p. 11 | THE PENALTY OF SIN

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Apr 19, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 16.

THE PENALTY OF SIN.

1. What is the final consequence of sin? "The wages of sin is death." Rom. 6:23. "Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." James 1:15. "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." Eze. 18:4, 20.

2. By what were sinners represented in the typical sanctuary service? They were represented by slain animals. See Leviticus 4. David testifies that "the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs; they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away." Ps. 37:20. Thus David saw the end of the wicked when he went into the sanctuary. See Ps. 73:1-3, 16-18.

3. Where shall both the righteous and the wicked be "recompensed"? "The righteous shall be recompensed in the earth; much more the wicked and the sinner." Prov. 11:31.

4. How and by whom will the wicked be "recompensed"? "The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power." 2 Thess. 1:7-9

5. How complete will be the annihilation of the wicked? "Behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch." Mal. 4:1.

6. What will be the fate of this sin-cursed earth? "The world that then was [before the Flood], being overflowed with water, perished; but the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same Word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men." 2 Peter 3:6, 7. "The day of the Lord shall come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." Verse 10.

7. Then what promise will be fulfilled? "Nevertheless we, according to His promise [Isa. 65:17, 18], look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." Verse 13.

8. Who will inherit this new earth? "The meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace." Ps. 37:11.

9. Then what will have become of the wicked? "Evildoers shall be cut off; but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be; yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be." Verses 9, 10.

10. What contrast does Jesus draw between the two classes? "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God [death] abideth on him." John 3:36.