Eternal Life in Christ - Romans 6:23

Romans 6:23 - "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (NKJV)

So firstly we have redemption in Christ, then we are made alive to God in Christ and today we learn that the gift of God to us is eternal life in Christ Jesus. What exactly do we understand from this?

Mankind is created differently from plants and animals; we have a spirit just like God has a Spirit and our spirit is meant to live on forever - whether in the company of God our Creator or away from Him in eternal damnation which is death. In the scriptures, the terminology for physical death as we know it for a Believer is not death but 'falling asleep'. When we close our eyes and breathe our last breath, we go into a sleep only to wake up on the other side in Heaven; hence the term 'falling asleep'.

However, the same is not true for a non-believer. For the non-believer, physical death is really death as when he wakes up to find that he had just entered into an eternal separation away from any connection to the Source of Life. So in essence, the wages (what is deservedly the outcome) for sin is death.

Romans 5:17 tells us "For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ." (NIV) Death is the natural consequence awaiting all mankind but to the one who had received Christ into his/her life, that state no longer applies as the price had already been paid for by Christ (God Incarnate) Himself on the Cross and now we can enjoy our new state - eternal life - which in itself is His gift to all mankind to whoever who step forth and receive Him into their hearts.

So I encourage you.. take that step and enter into His eternal life.