Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

In a word, by faith.

Temporal death and eternal separation from God -- who is holy (without sin) -- were imposed upon all humans as the just penalty for the sin (the violation of God's commandments) that all humans commit, beginning with the fall of humanity into sin, as recounted in Genesis 3:1-19.

However, God, out of pure grace (undeserved love or favor) and mercy, provided a means for humans to avoid that eternal separation from Him through the incarnation of Jesus, who was both truly, fully God and also truly, fully human. Jesus lived the sinless life of which no other human was (or ever will be) capable; undeservedly suffered and died to take upon Himself and fully pay the penalty for sin from God (eternal separation from Him) that all other humans deserved; and then rose from the dead as proof that that payment had been accepted by God.

As a result, humans who place their faith completely in Christ's death and resurrection (rather than in any action that they can ever perform) for forgiveness of their sins can receive that forgiveness from God, and can live eternally in His presence after their temporal lives on earth are over.

As the verse cited in the question puts it, the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

May 04 2020 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report