Compare Leviticus 26:39 with Romans 6:23 regarding sin's consequences and redemption. Setting the Scene: Two Strong Verses on Sin “Those of you who survive will waste away in the lands of their enemies because of their iniquity; they will also waste away because of their fathers’ iniquities.” (Leviticus 26:39) “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) The Weight of Sin in Leviticus 26:39 • Israel’s captivity and slow demise are spelled out as the direct, literal result of covenant breaking. • “Waste away” pictures sin’s corrosive power—life drains out day by day. • Corporate responsibility surfaces: the people suffer for their own guilt and for generational sin (see Exodus 34:7). • God’s warning is compassionate realism—He tells the truth so hearts might turn back (Leviticus 26:40–42). The Wages of Sin in Romans 6:23 • Paul summarizes the universal principle hinted at in every Old Testament judgment: sin earns a paycheck—death. • “Wages” implies we actually earn this outcome; it is justice served (Ezekiel 18:4). • Yet the sentence is not the last word: God offers a contrasting “gift.” • Eternal life comes exclusively “in Christ Jesus our Lord,” fulfilling the redemptive thread begun in Genesis 3:15 and foreshadowed in Isaiah 53:5. Threads That Tie the Testaments • Same root issue: rebellious hearts. • Same consequence: separation, decay, death (Genesis 2:17; James 1:15). • Same divine posture: righteous yet merciful—He warns, disciplines, and then provides rescue. • Old Covenant shows the need; New Covenant supplies the answer (Jeremiah 31:31–34; Hebrews 9:22). Redemption Promised and Provided • Leviticus ends its warning section with a call to confess and return (Leviticus 26:40–45). • Romans declares how that return is possible: Christ bears the curse, grants the gift (Galatians 3:13). • Salvation is not earned—opposite of wages—“by grace you have been saved through faith” (Ephesians 2:8-9). • The believer moves from wasting away to overflowing life (John 10:10). Living Out the Lesson Today • Acknowledge sin’s reality—no minimizing what God calls deadly. • Marvel at the exchange: wages we deserved for the gift He supplies. • Walk in grateful obedience; grace never licenses more sin (Romans 6:1-2). • Share the gift: the message that turns wasting souls into living testimonies (2 Corinthians 5:20). |
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