Christians are thus in fact dead to sin. They do not live to sin; nor has sin dominion over them.” That is the key. Sin no longer rules our life. We have power over it through Christ. We simply yield to His commands daily and sin is avoided. We see sin clearly and we steer ourselves away. That’s being dead to sin.

Colossians 3:3 tells us, “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” If we are hidden with Christ in God, sin has to penetrate Christ to get to us. That’s just not possible. Why? Because He defeated sin and the grave at Calvary. We are standing on shouting ground, believer. Rejoice and claim your authority over sin today.

O God, I am so thankful that sin no longer rules over me. I have the power through Christ to defeat sin in my life.


If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Death, Eternal Life, Eternity, Grace, Righteousness, Scripture, Sin

GRACE WOULD REIGN

ROMANS 5:21

“so that, as sin reigned in death, so also grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

If you have ever seen two skilled lawyers argue their cases against each other in court, it is really a sight to behold. Both are convinced their side is the right side. Both are fighting for their clients, whether that be the defendant or the government. Jabs are thrown at each other. Objections are raised at the other’s comments or questions. But in the end, there is only one truth.

Paul has been showing both sides of mankind’s situation. One side is arguing for death. Our sins demand it. Satan demands it. Evil wants to keep us in its grip. But Jesus came to loose that grip and give us live. In today’s verse, Paul says it well when he writes, “so also grace would reign.” He goes on to tell us how grace will reign, “through righteousness.” And then he tells us why grace will reign, “to eternal life through Jesus Christ.” You see, there’s a purpose behind the reign of grace.

APPLICATION

The Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary explains this reign of grace so well. “and of Grace, the grace which originated the scheme of salvation, the grace which ‘sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world,’ the grace which ‘made Him to be sin for us who knew no sin,’ the grace which ‘makes us to be the righteousness of God in Him,’ so that ‘we who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness do reign in life by One, Jesus Christ!’” That’s quite a synopsis of what Paul has been saying.

Can I get technical for just a second? The verb “would reign” is in the Aorist Subjunctive Active. This is not something that just might happen. This verb is described as conveying a simple, discrete action that has not happened yet but is seen as a single, completed event. Did I lose you? What this means is our eternal life with Christ has not happened yet, but it will and it will be the result of the reign of grace that defeated death once and for all at the cross of Jesus and that empty tomb. You should be shouting about now!

As we end chapter five today, let me encourage you to go back and reread all my blogs on 5:1-21 in one sitting. See the flow of thought that is in Paul’s words, not mine. We are about to start one of the most central chapters in the whole Bible. Paul had to set this up by laying out the battlefield between sin and grace, between death and life. Get ready for Romans 6!

Lord, I thank You that grace reigns and one day I will be with You in Glory!

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Christ, Death, Eternal Life, Grace, Life, Scripture

DEATH REIGNED

ROMANS 5:14

“Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the violation committed by Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.”

You may have heard the expression “There are two absolutes in the world – death and taxes.” That is true. We will all face a physical death one day. I had that discussion recently with some family members. As a believer and follower of Christ, death does not frighten me. Now, the way in which I die can cause some anxiety, but not the actual death part. I am certain where I am going afterwards. I know death will come for me one day.

The word translated “reigned” is the Greek word that means exactly that. It means to rule, to reign, to have dominion over. Paul knew the finality of death. He was there when Stephen was stoned to death. He had witnessed some of the other early martyrs being killed for their testimony. And he knew that behind all that death was sin. Sin had entered mankind through Adam and has traced its way through the centuries.

APPLICATION

Did you know we can ward off the sting of death? Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:55-57, “55 WHERE, O DEATH, IS YOUR VICTORY? WHERE, O DEATH, IS YOUR STING?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law; 57  but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Death’s reign has been defeated by Jesus Himself. Praise God!

In direct contrast to the reign of death is the reign of Christ. Look at what the angel Gabriel told Mary about her unborn son when he brought her the news about the immaculate conception. In Luke 1:33 it says, “‘and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.’” The day Jesus burst forth from that sealed tomb, death’s reign ended.

But…until you have given your life over to the reign of Jesus, you remain under the penalty of death because of your sins. Do you understand that? If you do and you have given your life to Him, don’t waste any time telling everyone around about Him. Physical death is coming for everyone, but spiritual death can be averted through the blood of the Lamb. Are you ready?

Lord, I am thankful that I have been purchased by You and my future is sealed.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Death, Eternal Life, Jesus, Life, Scripture, Sin

CONTAGIONS

ROMANS 5:12

“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all mankind, because all sinned—”

How could we ever forget Covid-19? It was a worldwide epidemic that cost many lives. It doesn’t matter which side of the vaccine mandate you were on, we all knew people who lost their battle with this flu-like disease. It was very contagious and easily passed from person to person. Masks were mandated everywhere. Churches emptied, many of which held online services only. It was a scary time for many.

Paul tells us in today’s verse just how contagious sin is. Because of Adam’s and Eve’s original sin, all mankind was “infected.” The end result of that infection is death. It’s a terminal disease. The only cure is Jesus (we’ll see that later in this chapter). The Greek word translated “spread” is dierchomai. The Topical Lexicon gives this picture. “The entrance of death is pictured as a relentless traveler moving through humanity.”

APPLICATION

The same word is used in Hebrews 4:14 to describe Christ’s movement into the heavens. “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let’s hold firmly to our confession.” Of course, Christ’s passing through the heavens is a lot better than sin passing to us, isn’t it?

The word is even used by Jesus to describe the movements of unclean spirits (demonic spirits). In Matthew 12:43 we read, “‘Now when the unclean spirit comes out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest and does not find it.’” We need to know how to stop this movement, don’t we? Well, we must be born again by the Holy Spirit. Where the Spirit dwells, evil cannot. The Holy Spirit fills us completely. We can be oppressed and fall under the influence of demonic forces, but they can never indwell us again.

Listen, your sin is contagious. Your actions have ripple effects. Fathers, your sins will affect your children. Mothers, your sins will also. We are not held responsible for our father’s or mother’s sins, but we can feel the consequences of them. That is why we must be very careful to guard our hearts and our lives. Let’s pass on the good stuff, not the bad.

Lord, keep me spiritually sanitized from the strains of sin that so easily comes against me.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Christ, Death, Eternal Life, Eternity, Peace, Reconciled, Scripture, War

CHANGE IN RELATIONSHIP

ROMANS 5:10

“For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”

What does it take for enemies to become friends? It’s really pretty simple – one of them has to hold out the “olive branch.” By that I mean, one has to make the first step towards peace. Sometimes that is done because there has been a battle and the end seems certain. For instance, Germany made peace with the U.S. at the end of World War II because they saw they had been defeated. The U.S. desired to end the hostilities in order to save lives and bring lasting peace. But they had to accept the offer of peace to end the war.

In the case being shown to us in the last few verses, we were enemies of God before He made the first move. God and man were at war. The end was certain. Man was going to suffer the wrath of a holy God. But in this case, God made the first move. He offered His Son as a peace offering, a sacrifice to secure our salvation. Reconciliation comes, and salvation follows.

APPLICATION

Paul shows us the progression of our salvation here. Enemies – reconciled – salvation – eternal life. The Cambridge Bible explains this verse this way. “The language, carefully weighed, points more to God’s acceptance of the sinner than to the sinner’s acceptance of God. For the case is put thus:— ‘When we were enemies, God was gracious to us: much more (as to our apprehension) will He be gracious to us still.’”

Don’t you see that God has exonerated us from the punishment that awaited us before Christ? We were doomed. There was no escape. But after He offered Jesus on the cross and we accepted that gift of grace, He welcomed us into His family and can now bestow on us the Holy Spirit who will guide us in our new life with Him. God continues to give us life here on earth and promises us an eternal life with Him.

Relationships change, don’t they? I bet you can name several people with whom you are no longer close friends. Years ago, you were close, perhaps spending every day together. For various reasons friendships come and go. Our relationship with God is not like that. Once you are His, you are His forever. As you spend time with Him in His Word and prayer, you become closer and closer. Don’t you want to know Him more fully? Then invest the time to do that. Ask Him to reveal more of Himself to you. He will do that willingly. We are told in Psalm 34:10, “they who seek the LORD will not lack any good thing.” Are you seeking today?

O God, You have reconciled me unto Yourself and are now perfecting our relationship into an eternal one.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Eternal Life, Justified, Raised, Resurrection, Scripture

FINISHED WORK

ROMANS 4:25

“He who was delivered over because of our wrongdoings, and was raised because of our justification.”

My dad always taught me to finish the job completely. My first lesson in that was mowing the grass. He said the yard wasn’t complete until all the pinecones were picked up and the trim work was done (this was before we had weed eaters). He also taught me that a car wasn’t cleaned completely until the tires were clean. He compared that to wearing a nice suit but dirty shoes. He was all about getting the job finished well.

Jesus finished His job completely. Paul states as such in today’s verse. He wasn’t just “delivered over” for our sins. He was also “raised because of our justification.” His resurrection finished the job. His shed blood paid the price for our sins, and His resurrection gave us the promise of eternal life. What a complete work that was and still is.

APPLICATION

The verb used here for “delivered over” is paradidómi. In Matthew 10:4 it is used to describe Judas Iscariot. “Judas Iscariot, the one who also betrayed Him.” The Topical Lexicon says this about this word. “Whether used of a traitor, a judge, an apostle, or God Himself, the word always carries the sober idea that what is ‘delivered up’ passes irrevocably into another’s control.” What does that say about God’s actions described in today’s verse? God did not betray Jesus. He willingly gave Him up to death to satisfy His own wrath on mankind.

But God always has a plan, a perfect plan. He also raised Jesus up. The verb used for “raised” is egeiró which Strong’s defines as “to waken (transitively or intransitively), i.e. Rouse (literally, from sleep, from sitting or lying, from disease, from death; or figuratively, from obscurity, inactivity, ruins, nonexistence) — awake, lift (up), raise (again, up), rear up, (a-)rise (again, up), stand, take up.”

Now, to be clear, Jesus didn’t just go to sleep on that cross. He died. He gave up this life on earth only to be raised by His Father to defeat death and the grave. As followers of Christ, we too will defeat death and the grave. How? Through our justification in Christ! We give up this life on earth and pass directly to a better life with Christ eternally. Thank You, Lord!

I give You praise for all You have done in and through Your Son, Jesus.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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